Admission requirements

Please note that the below admission requirements are subject to change pending selection and possible faculty-specific requirements.

Study information is subject to change and is a summary of the general fields of study. This information was compiled for introduction and orientation purposes and the North-West University accepts no liability for inaccuracies that may occur in this guide. The official yearbook of the University must in all cases be consulted during the process of compiling a programme for a specific field of study. The appropriate yearbook is available on request at: studies@nwu.ac.za or 0860 1696985.

Please note: owing to specific capacity constraints, the University reserves the right to select candidates for admission to certain fields of study. This means that prospective students who comply with the minimum requirements will not automatically be admitted to the courses in question. Because of the capacity limitations and the high demand from students for admission to particular fields of study, students will be selected on the basis of their Grade 12 results for admission to these fields.

 

Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Visit the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

Degree

Field

Requirements

APS

Campus

Possible Career Opportunities

Diploma in Animal Health

  
  • English level 3
  • Physical Science level 3 OR Life Science level 3
  • Mathematics level 3 OR Technical Mathematics level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

22

Mahikeng

 
  • Animal Health Technician
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Animal Feed companies
  • Animal Breeding stations
  • Beef, sheep and goats, Pig, Poultry and Dairy production companies
  • Agricultural firms
  • Research Scientists
  • Consultancy firms
  • National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture
  • National and International NGOs
  • Researchers

Diploma in Animal Science

  
  • English level 3
  • Physical Science level 3 OR Life Science level 3 OR Agricultural Science level 4
  • Mathematics level 3 OR Technical Mathematics level 4 OR Mathematical Literacy level 5
  • DURATION: 3 years

22

Mahikeng
  • Animal Feed companies
  • Animal Breeding stations
  • Beef, sheep and goats, Pig, Poultry and Dairy production companies
  • Agricultural firms
  • Research Scientists
  • Consultancy firms
  • National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture
  • National and International NGOs
  • Research and Policy Institutions

Diploma in Plant Science

with Crop Production
  • English level 3
  • Physical Science level 3 OR Life Science level 3 OR Agricultural Science level 4
  • Mathematics level 3 OR Technical Mathematics level 4 OR Mathematical Literacy level 5
  • DURATION: 3 years

22

Mahikeng

 
  • National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture
  • Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)
  • Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR)
  • Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
  • Fertilizer companies
  • Commercial farms
  • Seed companies
  • Agrochemical companies
  • Agro-processing companies
  • Various NGOs that deal in and agriculture and rural development

Bachelor of Science
  • with Chemistry and Physics
  • with Physics and Mathematics
  • with Physics and Applied Mathematics
  • with Physics and Computer Science
  • with Computer Science and Mathematics
  • Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Potchefstroom

Mahikeng

 * See below

Bachelor of Science

with Biochemistry and Chemistry
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Potchefstroom

Mahikeng

 * See below

Bachelor of Science
  • with Chemistry, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics
  • with Geography and Applied Mathematics
  • Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Potchefstroom

 * See below

Bachelor of Science
  • with Applied Mathematics and Chemistry
  • with Chemistry and Mathematics
  • with Applied Mathematics and Electronics
  • with Electronics and Mathematics
  • with Electronics and Physics
  • with Chemistry and Computer Science
  • with Computer Science and Electronics
  • Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Mahikeng

 * See below

Bachelor of Science

with Computer Science and Economics
  • Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Potchefstroom

Vanderbijlpark

 * See below

Bachelor of Science
  • with Mathematics and Economy
  • with Computer Science and Statistics
  • Mathematics level 5
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Potchefstroom

 * See below

Extended Bachelor of Science
  • with Applied Mathematics and Chemistry
  • with Applied Mathematics and Electronics
  • with Biochemistry and Chemistry
  • with Chemistry and Computer Science
  • with Chemistry and Mathematics
  • with Chemistry and Physics
  • with Computer Science and Electronics
  • with Computer Science and Mathematics
  • with Electronics and Mathematics
  • with Electronics and Physics
  • with Physics and Applied Mathematics
  • with Physics and Computer Science
  • with Physics and Mathematics
  • Biological Sciences with Microbiology and Biochemistry
  • Environmental Sciences with Botany and Biochemistry
  • Environmental Sciences with Botany and Chemistry
  • Environmental Sciences with Botany and Microbiology
  • Environmental Sciences with Chemistry and Geography
  • Environmental Sciences with Geography and Botany
  • Environmental Sciences with Geography and Computer Science
  • Environmental Sciences with Microbiology and Chemistry
  • Mathematical Sciences with Applied Mathematics and Mathematics
  • English level 4
  • Mathematics level 3 OR Technical Mathematics level 4
  • Physical Science level 3
  • DURATION: 4 years

24

Mahikeng

 * See below

Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

  
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • DURATION: 3 years
  • MODE OF DELIVERY: Contact and *Distance learning

26

Potchefstroom

Vanderbijlpark

*Distance learning
  • Programmer
  • Software Engineer
  • Application developer
  • Systems administrator
  • Systems analyst and designer
  • Business analyst
  • Database administrator and designer
  • Business Intelligence developer
  • Project leader
  • Entrepreneur
  • Information Technology Manager
  • Researcher

Extended Bachelor of Science in Information Technology

 
  • Mathematics level 3 OR Technical Mathematics level 4
  • DURATION: 4 years

24

Vanderbijlpark
  • Programmer
  • Software Engineer
  • Application developer
  • Systems administrator
  • Systems analyst and designer
  • Business analyst
  • Database administrator and designer
  • Business Intelligence developer
  • Project leader
  • Entrepreneur
  • Information Technology Manager
  • Researcher

Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences

with Statistics and Mathematics

 
  • Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Potchefstroom

Vanderbijlpark

 * See below
Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences

with Mathematics
  • Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years
 26 Potchefstroom * See below

Bachelor of Science in Mathematical Sciences

with Applied Mathematics and Mathematics
  • Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Mahikeng

 * See below

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences
  • with Microbiology and Biochemistry
  • with Microbiology and Botany

 
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Potchefstroom

Mahikeng

 * See below

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences
  • with Zoology and Biochemistry
  • with Chemistry and Physiology
  • with Zoology and Botany
  • with Zoology and Microbiology
  • with Zoology and Physiology
  • with Microbiology and Physiology
  • with Botany and Biochemistry
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Potchefstroom

 * See below

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences
  • with Microbiology and Chemistry
  • with Botany and Chemistry
  • with Geography and Computer Sciences
  • with Geography and Botany
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Sciences level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Mahikeng

Potchefstroom

 

 * See below
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences
  • with Zoology and Chemistry
  • with Chemistry and Geology
  • with Geology and Geography
  • with Zoology and Geography
  • with Geology and Botany
  • with Zoology and Geology
  • with Geology and Microbiology
  • with Tourism and Zoology
  • with Tourism and Geography
  • with Tourism and Botany
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Potchefstroom

 * See below

Bachelor of Science in Environmental Sciences

with Chemistry and Geography
  • Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Mahikeng

 * See below

Bachelor of Science in Financial Mathematics

  
  • Mathematics level 6
  • DURATION: 3 years

32

Potchefstroom

Vanderbijlpark
  • Financial Product Developer
  • Structured Financing Specialist
  • Financial Engineer
  • Financial Mathematician

Extended Bachelor of Science in Financial Mathematics

  
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • DURATION: 4 years

28

Vanderbijlpark
  • Financial Product Developer
  • Structured Financing Specialist
  • Financial Engineer
  • Financial Mathematician

Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Risk Management

  
  • Mathematics level 6
  • DURATION: 3 years

32

Potchefstroom

Vanderbijlpark
  • Market or Credit Risk Analyst/Manager
  • Commercial Banker
  • Corporate Banker
  • Treasury Analyst
  • Risk Analyst/Manager
  • Decision Support Analyst
  • Investment Analyst
  • Financial Engineer

Extended Bachelor of Science in Quantitative Risk Management

  
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • DURATION: 4 years

28

Vanderbijlpark
  • Market or Credit Risk Analyst/Manager
  • Commercial Banker
  • Corporate Banker
  • Treasury Analyst
  • Risk Analyst/Manager
  • Decision Support Analyst
  • Investment Analyst
  • Financial Engineer

Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics

 
  • Mathematics level 6
  • DURATION: 3 years

32

Potchefstroom

Vanderbijlpark
  • Data Scientist
  • Analytics Analyst
  • Quantitative Strategist
  • Credit Risk Analyst/Manager
  • Decision Support Analyst
  • Financial Statistician
  • Data Mining Analyst
  • E-Commerce Business Analyst
  • Fraud Analyst
  • Database Marketing Analyst
  • Strategic Business Analyst

Extended Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics

 
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • DURATION: 4 years

28

Vanderbijlpark
  • Data Scientist
  • Analytics Analyst
  • Quantitative Strategist
  • Credit Risk Analyst/Manager
  • Decision Support Analyst
  • Financial Statistician
  • Data Mining Analyst
  • E-Commerce Business Analyst
  • Fraud Analyst
  • Database Marketing Analyst
  • Strategic Business Analyst

Bachelor of Science in Actuarial Sciences

  
  • Mathematics level 6
  • DURATION: 3 years

32

Potchefstroom
  • Actuary
  • Risk Manager

Bachelor of Science in Urban and Regional Planning

  
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • SELECTION TEST
  • DURATION: 4 years

28

Potchefstroom

Regional Planner Remote-Sensing Analyst

Town and Regional Planner / Urban and City Planner at:

  1. Government institutions - National and Provincial departments, local municipalities, Development Agencies
  2. Private sector - Corporate environment (e.g. Vodacom, MTN, ABSA, AngloGold etc.), Private consultancy firms (Town Planners), Architects, Land surveyors, Engineering companies, Estate Agents, Developers and other related built environment professions
  3. Research institutions and Universities

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences
  • with Agricultural Economics
  • with Animal Sciences
  • with Animal Health
  • with Agronomy and Horticulture
  • English level 4
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science OR Life Science level 4
  • DURATION: 4 years

26

Mahikeng

 
  • Animal Health Technician
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Animal Feed companies
  • Animal Breeding stations
  • Beef, sheep and goats, Pig, Poultry and Dairy production companies
  • Agricultural firms
  • Research Scientists
  • Consultancy firms
  • National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture
  • Researchers
  • National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture
  • Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)
  • Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR)
  • Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
  • Fertilizer companies
  • Commercial farms
  • Seed companies
  • Agrochemical companies
  • Agro-processing companies
  • Various NGOs that deal in and agriculture and rural development
  • Agribusiness firms
  • Commercial banks
  • Support services (e.g S.A Cane growers association)
  • Marketing research
  • Ecotourism
  • Development Corporations and Finance Institutions

Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Sciences
  • with Agronomy and Soil Sciences 
  • with Agronomy and Agricultural Economics
  • English level 4
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 4 years

26

Potchefstroom

 
  • Animal Health Technician
  • Pharmaceutical companies
  • Animal Feed companies
  • Animal Breeding stations
  • Beef, sheep and goats, Pig, Poultry and Dairy production companies
  • Agricultural firms
  • Research Scientists
  • Consultancy firms
  • National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture
  • Researchers
  • National and Provincial Departments of Agriculture
  • Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF)
  • Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR)
  • Agricultural Research Council (ARC)
  • Fertilizer companies
  • Commercial farms
  • Seed companies
  • Agrochemical companies
  • Agro-processing companies
  • Various NGOs that deal in and agriculture and rural development
  • Agri-business firms
  • Commercial banks
  • Support services (e.g. S.A Cane growers association)
  • Marketing research
  • Ecotourism
  • Development Corporations and Finance Institutions

Bachelor of Science in Indigenous Knowledge Systems

 Indigenous Knowledge Systems
  • English level 4
  • DURATION: 4 years

26

Mahikeng

 
  • Education
  • Cultural tourism
  • Agriculture
  • Art
  • Culture
  • Health
  • Heritage
  • Government departments
  • Non-governmental organisations (NGOs)
  • Traditional authorities and local municipalities,
  • Research organizations such as (Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) or Human Science
  • Research Council (HSRC)

*There are a variety of possible career opportunities for someone with a BSc, especially at the NWU, because our programmes have combinations of two (2) majors.

Here is an approximate structure for our mainstream BSc degrees:

PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL SCIENCES

Obtaining the qualification BSc in Physical and Chemical Sciences offers you diverse career opportunities available in various industries and organisations, such as:

  • Petrochemical industry (SASOL, AECI, OMNIA, Sentrachem, SAB)
  • Universities and secondary schools
  • Government organisations (SABS, MRC, NECSA, MINTEK)
  • Pharmaceutical industries
  • Water boards
  • Forensic laboratories
  • Textile industry
  • Agriculture sector
  • Plant and Process managers
  • Laboratory assistants
  • Chemical analyst and/or modulator

Physicists, specifically, are needed in the following fields/institutions:

  • NECSA (Nuclear Energy Commission of South Africa) e.g. the manufacture of silicon discs by method of radiation with the Safari-1 reactor
  • ARC; Agricultural Research Council for general development of applicable technologies
  • HartRAO; Hartebeeshoek Radio Astronomic Observatory for research
  • IMT; Geo physicist, oceanic and space technology at the Institute of Maritime Technology
  • MRC; medical research (including hospitals) with focus on radiation technology (health physicist)
  • NVS; National Accelerator Centre for research and radiation technology
  • SAAO; Research in astronomy and astro physics
  • SABS; Development of technologies implemented by the South African Buro of Standards
  • SAWB; Development of weather and climate models
  • CSIR; Council for Scientific and Industrial Research in development of various technologies such as aerodynamics and laser technology
  • Eskom; Nuclear reactor industry such as Koeberg and Palindaba
  • SADF (South African Defence Force) Technology development and lecturing at the Military Academy in Saldanha
  • De Beers Industrial Diamond Division (now Element Six) Basic and applied research on diamonds
  • Telkom; Telecommunication, satellite technology, optic fibre, laser technology and nano technology

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES AND GEO AND SPATIAL (ENVIRONMENTAL) SCIENCES:

  • Geologist
  • Environmental Geologist
  • Engineering Geologist
  • Minerology and Geochemistry
  • Research Geology
  • Zoologist
  • Botanist
  • Microbiologist
  • Bio-geographer/Ecologist
  • Cartographer
  • Climatologist
  • Coastal Zone Manager
  • College/University Lecturer/Researcher
  • Community Development
  • Conservation Officer
  • Conservationist
  • Consultant in a range of geographical fields
  • Development Facilitator
  • Delivery Manager
  • Diplomat Earth Scientist
  • Economic Development Planner
  • Environmental Educator
  • Environmental Impact Analyst
  • Environmental Manager
  • Environmental Planner
  • Foreign Service Officers
  • Geographic Information Specialist
  • Geo-physicist
  • Geomorphologist
  • Hazardous Waste Planner Health Services Planner
  • Hydrologist
  • Land Use Planner
  • Map Editor
  • Map Librarian
  • Map, Air Photo and Satellite Image Interpreter
  • Market Researcher
  • Meteorologist
  • Military Planner
  • Natural Resource Manager
  • Police
  • Social Ecologist
  • Social Scientist
  • Soil Scientist
  • Teacher (elementary and secondary)
  • Tourism Development / Tour Guide
  • Traffic Manager
  • Transportation Planner
  • Travel Agent
  • Water Resource Manager

MATHEMATICAL AND STATISTICAL SCIENCES:

  • Education
  • Mathematician

*For distance learning visit distance.nwu.ac.za

 

HEQSF alignment

All universities in South Africa were obligated by law to take part in a National Project driven by the regulatory bodies (Department of Higher Education an Training (DHET), the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA), to align all qualifications with the Higher Education Qualification Sub Framework (HEQSF). The NWU is thus currently in an ongoing process of aligning our qualification and programme offering with the requirements of the HEQSF.

Prospective students must take notice of the fact that NWU qualification names, programme names as well as the composition of curricula may change due to the HEQSF Project, prior to registration for the 2024 academic year.
Successful candidates are advised to contact the relevant faculty in order to ensure that they register for the correct qualification, programme and /or curriculum.