Program Overview

Programme: BEng Mining Engineering

The BEng Mining Engineering programme is designed to provide students with a comprehensive education in mining engineering, covering topics such as mining methods, rock mechanics, ventilation, and mine planning. The programme is accredited by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA) and complies with the academic requirements for registration as a professional engineer.

Programme Information

The programme is presented over four years, with a total of 596 credits. The learning outcomes of the programme include:

• Engineering problem-solving
• Application of specialist and fundamental knowledge
• Engineering design and synthesis
• Investigation, experimentation, and data analysis
• Engineering methods, skills, tools, and information technology
• Professional and general communication
• Awareness and knowledge of the impact of engineering activity on society and the physical environment
• Work in teams and in multidisciplinary environments
• An awareness and ability for lifelong learning
• An awareness and knowledge of principles of professional ethics and practice

The learning contents of the programme include six essential knowledge areas:

1. Mathematics, including numerical methods and statistics (13%)
2. Basic sciences: the natural sciences essential to the programme (15%)
3. Engineering sciences (40%)
4. Engineering design and synthesis (16%)
5. Computing and information technology (5%)
6. Complementary studies: communication, economy, management, innovation, environmental impact, ethics, engineering practice (11%)

Admission Requirements

To register for the programme, students must comply with the minimum requirements for degree studies as well as the minimum requirements for the relevant study programme. The minimum requirements include:

• A valid National Senior Certificate (NSC) with admission to degree studies
• Minimum subject and achievement requirements
• A minimum APS of 35

Curriculum

The curriculum for the programme includes the following modules:

Year 1

• UPO 112: Academic orientation 112
• CHM 171: General chemistry 171
• EBN 122: Electricity and electronics 122
• FSK 176: Physics 176
• MGC 110: Graphical communication 110
• NMC 113: Materials science 113
• PWP 121: Workshop practice 121
• SWK 122: Mechanics 122
• WTW 158: Calculus 158
• HAS 110: Humanities and social sciences 110
• HAS 120: Humanities and social sciences 120
• WTW 164: Mathematics 164

Year 2

• BES 220: Engineering statistics 220
• JCP 203: Community-based project 203
• MSD 210: Dynamics 210
• MTX 221: Thermodynamics 221
• PMY 210: Virtual reality introduction to mining 210
• SUR 220: Surveying 220
• SWK 210: Strength of materials 210
• WTW 238: Mathematics 238
• WTW 256: Differential equations 256
• WTW 258: Calculus 258
• WTW 263: Numerical methods 263
• PPY 220: Experiential training 220
• MPR 213: Programming and information technology 213
• PJJ 210: Professional and technical communication 210

Year 3

• GLY 151: Introductory geology 151
• GLY 161: Historical geology 161
• PME 320: Mineral economics 320
• PNB 300: Industrial excursions 300
• PSC 321: Introduction to project 321
• MTV 310: Thermofluids 310
• PMY 311: Surface mining and geotechnics 311
• PPY 320: Experiential training 320
• PMY 320: Mining 320
• PRX 321: Explosives engineering 321
• NMP 310: Minerals processing 310
• BSS 310: Engineering management 310
• MIA 320: Engineering activity and group work 320

Year 4

• GLY 254: Structural geology 254
• GLY 352: Geodynamics and ore formation 352
• PEE 410: Mine ventilation engineering 410
• PMY 410: Mining 410
• PNB 400: Industrial excursions 400
• PSZ 410: Strata control 410
• PMZ 422: Mine design 422
• PSC 411: Project 411
• PMY 423: Mine operational risk management 423
• IPI 410: Engineering professionalism 410

Promotion to Next Study Year

The promotion requirements for each year of study are as follows:

• Promotion to the second semester of the first year and to the second year of study: A student who complies with all the requirements of the first year of study is promoted to the second year of study.
• Promotion to the third year of study: A student who complies with all the requirements of the second year of study is promoted to the third year of study.
• Promotion to the fourth year of study: A student who complies with all the requirements of the third year of study is promoted to the fourth year of study.

Pass with Distinction

A student graduates with distinction if they meet the following requirements:

• No module of the third or fourth year of study was repeated
• A weighted average of at least 75% was obtained in one year in all the modules of the final year of study
• The degree programme was completed within the prescribed four years

Minimum Credits

The minimum credits required for each year of study are as follows:

• Year 1: 146 credits
• Year 2: 144 credits
• Year 3: 144 credits
• Year 4: 144 credits