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 summarises 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.  Download the yearbook here: https://studies.nwu.ac.za/studies/yearbooks

Please note that, 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

Subjects / 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 Sciences

  
  • 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 Sciences

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 agriculture and rural development

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

26

Mahikeng

Potchefstroom

 * See below

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

26

Mahikeng

Potchefstroom

Vanderbijlpark

 * 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 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
  • Mathematics level 5 
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years
 26

Mahikeng 

Potchefstroom

 * See below

Bachelor of Science
  • 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 Sciences and Statistics
  • Mathematics level 5
  • Physical Science level 4
  • DURATION: 3 years

26

Potchefstroom

Vanderbijlpark

 * See below

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

26

Potchefstroom

Vanderbijlpark

 * 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

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

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

26

Potchefstroom

 * See below

Bachelor of Science in Biological Sciences
  • with Botany and Biochemistry

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

26

Mahikeng

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 Science 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

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

Bachelor of Science in Business Analytics

 
  • Mathematics level 6
  • DURATION: 3 years

32

Potchefstroom

Vanderbijlpark
  • 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
  • Data Scientist
  • 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:
  • Government institutions – national and provincial departments, local municipalities, development agencies
  • 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.
  • Research institutions and universities

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
  • with Agricultural Economics
  • with Animal Sciences
  • with Animal Health
  • with Agronomy and Horticulture
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • English level 4
  • Physical Sciences OR Life Sciences 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
  • 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. SA Canegrowers Association)
  • Marketing research
  • Ecotourism
  • Development Corporations and Finance Institutions

Bachelor of Science in Agriculture
  • with Soil Sciences and Agronomy
  • with Agricultural Economics and Agronomy
  • Mathematics level 4 OR Technical Mathematics level 5
  • English level 4
  • Physical Sciences 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
  • 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. SA Canegrowers 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 Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

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

24

Mahikeng

 * See below

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

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

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

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

*There are a variety of POSSIBLE CAREER OPPORTUNITIES for someone with a BSc, especially at the NWU, because our programmes have combinations of two 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 Corporation 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; Geophysicist, 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 and 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 2025 academic year. Successful candidates are advised to contact the relevant faculty  to ensure that they register for the correct qualification, programme and / or curriculum.