Interdisciplinary Programme: BSc
This programme offers four streams of which you choose one:
- Applied Medicinal Chemistry
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Biomathematics
- Biomedical Mathematical Sciences
Each stream leads to a BSc degree with a distinctive curriculum allowing selected students to pursue interdisciplinary undergraduate studies, and thereafter possibly postgraduate studies, in the fields of engineering science or bioinformatics, thus on an interdisciplinary level.
Above-mentioned programme structure differs from the current programmes (except for the BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology, and BSc in Earth Sciences), which are designed with a double major structure and typically prepare students for postgraduate studies in either of the two disciplines taken as majors. See the curriculum for the BSc Interdisciplinary programme in our Calendar.
Stream: Applied Medicinal Chemistry
The Medicinal Chemistry stream gives a broad, multi-disciplinary background in Chemistry and Physiology to prepare students for careers in the medical, pharmaceutical and allied health industries
This stream leads to an honours programme in Physiological Sciences or in Chemistry.
Stream: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology is a field that utilizes computers to store, retrieve and analyse enormous volumes of biological data generated by highly parallelised methods used in modern biological research. The datasets can, for an example, include the genome sequences of diverse organisms or human populations, the full protein complement of an organism or tissue, an extensive group of metabolites in a cell, or any other high-dimensional biological data set. Bioinformatics and Computational Biology is involved in studying biological questions using the data sets, designing databases to ease information access, or designing algorithms and software tools to analyse the data sets.
You can work as a bioinformatics scientist in a group in industry or academia where you assist with data management, software development and implementation, or research.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, which could further lead to an MSc and a PhD in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. If applicable additional modules are taken, this stream could also lead to honours programmes in Biochemistry, Computer Science or Genetics, which could result in an additional academic year.
Stream: Biomathematics
There is a growing demand from fields such as molecular and systems biology, bioinformatics, and ecology for researchers with solid mathematical skills who can develop and analyse precise models for experimental data. The biomathematics stream meets this demand.
Biomathematics is a broad interdisciplinary field where mathematical, statistical, and computing techniques are used to explain phenomenon and research problems within the biological, biomedical and environmental sciences - from predicting the influence of HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis to the effects of climate change in South Africa.
The Biomathematics stream offers two options of which you choose one:
- A Molecular Biology option that leads to an honours programme in Biomathematics and also, if applicable elective modules are taken, an honours programme in Biochemistry.
- An Ecology option that leads to an honours programme in Biomathematics.
As a biomathematician you will be able to work for pharmaceutical companies, the government, health organisations, and the agricultural and environmental sectors as a climatologist, as a future analyst or as a researcher.
Should you wish to qualify as a high school teacher after you have obtained a BSc degree, you may take the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in the Faculty of Education. However, to do this you should take undergraduate subjects enabling you to teach two school subjects.
Stream: Biomedical Mathematical Sciences
This stream will develop your abilities to undertake advanced reflection on, and develop solutions for problems that require an integration of knowledge and skills from multidisciplinary fields such as engineering, mathematics and the natural sciences.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Physiological Sciences or in Mathematics.
You could also follow a degree in this stream up with a postgraduate diploma in Engineering Science, which could further lead to a master's degree programme in Engineering Science and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering.
Minimum admission requirements
- For the NSC, an average final mark of 65% (excluding Life Orientation)
- Afrikaans OR English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%
- Mathematics 70%
- Physical Sciences 50%
This programme offers four streams of which you choose one:
- Applied Medicinal Chemistry
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
- Biomathematics
- Biomedical Mathematical Sciences
Each stream leads to a BSc degree with a distinctive curriculum allowing selected students to pursue interdisciplinary undergraduate studies, and thereafter possibly postgraduate studies, in the fields of engineering science or bioinformatics, thus on an interdisciplinary level.
Above-mentioned programme structure differs from the current programmes (except for the BSc in Biodiversity and Ecology, and BSc in Earth Sciences), which are designed with a double major structure and typically prepare students for postgraduate studies in either of the two disciplines taken as majors. See the curriculum for the BSc Interdisciplinary programme in our Calendar.
Stream: Applied Medicinal Chemistry
The Medicinal Chemistry stream gives a broad, multi-disciplinary background in Chemistry and Physiology to prepare students for careers in the medical, pharmaceutical and allied health industries
This stream leads to an honours programme in Physiological Sciences or in Chemistry.
Stream: Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
Bioinformatics and Computational Biology is a field that utilizes computers to store, retrieve and analyse enormous volumes of biological data generated by highly parallelised methods used in modern biological research. The datasets can, for an example, include the genome sequences of diverse organisms or human populations, the full protein complement of an organism or tissue, an extensive group of metabolites in a cell, or any other high-dimensional biological data set. Bioinformatics and Computational Biology is involved in studying biological questions using the data sets, designing databases to ease information access, or designing algorithms and software tools to analyse the data sets.
You can work as a bioinformatics scientist in a group in industry or academia where you assist with data management, software development and implementation, or research.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, which could further lead to an MSc and a PhD in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology. If applicable additional modules are taken, this stream could also lead to honours programmes in Biochemistry, Computer Science or Genetics, which could result in an additional academic year.
Stream: Biomathematics
There is a growing demand from fields such as molecular and systems biology, bioinformatics, and ecology for researchers with solid mathematical skills who can develop and analyse precise models for experimental data. The biomathematics stream meets this demand.
Biomathematics is a broad interdisciplinary field where mathematical, statistical, and computing techniques are used to explain phenomenon and research problems within the biological, biomedical and environmental sciences - from predicting the influence of HIV/Aids, malaria and tuberculosis to the effects of climate change in South Africa.
The Biomathematics stream offers two options of which you choose one:
- A Molecular Biology option that leads to an honours programme in Biomathematics and also, if applicable elective modules are taken, an honours programme in Biochemistry.
- An Ecology option that leads to an honours programme in Biomathematics.
As a biomathematician you will be able to work for pharmaceutical companies, the government, health organisations, and the agricultural and environmental sectors as a climatologist, as a future analyst or as a researcher.
Should you wish to qualify as a high school teacher after you have obtained a BSc degree, you may take the Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE) in the Faculty of Education. However, to do this you should take undergraduate subjects enabling you to teach two school subjects.
Stream: Biomedical Mathematical Sciences
This stream will develop your abilities to undertake advanced reflection on, and develop solutions for problems that require an integration of knowledge and skills from multidisciplinary fields such as engineering, mathematics and the natural sciences.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Physiological Sciences or in Mathematics.
You could also follow a degree in this stream up with a postgraduate diploma in Engineering Science, which could further lead to a master's degree programme in Engineering Science and a PhD in Biomedical Engineering in the Faculty of Engineering.
Minimum admission requirements
- For the NSC, an average final mark of 65% (excluding Life Orientation)
- Afrikaans OR English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%
- Mathematics 70%
- Physical Sciences 50%