Program Overview

BSc in Ecology 4-year Programme

Introduction

The Bachelor of Science in Ecology programme explores how animals and plants interact with each other and the natural environment. It will allow students to contribute to their conservation and solve the challenges threatening life on Earth. This programme is ideal for those who want to pursue a career in biodiversity conservation, environmental consultancy, land rehabilitation, or wildlife management.

Programme Information

The Bachelor of Science in Ecology is the only programme of its kind offered in South Africa, and teaching is focused on animals and plants, ecology, geographic information systems, and quantitative statistics. As a graduate, one can find employment as a conservation officer, environmental consultant or manager, game ranger, research scientist, data manager, and more.

Career Opportunities

Graduates will be at the forefront of conserving natural ecosystems in a changing world. They find work in local and international environmentally based government and private conservation organisations, companies involved in the direct or indirect use of natural resources, environmental consultancies, environmental education initiatives, academic and training institutions, and research.

Faculty Notes

All modules will only be presented in English, which is the University's official language of tuition, communication, and correspondence. The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences is home to more than 6,500 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Faculty presents degrees in fields ranging from actuaries to zoologists and consists of 13 departments. All degree programmes are designed to develop problem-solving individuals who can easily adapt to changing circumstances and take the lead in their chosen fields of specialisation.

Admission Requirements

• Minimum Requirements:
  • Achievement level:
    • English Home Language or English First Additional Language: 58%
    • Mathematics: 58%
    • Physical Sciences: 58%
    • APS: 30
• 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.
• Only students that have completed school in the last two years and have not studied at a tertiary institution will be considered for this programme.

Minimum Duration

The minimum duration of the programme is 4 years, full-time.

Additional Requirements

• Students in this programme must achieve a minimum of 70% in Mathematics and Physical Sciences, and a minimum of 65% for Languages before being eligible for transfer into a 4-year Bachelor of Engineering programme after the first year of study in this programme.