Program Overview

Programme: BSc in Geology

The BSc in Geology programme is offered by the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences at the University of Pretoria.

Programme Information

Those students registered for the BSc (Geology) programme and who have opted to select any of the dual major fields of study offered within this programme must take note of the following:

• Their Academic Record will list all the modules that they have completed towards a second major field of study (based on final year modules completed).
• Their Degree certificate will only print the officially approved programme name: Bachelor of Science Geology.

Admission Requirements

Important information for all prospective students for 2026 The admission requirements below apply to all who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications.

• Minimum requirements
  • Achievement level
    • English Home Language or English First Additional Language: 5
    • Mathematics: 5
    • Physical Sciences: 5
    • APS: 34
• Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.
• Applicants currently in Grade 12 must apply with their final Grade 11 (or equivalent) results.
• Applicants who have completed Grade 12 must apply with their final NSC or equivalent qualification results.
• Please note that meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.

Promotion to Next Study Year

A student will be promoted to the following year of study if he or she passed 100 credits of the prescribed credits for a year of study, unless the Dean on the recommendation of the relevant head of department decides otherwise.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the BSc in Geology programme is divided into three years of study.

Year 1

• Fundamental modules
  • AIM 111: Academic information management 111
  • AIM 121: Academic information management 121
  • LST 110: Language and study skills 110
  • UPO 102: Academic orientation 102
• Core modules
  • BME 120: Biometry 120
  • CMY 117: General chemistry 117
  • CMY 127: General chemistry 127
  • GGY 166: Southern African geomorphology 166
  • GLY 155: Introduction to geology 155
  • GLY 163: Earth history 163
  • GMC 110: Cartography 110
  • PHY 114: First course in physics 114
  • WTW 134: Mathematics 134

Year 2

• Core modules
  • GGY 283: Introductory geographic information systems 283
  • GKD 250: Introductory soil science 250
  • GLY 253: Sedimentology 253
  • GLY 263: Igneous and metamorphic petrology 263
  • GLY 266: Geological field mapping 266
  • GMA 220: Remote sensing 220
• Elective modules
  • BME 210: Biometry 210
  • CMY 282: Physical chemistry 282
  • CMY 283: Analytical chemistry 283
  • CMY 284: Organic chemistry 284
  • CMY 285: Inorganic chemistry 285
  • GGY 252: Process geomorphology 252
  • GIS 220: Geographic data analysis 220
  • SUR 220: Surveying 220

Year 3

• Core modules
  • GLY 367: Economic geology 367
  • GLY 368: Advanced Geological field mapping 368
  • GLY 370: Structural geology and hydrogeology 370
• Elective modules
  • CMY 382: Physical chemistry 382
  • CMY 383: Analytical chemistry 383
  • CMY 384: Organic chemistry 384
  • CMY 385: Inorganic chemistry 385
  • GGY 363: Applied geomorphology 363
  • GIS 310: Geographic information systems 310
  • GIS 320: Spatial analysis 320
  • GKD 320: Soil chemistry 320
  • GKD 350: Soil formation and classification 350
  • GLY 369: Engineering geology and rock mechanics 369
  • GMA 320: Remote sensing 320
  • PGW 350: Soil-water relationship and irrigation 350

General Academic Regulations and Student Rules

The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and registered students of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at the University of Pretoria.

Regulations, Degree Requirements, and Information

The faculty regulations, information on and requirements for the degrees published here are subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information.

University of Pretoria Programme Qualification Mix (PQM) Verification Project

The higher education sector has undergone an extensive alignment to the Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework (HEQSF) across all institutions in South Africa. In order to comply with the HEQSF, all institutions are legally required to participate in a national initiative led by regulatory bodies such as the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), the Council on Higher Education (CHE), and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).