Welcome to the Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology (GGM), one of 13 departments in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. We are located in the Geography building on the Hatfield campus. The department welcomes you to a wide range of modules on topics including physical geography, urban and human geography, environmental science, cartography and geovisualization, geographic information systems (GIS), spatial analysis, remote sensing, geospatial data and services, and meteorology.
The purpose of this document is to provide uniform guidance for all undergraduate and postgraduate modules presented by this department. Instead of repeating the same information in the study guide of each module, this guide includes all the information that applies to every module. These guidelines are in line with the UP General Rules and Regulations, available at www.up.ac.za, go to Study > Yearbooks > General Rules and Regulations, and the Faculty Regulations at www.up.ac.za, go to Study > Yearbooks > Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences > Faculty Regulations.
All student administration matters (e.g., registration, program changes, etc.) are handled by the Dean’s Office. Tutor appointments and class representatives are handled by our department. A call for applications is sent to our student email distribution lists twice a year, a few weeks before the semester commences. Students who would like to tutor should register for the email distribution lists at the relevant links on the Students page of the GGM website. Geospatial Information Services assists with finding geospatial data, preparing maps and conducting spatial analyses. Contact details are in the table below.
| Name | Office | Extension | ||
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| GGM student administrator | Ms Sandra Wilkinson | Geography Building, Room 1-3 | +27 12 420 3536 | [email protected] |
| NAS student administrator for UG in GGM | Mr Tinyiko Sithole | NAS Building, ground floor | +27 12 420 2983 | [email protected] |
| NAS student administrator for Honours in GGM | Ms Cathy Barnard | NAS Building, ground floor | +27 12 420 4127 | [email protected] |
| NAS student administrator for Masters and PhD in GGM | Ms Dinah Bokaba | NAS Building, ground floor | +27 12 420 3577 | [email protected] |
| Humanities student administrator for UG | Mr Daniel Letsoalo | Information Technology Building 2-9, Counter 5 | +27 12 4203703 | [email protected] |
| Humanities student administrator for PG | Ms Zandile Masehela | Information Technology Building 2-101 | +27 12 420 6909 | [email protected] |
| Geospatial Information Services | Mr Lourens Snyman | Geography Building 1-8.1 | +27 12 420 2862 | [email protected] |
Student finance matters, as well as general queries regarding university life and studying at UP can be directed to the Student Service Centre ([email protected]), ground floor of the Humanities Building.
The contact details for the Academic Success Coaches (previously Faculty Student Advisors (FSAs)) are available at https://www.up.ac.za/teaching-and-learning/article/2494904/faculty-student-advisors-fsas, scroll down and click on the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences button.
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The Academic Success Coaches can advise you on goal-setting, adjustment to university life, time management, study methods, stress management and career exploration. Book an individual consultation or attend a workshop. For other support services see Section 5. |
Lecturer contact details are available on the GGM website at https://www.up.ac.za/geography-geoinformatics-and-meteorology/article/46217/academic-staff. Their consulting hours are announced in the study guide and/or next to their office door.
In its teaching, the department aims to follow the four UP drivers for curriculum transformation, namely responsiveness to social context, diverse epistemologies, inclusive pedagogies and classroom practices, and openness and critical reflection.
You have to take responsibility for your own learning by being actively engaged in the module. To complete any module, you will have to apply yourself, participate in class, work diligently, submit all assessments, and attend all contact sessions, as some information may only be conveyed during contact sessions.
All module-related communication will take place during contact sessions and via clickUP announcements. It is the student’s responsibility to attend contact sessions and to regularly review the latest announcements in clickUP. For clickUP support, see https://eduvation.up.ac.za/students/.
Each credit allocated to a module amounts to ten hours of learning. This implies that all modules require extensive self-study, as well as preparation for tests and examinations. To facilitate your learning, you should arrive at class on time and come prepared. This enables learning to build on common prior knowledge. Module study guides provide information on how to prepare for each contact session.
Finally, you should actively engage and discuss the study material with tutors, peers and lecturers. However, the views of others should be respected even if you do not agree with them. The lecture hall is a safe place where questions can be freely asked without fear of judgement. Competitiveness is healthy, but it should not be done at the expense of others. Respect other students who want to learn; don’t hinder them with noisy private discussions during contact sessions.
We are not only facilitating learning, we are also preparing you for the world of work. We expect you to adhere to the code of conduct as spelled out in the Escalation Policy of UP.
When you send an email to your lecturer, you have to use a respectful tone and include all the following aspects:
You are more than welcome to express your appreciation to your lecturer or tutor and supply feedback about aspects of the course that you enjoy and find valuable.
If you have a query or complaint, you have to submit it in writing with specifics of the issue or the nature of the complaint. It is imperative that you follow the procedure outlined below in order to resolve your issues:
Plagiarism is a serious form of academic misconduct. It involves both appropriating someone else’s work and passing it off as one’s own work afterwards. Thus, you commit plagiarism when you present someone else's written or creative work (words, images, ideas, opinions, discoveries, artwork, music, recordings, computer-generated work, etc.) as your own. Only hand in your own original work. Indicate precisely and accurately when you have used information provided by someone else. Referencing must be done following a recognised system. Indicate whether you have downloaded information from the Internet. For more details, visit the library’s website: https://www.library.up.ac.za/plagiarism.
All assignments submitted by a student must be accompanied by a signed Plagiarism Declaration Form, available from the UP Library website.
As indicated in the plagiarism prevention policy, plagiarism incidents and the penalty decided by the lecturer will be reported in the university’s Plagiarism Register.
In the era of high-tech tools like artificial intelligence and generative AI, you must be careful and clear to ensure your work maintains its academic integrity and is written in your own voice. If you are unsure about whether or how you are permitted to use generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, DeepSeek, Copilot, or Quillbot and the generative aspect of Grammarly for your assignments or assessments (including just for editing text), consult your study guide or ask your lecturer. Failing to adhere to these guidelines would be considered academic dishonesty. Also, consult the UP Student Guide on AI use and this easy-to-use summary on AI use.
The module study guide contains an assessment plan, listing assessment opportunities. A formula for calculating the semester and final marks is included.
The module study guide specifies assessment criteria that will be used to assess each learning opportunity. If you are required to perform a task or submit an assignment, the assessment criteria are usually in the form of a rubric. For most assessments, such as class and semester tests, you will be marked according to a memorandum. Students have the right to verify their results and the marking framework, but memoranda are not necessarily given to students.
The rules in the table below apply to assessments in modules offered by this department. These rules should be read in conjunction with the UP General Rules and Regulations, available at www.up.ac.za, go to Study > Yearbooks > General Rules and Regulations, and the Faculty Regulations at www.up.ac.za, go to Study > Yearbooks > Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences > Faculty Regulations.
Unless otherwise indicated by your module coordinator, late submissions will result in a zero mark
Unless otherwise indicated by your module coordinator, the following applies if you miss a scheduled assessment (excluding exams):
Marks shall be published within a reasonable time after an assessment. We aim to publish them before the next assessment of the same kind takes place but for large classes, this may be difficult. You may query the mark for your assessment on the day when the marks are discussed in class and/or on the day of perusal. Strictly no mark queries after that! While memoranda may be discussed in class or available during perusals, memoranda are not necessarily made available for students to take home
Assessment in modules is conducted either through summative examination or continuous assessment. Exam entry, sick exam and supplementary exams are not applicable in the case of continuous assessment
Some modules in the department are completed via continuous assessment and therefore do not have summative exams and supplementary exams. The final mark is calculated from assessments completed during the semester, however, in some instances, final assignments or assessments may be scheduled during the examination period. Students enrolled in such modules must adhere to continuous assessment guidelines as communicated in the module study guide. A final mark of 50% is required to pass the module. An additional semester assessment opportunity may be considered if:
A year or semester mark of at least 40% is required for admission to the summative examination in any module presented by the department at undergraduate, Honours and Masters levels. If you write the exam without admission to the examination, the exam script will not be marked.
As stipulated in the NAS Faculty Regulation 1.6.1, “Class attendance is compulsory for all students in all modules for the full duration of all programmes. A student may be refused admission to the examination or promotion to a subsequent year of study if he/she fails to comply with the attendance requirements.”
Module-specific criteria for class attendance and admission to summative examinations are published in the study guide.
If you are prevented from preparing for an exam, or from sitting for it, owing to unforeseen circumstances or illness, you must apply to the dean for a sick exam (aegrotat) within three days of the exam that you missed AND inform the module coordinator that you have applied. The application process can be done via the student portal. Note that the module coordinator cannot grant you a sick exam, only the dean can.
Supplementary examinations are granted in undergraduate modules under the following circumstances:
Supplementary examinations at Honours and Masters level are only granted under exceptional circumstances at the end of a year, and in two modules at the most.
See General Regulation G12.5 for undergraduate students. Chancellor’s examinations are not granted for modules at Honours and Masters level.
Valid original sick notes are accepted if signed and stamped by a medical doctor registered at the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA). The only other type of sick note that is accepted are those issued by an Advanced Practice Nurse (a registered nurse with a postgraduate qualification) as determined by the South African Nursing Council who has a BHCF practice number, provided that the diagnosis falls only within their specific field of specialisation.
An affidavit will only be accepted if accompanied by substantiating supporting documentation, e.g. a signed and stamped original case report or criminal charge with case number obtained from a police station, a valid medical certificate for injuries, a death certificate for a funeral, a newspaper obituary, invitation to the funeral, etc.
Submission of fraudulent sick notes and affidavits is a criminal offence, which will lead to disciplinary action and may result in dismissal.
In the case of representation in sports, you have to submit a signed, original letter from the coach or leader of the group, as well as an official notice of the event that includes the date and location of the event.
In the case of a clash with another test, you have to submit the study guide or a copy of an email from the module coordinator indicating the date and time of the test. Evidence for a clash must be presented before the test.
If you have special requirements for assessment (e.g. requiring additional time), you must inform your lecturer a minimum of 5 working days before the assessment so that arrangements can be made. Students must bring a letter from the appropriate faculty office confirming their special requirements. Students are requested to communicate with the Division of Student Support (012 420 4281 / 012 420 2582) regarding all matters pertaining to special needs. Note that it may take some time to obtain such a letter, therefore students should contact Student Support about this at the start of the first semester.
With reference to general regulation G.18.2, Renewal of registration:
For each field trip or excursion, each student must submit a signed indemnity declaration together with a signed Annexure A with medical information about the student. The forms will be provided to the students by the module coordinator.
The University of Pretoria is committed to the improvement of teaching and learning through dedicated support to lecturers and students. Students particularly are important participants in the improvement of the teaching practices of lecturers, and as such, their feedback on the SFTS is of value to the lecturer. EvaluationKIT enables students to provide feedback on the SFTS through a single sign-on in clickUP; anywhere and from any device, including phones.
The purpose of the evaluation of teaching is to assist lecturers in continuously improving their teaching, learning and assessment practices and the general quality of the modules they teach. Student feedback on the general quality of teaching and learning is regarded as one of the ways in which these practices can improve. Lecturers can also submit up to seven questions to enquire into the specific contexts of their modules.
The University of Pretoria is committed to building an inclusive, affirming and transformed institutional culture, curriculum and campus life. It rejects and condemns racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, xenophobia, ethnic chauvinism, religious intolerance, unfair discrimination, hate speech, sexual harassment, gender-based violence and retaliation, and all other forms of discrimination. The University has committed itself to the eradication of these practices, and in 2019 adopted an Anti-Discrimination Policy, in order to realise procedural and substantive equality in all respects. As the lecturer and presenter of this course, I acknowledge the extreme harm that racism, sexism, xenophobia and other forms of discrimination have inflicted and continue to inflict on our society and communities. I commit to ensuring that there is an open dialogue between myself and all the students in the module on curriculum content and teaching methods which may be interpreted as discriminatory or exclusive. I undertake to ensure that any such concerns are raised without fear of intimidation or recrimination. Moreover, I resolve to continuously improve the teaching of this course in a way that allows the inclusion of all the students enrolled for this course, building their self-confidence and self-efficacy, and supporting the ultimate goal of substantive equality for all persons. The choices that we make about curriculum content and pedagogy (what and how we teach) are also choices about what kind of society we wish to build. In this declaration of intent, I resolve to be part of and give substance to the University’s anti-discrimination and transformation endeavours. It is furthermore proposed that the above statement be appropriately amended in cases where modules or courses are co-taught by more than one lecturer.
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Your Academic Success Coach can advise you on goal-setting, adjustment to university life, time management, study methods, stress management and career exploration. Book an individual consultation or attend a workshop.
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Website: www.up.ac.za/fly@up Email: [email protected] |
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| Disability Unit | Academic support for students with learning disabilities:
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Website: https://www.up.ac.za/disability-unit Tel: 012 420 2064 Email: [email protected] |
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| Student Counselling Unit | Provides counselling and therapeutic support to students | Tel: 012 420 2333 |  |
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Tel: 012 420 5233 Tel: 012 420 3423 |
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| The Careers Office | Provides support for UP students and graduates as they prepare for their careers |
Website: [email protected] Tel: 012 420 2315 |
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| Department of Security Services |
24-hour Operational Management Centre 24-hour Operational Manager Crisis Line |
Tel: 012 420-2310 Tel: 012 420-2760 Tel: 083 654 0476 Tel: 0800 006 428 |
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| Department of Student Affairs | Enquiries concerning studies, accommodation, food, funds, social activities and personal problem |
Tel: 012 420 2371/4001 Roosmaryn Building, Hatfield campus |
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| Centre for Sexualities, AIDS and Gender | Identifies and provides training of student peer counsellors | 012 420 4391 |  |
| Fees and funding |
Website: http://www.up.ac.za/enquiry www.up.ac.za/fees-and-funding Tel: 012 420 3111 |
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| Library |
Website: https://www.library.up.ac.za/ Tel: 012 420 2235/6 |
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| Student Computing Services | For student IT related queries |
Website: [email protected] |
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