Undergraduate Programmes
Admission requirements
- Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%
- Mathematics 70%
- Physical Sciences 50%
- Overall average 65% (excluding Life Orientation)
Our Department offers four different focal areas to study for a BSc in Chemistry, but is also involved in a fifth interdisciplinary focal area with the Department of Physiology (Applied Medicinal Chemistry). Choosing a focal area can feel like a daunting choice, but it is usually easy to change once you start. The most flexible focal area would be Chemistry & Polymer Science.
The main characteristics are outlined below, but please feel free to contact us in case you have additional questions!
Overview
Named after our Department, Chemistry and Polymer Science provides a strong foundation for careers as professional chemists or analytical chemists across a wide range of industries where chemistry plays a central role. Students develop a solid chemistry-based technical background while retaining flexibility to choose a complementary second major, such as Applied Chemistry (including Polymer Science), Microbiology, Geology, Mathematics, or Physics.
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This focal area is a good option if none of the other chemistry pathways quite fit what you’re looking for. It offers the most flexibility, but that flexibility does mean you’ll need to plan your subject choices carefully. In particular, you’ll need to make sure that the subjects you choose outside of chemistry can be combined into a workable second major. A helpful strategy is to decide on a possible second major first, and then work backwards to see which modules you need to take in your first, second, and third years. This can sometimes be tricky, as not all subject combinations are possible due to timetable clashes. For example, while you can take some Computer Science modules, it isn’t possible to complete all the modules needed for a full Computer Science major. For this reason, it’s important to stick to the electives listed in the yearbook.
What happens afterwards?
Students in this focal area typically apply to do their BSc(Honours) degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science or the additional major that they chose. The BSc(Hons) degree is essential in all Science fields as the basic level for becoming a practicing scientist. However many students also choose to stop at a BSc and go on to gainful employment using their analytical and scientific skills that they aquired during their BSc.
Typical modules
- First year: Fundamentals of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics plus two electives.
- Second year: Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, plus four electives
- Third year: Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, plus four electives
Overview
Chemical Biology prepares students for careers in industries that draw on the organic and biochemical aspects of chemistry, including food production and medicinal chemistry. The programme also provides a strong foundation for postgraduate studies and research careers in Chemistry or Biochemistry.
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This focal area is for you if you find yourself leaning more towards the biochemical aspects of science. The focal area was born out of the study area of chemical biology that involved previous and current members of the our department. Your subjects will ultimately mean you end up with a double major in Chemistry and Biochemistry, alllowing you to continue in either of these two fields.
What happens afterwards?
Students in this focal area typically apply to do their BSc(Honours) degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science or Biochemistry. The BSc(Hons) degree is essential in all Science fields as the basic level for becoming a practicing scientist. However many students also choose to stop at a BSc and go on to gainful employment using their analytical and scientific skills that they aquired during their BSc.
Typical modules
- 1st year: Fundamentals of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Biology
- 2nd year: Biochemistry, Microbiology, Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry
- 3rd year: Biochemistry, Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry
Overview
Applied and Sustainable Chemistry focuses on innovative chemical solutions to environmental challenges, including pollution reduction, waste minimisation, and the development of safer, renewable materials. Students are trained to think critically about chemical life cycles and sustainability, preparing them to become responsible, forward-thinking scientists. Additionally, courses in polymer chemistry and applied medicinal chemistry further strengthen the applied nature of this programme.
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If you are really only interested in chemistry, especially its application to real-world problems, this focal area is for you. At the first and second year, there are a number of electives that you can choose, but at the third year level you will get a full complement of chemistry and applied chemistry courses.
What happens afterwards?
Students in this focal area typically apply to do their BSc(Honours) degree in Chemistry or Polymer Science. The BSc(Hons) degree is essential in all Science fields as the basic level for becoming a practicing scientist. However many students also choose to stop at a BSc and go on to gainful employment using their analytical and scientific skills that they aquired during their BSc.
Typical modules
- 1st year: Fundamentals of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics plus two electives
- 2nd year: Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry and four electives
- 3rd year: Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Polymer Science (1 & 2), Green and Sustainable Chemistry, Applied Medicinal Chemistry
Overview
Chemistry with Chemical Engineering combines a strong grounding in chemistry with key chemical engineering principles. Graduates are well prepared for careers in industrial sectors where chemistry underpins process development and production. On completion, students may apply to enter the Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering, starting in the third year of that programme.
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Many students interested in chemistry choose chemical engineering, only to discover that there is very little chemistry in the ChemEng degree. This focal area was born out of the desire to meet the needs of those interested in both chemistry and chemical engineering. On the Engineering side, the demand for students with a greater grounding in chemistry has also been identified. The overarching principle of this focal area is to make sure that after the BSc (three years), a student may then be able to apply for a BEng(ChemEng) and enter at the third year of study. This means that one could end up with both a BSc and a BEng after five years of study, with a very markatable set of skills.
What happens afterwards?
Students in this focal area typically apply to register in the Engineering faculty and complete their BEng(chmical engineering) or to stay in Science and complete their BSc(Honours) degree in Chemistry or Polymer Science. Much like the four year BEng degree, the BSc(Hons) degree is essential in all Science fields as the basic level for becoming a practicing scientist. However many students also choose to stop at a BSc and go on to gainful employment using their analytical and scientific skills that they aquired during their BSc.
Typical modules
- 1st year: Fundamentals of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, Computer Science and Chemical Engineering
- 2nd year: Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Applied Mathematics, Physics and Chemical Engineering
- 3rd year: Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Polymer Chemistry (1 & 2), Thermodynamics and Chemical Engineering.
Overview
This focal area trains graduates for careers in the medical, pharmaceutical and allied health industries by giving them a background in all fundamental aspects of chemistry and physiology along with applications in medicinal chemistry.
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This focal area is one of the most interdisiplinary ones that we have on offer. In a simple sense it is a double major with Physiology and Chemistry, but it includes subjects from biochemistry, biodiversity and ecology (angiosperm diversity - needed for medicinal plants) and a purpose made interdiciplinary applied chemistry course on Medicinal Chemistry (presented by Biochemistry and Chemistry). Note that both Chemical Biology and this focal area are aligned with the notion of medicinal chemistry research, however this focal area is for those that feel more aligned to Physiology than pure biochemistry.
What happens afterwards?
Students in this focal area typically apply to do their BSc(Honours) degree in Chemistry, Polymer Science or Physiology. The BSc(Hons) degree is essential in all Science fields as the basic level for becoming a practicing scientist. However many students also choose to stop at a BSc and go on to gainful employment using their analytical and scientific skills that they aquired during their BSc.
Typical modules
- 1st year: Fundamentals of Chemistry, Physics, Mathematics, and Biology
- 2nd year: Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Physiology, Biochemistry
- 3rd year: Analytical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, Applied Medicinal Chemistry, Physiology, Patent Law, Angiosperm Diversity