BSc Applied Ecology and Global Change at University of the Witwatersrand

Programme overview

Study the foundations of animal, ecology, and plant sciences. Bachelor of Science in the field of Biological Sciences Major: Applied Ecology This exciting course, offered by the School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences, provides you with the appropriate skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed for a range of zoological, botanical, and ecological careers and specialisations. To find out more about the Biological Sciences Programme at Wits, visit our site.

Faculty: Science | Department: Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences | Duration: 3 years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

What you will study

First-year; Introductory Life Sciences; AND; Chemistry; AND; Auxiliary Mathematics; AND; Any other Level I course; Second-year; Life on Earth: Diversity; Life on Earth: Evolution; Ecology, Environment, and Conservation IIA and IIB; Animal Form and Function; Plant Form and Function; AND; Basic Statistics for the Natural Sciences; AND; Any other Level II courses; Third-year; Each major has a choice

Career pathways

Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Biodiversity Planner Biology Education Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWA) Education Officer Herbaria (e.g. at Kirstenbosch) Medical Research (Linked to Herbal Medicines) Nature Conservation Research for the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Scientific Journalism Private Consulting Firms South African National Biodiversity Institut

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Minimum APS: 43. APS 43+ English Home Language OR First Additional Language Level 5 Mathematics Level 5 Wait-listing Applicants with 41-42 points may be wait-listed, subject to place availability International Applicants National Benchmark Test All applicants to the Faculty of Science are required to write the National Benchmark Test by 31 October 2026. There are two tests: The Academic and Quantitative Literacy Test and the Mathematics Test. Both tests must be written in one session. Your test results are used in addition to your Grade 12 results to identify students who may need additional support during the course of their studies. You can register for the NBT before you submit your application to Wits. DO NOT wait for an official notification from Wits to register for and write the tests, as you may miss the end of September deadline. For test dates, registration dates and available venues, please re

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Postgraduate applications are made online at www.wits.ac.za/applications; the closing date for each programme is listed in its course finder entry. The application fee is R200 (not payable by current Wits students applying online), paid via the Self-Service Portal or by EFT to the Wits University Application Fees account at FNB.

Apply through the official page: https://www.wits.ac.za/applications

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