Science Careers

• The article was updated on the 29th of October 2021. 

Bachelor of Science Degrees – The jobs you can do with them

FYI:

• Subject requirements may differ slightly at each university.
• Associated salary depends on which route you choose to take with your degree, the given associated salary is not completely accurate and is just to give you an idea of what to expect.

Degree: BSc (Biodiversity and Ecology)

Possible Careers:

• biologist
• ecologist
• environmental consultant
• life sciences teacher
• researcher
• environmental impact expert
• plant specialist
• conservation scientist
• environmental educator

What you need to do to study BSc Biodiversity and Ecology:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Afrikaans OR English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%
• Physical Sciences 50%
• Mathematics 60%

Degree: BSc (Human Life Sciences)

Possible Careers:

• physiologist
• biochemist
• geneticist or psychologist (with necessary postgraduate qualification)
• medical representative
• laboratory analyst
• life sciences or life orientation teacher
• stem cell researcher
• anthropometrist

What you need to do to study BSc Human Life Sciences:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Afrikaans OR English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%
• Physical Sciences 50%

• Mathematics 60% OR 70% (depending on your subject choice)

• Mathematics 60%

Degree: BSc (Molecular Biology and Biotechnology)

Possible Careers:

• forensic expert
• life sciences teacher
• biofuel developer
• water expert
• geneticist
• microbiologists
• biochemists
• biotechnologists work on human, plant and animal cells, yeasts, bacteria, fungi and viruses to develop disease-free plants, new medicines, or enzymes useful in industry or mining

What you need to do to study BSc Molecular Biology and Biotechnology:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Afrikaans OR English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%
• Physical Sciences 50%
• Mathematics 60% or 70% (depending on your subject choices)

Degree: BSc (Sports Science)

Possible Careers:

• sport coach
• sports manager
• sport scientist
• sport physiologist
• work with persons with disabilities
• fitness instructor
• biokineticist (with the necessary postgraduate qualification)
• sport or life orientation teacher

What you need to do to study BSc Sports Science:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%
• Physical Sciences 50%
• Mathematics 60%

Degree: BSc (Geoinformatics)

Possible Careers:

• Geographical information science practitioner
• Geography teacher
• GIS and earth observation specialists working for environmental consultancy groups
• planning and engineering firms
• program development and computer consultancy groups on all levels of government involved in resource and infrastructure management
• agencies concerned with natural and human resource development programs
• mineral exploration and mining

What you need to do to study BSc Geoinformatics:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Afrikaans or English (Home Language and First Additional Language) 50%
• Physical Sciences 50%
• Mathematics 60% OR 70% (depending on subject choices)

Degree: BSc (Chemistry)

Possible Careers:

• Polymer chemist, materials expert: Careers in packaging, paint, adhesives and textile industries
• Analytical chemist: Planning and operation of chemical plants, development of analytical methods and production processes, marketing of chemicals and scientific instruments, physical science teacher, an environmental scientist
• Organic and biochemist: forensic analyst, manufacturer of pesticides, pharmaceutical products, cosmetic and fragrance products, a chemist working in process and quality control of raw materials and manufactured products
• Careers in the textile industry: product developer, textile scientist, technical sales manager, production manager, quality manager, buyer, researcher

What you need to do to study BSc Chemistry:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Afrikaans OR English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%
• Mathematics 70%
• Physical Sciences 50%

Degree: BSc (Earth Sciences)

Possible Careers:

• geologist and earth scientist
• geologist
• mining geologist
• environmental rehabilitation engineer
• physical science or geography teacher
• exploration consultant
• environmental geochemist
• hydrologist
• seismologist
• rock expert
• marine geologist
• applied mineralogist
• volcanologist
• geophysicist

What you need to do to study BSc Earth Sciences:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Afrikaans and English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%
• Physical Sciences 50%
• Mathematics 60% OR 70% (depending on your subject choices)

Degree: BSc (Physics)

Possible Careers:

• Nuclear physicist: Research opportunities at iThemba Labs, Eskom, CSIR, Sasol and SABS
• Laser physicist: optical systems, communication, medicine, ecology, forensic science, defence
• Radiation physicist: Monitoring of radiation risks for the Department of Health, nuclear power stations, mines
• Theoretical physics: Work in broad fields of information technology, geology, biological and economic sciences

What you need to do to study BSc Physics:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 50%
• Mathematics 70%
• Physical Sciences 50%

Degree: BSc (Mathematical Sciences)

Possible Careers:

• Applied mathematics: Consultant in the engineering industry, programmer, expert in the modelling of dynamic processes, image processing, numerical methods and flow modelling in the banking/engineering/computer industry.
• Bio-mathematics: Pharmaceutical industry, government health organisations, agricultural and environmental sectors, a researcher at an academic institution in molecular and systems biology, bioinformatics and ecology
• Financial mathematics: banking, insurance and investment institutions
• Mathematical statistics: analyse and interpret data for banking and insurance industries, statistician, academic
• Mathematics: banking, investment, and insurance sectors, mathematics teacher
• Operations research: Consultant, process or systems optimiser, logistics expert, project developer, planner, researcher, business analyst

What you need to do to study BSc Mathematical Sciences:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Afrikaans or English (Home Language and First Additional Language) 50%
• Mathematics 60%

• Physical Sciences 50%

• Physical Sciences 50%

Degree: BSc (Archaeology)

Possible Careers:

• field technician
• project archaeologist
• manager
• academic archaeologist

What you need to do to study BSc Archaeology:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Mathematics 70%
• Physical Sciences 60%

Degree: BSc (Computer Science)

Possible Careers:

• database administrator
• games developer
• IT consultant
• systems developer
• systems analyst

What you need to do to study BSc computer science:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Mathematics 70%
• Physical Sciences 60%

Degree: BSc (Statistical Sciences)

Possible Careers:

• statistician
• actuary
• risk analysis
• trading
• financial services
• research

What you need to do to study BSc statistical science:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Mathematics 70%
• Physical Sciences 60%

Degree: BSc (Food Science)

Possible Careers:

• researcher
• food and beverage quality manager

What you need to do to study BSc in Food Science:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Mathematics 70%
• Physical Sciences 60