BSc in Mathematical Sciences
The BSc in Mathematical Sciences allows students scope in choosing a stream according to their interest. In the first year, all streams have Mathematics as a compulsory subject. However, the stream you choose will determine the compulsory major in your third year and your other subjects. These might include subjects offered by other faculties, such as Economics, Operations Research and Music Technology.
Programme content
See below for an overview of the various streams and the lines of work they prepare you for. See the curricula for the BSc in Mathematical Sciences streams in our Calendar.
Stream: Mathematics
This stream equips you to become a graduate with a thorough understanding of the nature, scope and application potential of mathematics. You will be able to continue with postgraduate studies in mathematics or enter a career where sophisticated quantitative skills and insight are required. This includes careers in the industrial and business sector such as in banking, insurance and investment firms.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Mathematics and also, if applicable elective modules are taken, to an honours programme in Applied Mathematics, Biomathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematical Statistics, Operations Research or Physics.
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: Abstract Mathematics
Abstract Mathematics is intended for students who want to become high school Mathematics teachers, lecturers at university or mathematicians who do research in interdisciplinary fields which rely more on structural mathematics rather than analytical mathematics. It allows you to combine Mathematics as the first major with one of the following subjects as your second major: Applied Mathematics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Genetics or Physics. There is also the opportunity to have Mathematics as a double major, in which case you will obtain a solid foundation for postgraduate study in mathematics.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Mathematics and also, if applicable elective modules are taken, to an honours programme in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Genetics, Computer Science or Applied Mathematics.
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. Depending on your undergraduate subject combination, you could teach the following school subjects:
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Information Technology
- Physical Sciences
- Life Sciences
Stream: Applied Mathematics
This stream trains students to become graduates who have the necessary knowledge and skills in respect of mathematical methods and computer techniques to solve both quantitative and qualitative problems in science and technology. With this theoretical and technical background and experience in various applications, such as the modelling of dynamic processes, image processing, computer security, numerical methods and flow modelling, you will be able to pursue a successful career in industry, banking and the computer industry.
The Applied Mathematics stream leads to an honours programme in Applied Mathematics and also, if applicable elective modules are taken, to an honours programme in Biomathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics or Operations Research.
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: Mathematical Statistics
The purpose of this stream is to train you to become an expert not only in identifying, analysing and interpreting the information contained in data, but also in planning the entire process. The programme will also prepare you for a career that requires a strong mathematical statistics background, for instance in the banking and insurance industries.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Mathematical Statistics and also, if applicable elective modules are taken, to an honours programme in Biomathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Genetics, Operations Research or Mathematics.
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: Financial Mathematics
The goal of this stream is to develop a good understanding of the nature, scope and application potential of mathematics in the financial sector. With this qualification you will be able to follow a career in banking, insurance and with investments institutions.
If applicable elective modules are taken, this stream leads to an honours programme in Mathematics or Mathematical Statistics.
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: Operations Research
Operations research takes a multidisciplinary, scientific approach to decision-making. The aim is to find the best solutions to complicated problems by the optimal allocation of scarce resources. The goal-oriented approach of this stream with its synergistic style delivers graduates who can find solutions to quantitative problems.
You can work as consultant in the industry or as a process or system optimiser. You can also work in the logistics department in die transport and provisioning sectors or as project developer.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Operations Research and also, if applicable elective module are taken, also an honours programme in Applied Mathematics or in Biomathematics or in Computer Science or in Economics or in Genetics or in Mathematical Statistics or in Physics.
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.
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%
AND
If you wish to take Chemistry or Physics as a compulsory or elective first-year university subject:
- Physical Sciences 50%
The BSc in Mathematical Sciences allows students scope in choosing a stream according to their interest. In the first year, all streams have Mathematics as a compulsory subject. However, the stream you choose will determine the compulsory major in your third year and your other subjects. These might include subjects offered by other faculties, such as Economics, Operations Research and Music Technology.
Programme content
See below for an overview of the various streams and the lines of work they prepare you for. See the curricula for the BSc in Mathematical Sciences streams in our Calendar.
Stream: Mathematics
This stream equips you to become a graduate with a thorough understanding of the nature, scope and application potential of mathematics. You will be able to continue with postgraduate studies in mathematics or enter a career where sophisticated quantitative skills and insight are required. This includes careers in the industrial and business sector such as in banking, insurance and investment firms.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Mathematics and also, if applicable elective modules are taken, to an honours programme in Applied Mathematics, Biomathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematical Statistics, Operations Research or Physics.
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: Abstract Mathematics
Abstract Mathematics is intended for students who want to become high school Mathematics teachers, lecturers at university or mathematicians who do research in interdisciplinary fields which rely more on structural mathematics rather than analytical mathematics. It allows you to combine Mathematics as the first major with one of the following subjects as your second major: Applied Mathematics, Biochemistry, Chemistry, Computer Science, Genetics or Physics. There is also the opportunity to have Mathematics as a double major, in which case you will obtain a solid foundation for postgraduate study in mathematics.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Mathematics and also, if applicable elective modules are taken, to an honours programme in Biochemistry, Chemistry, Physics, Genetics, Computer Science or Applied Mathematics.
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. Depending on your undergraduate subject combination, you could teach the following school subjects:
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Information Technology
- Physical Sciences
- Life Sciences
Stream: Applied Mathematics
This stream trains students to become graduates who have the necessary knowledge and skills in respect of mathematical methods and computer techniques to solve both quantitative and qualitative problems in science and technology. With this theoretical and technical background and experience in various applications, such as the modelling of dynamic processes, image processing, computer security, numerical methods and flow modelling, you will be able to pursue a successful career in industry, banking and the computer industry.
The Applied Mathematics stream leads to an honours programme in Applied Mathematics and also, if applicable elective modules are taken, to an honours programme in Biomathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Mathematics or Operations Research.
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: Mathematical Statistics
The purpose of this stream is to train you to become an expert not only in identifying, analysing and interpreting the information contained in data, but also in planning the entire process. The programme will also prepare you for a career that requires a strong mathematical statistics background, for instance in the banking and insurance industries.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Mathematical Statistics and also, if applicable elective modules are taken, to an honours programme in Biomathematics, Computer Science, Economics, Genetics, Operations Research or Mathematics.
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: Financial Mathematics
The goal of this stream is to develop a good understanding of the nature, scope and application potential of mathematics in the financial sector. With this qualification you will be able to follow a career in banking, insurance and with investments institutions.
If applicable elective modules are taken, this stream leads to an honours programme in Mathematics or Mathematical Statistics.
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: Operations Research
Operations research takes a multidisciplinary, scientific approach to decision-making. The aim is to find the best solutions to complicated problems by the optimal allocation of scarce resources. The goal-oriented approach of this stream with its synergistic style delivers graduates who can find solutions to quantitative problems.
You can work as consultant in the industry or as a process or system optimiser. You can also work in the logistics department in die transport and provisioning sectors or as project developer.
This stream leads to an honours programme in Operations Research and also, if applicable elective module are taken, also an honours programme in Applied Mathematics or in Biomathematics or in Computer Science or in Economics or in Genetics or in Mathematical Statistics or in Physics.
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.
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%
AND
If you wish to take Chemistry or Physics as a compulsory or elective first-year university subject:
- Physical Sciences 50%