Undergraduate

BSc Meteorology - Code 02133312

Admission requirements:

(a) To register for a first bachelor's degree at the University, a candidate must, in addition to the required National Senior Certificate with admission for degree purposes, comply with the specific admission requirements for particular modules and fields of study as prescribed in the admission regulations and the faculty regulations.

(b) Candidates are advised to write the Institutional Proficiency Test of the University of Pretoria.

(c) Applicants are notified in writing of provisional admission. Admission to the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences is based on the final grade 12 examination results. In the case of the BSc (Four-year programme) candidates may be considered for admission based on the final grade 12 examination results and the results of the compulsory Institutional Proficiency Test.

(d) The following persons may also be considered for admission:

(i) A candidate who is in possession of a certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate with admission for degree purposes.

(ii) A candidate who is a graduate from another tertiary institution or has been granted the status of a graduate of such an institution.

(iii) A candidate who passes an entrance examination, as prescribed by the University from time to time.

Abovementioned candidates are requested to contact the Student Administration at the faculty for more information regarding admission requirements. Note: A conditional exemption certificate does not grant admission to bachelor’s study. However, in certain circumstances some of the faculties do accept a conditional exemption on the basis of mature age. Candidates are advised to contact the specific faculty administration in this regard.

(e) The Senate may limit the number of students allowed to register for a module, in which case the Dean concerned may, at his own discretion, select from the students who qualify for admission those who may be admitted.

(f) Subject to faculty regulations and the stipulations of the General Regulations (G. Regulations), a candidate will only be admitted to postgraduate bachelor’s degree studies, if he or she is already in possession of a recognised bachelor’s degree.

(g) Admission requirements for the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences for candidates with a National Senior Certificate: To be able to gain access to the Faculty and specific programmes prospective students require the appropriate combinations of recognised NSC subjects as well as certain levels of achievement in the said subjects. In this regard the determination of an admission point score (APS) is explained and a summary of the specific requirements, ie the APS and the specific subjects required is provided.

 

Determination of an Admission Point Score (APS)

The calculation is simple and based on a candidate’s achievement in six 20-credit recognised subjects by using the NSC ratings, i.e. the “1 to 7 scale of achievement”. Thus, the highest APS that can be achieved is 42. Life Orientation is excluded from the calculation determining the APS required for admission per faculty.

Rating code	Rating	Marks
7	Outstanding achievement	80-100%
6	Meritorious achievement	70-79%
5	Substantial achievement	60-69%
4	Adequate achievement	50-59%
3	Moderate achievement	40-49%
2	Elementary achievement	30-39%
1	Not achieved	0-29%

Preliminary admission is based on the results obtained in the final Grade 11 examination. Final admission is based on Grade 12 results.

 

Alternative admission channels: Candidates with an APS lower than required, could be considered for admission to the faculty if they meet the additional assessment criteria specified by the faculty from time to time. Preference will, however, be given to students who comply with the regular admission requirements of the faculty.

 

Specific requirements for the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

1. A valid National Senior Certificate with admission for degree purposes.

2. It is recommended that all applicants write the UP Institutional Proficiency Test

3. The following minimum subject and level requirements:

Degree	APS	Group A		Group B
		Two languages	Mathematics	Physical Sciences
BSc Meteorology	32	Afrikaans or English 5 (60-69%)	5 (60%-69%)	5 (60%-69%)
	Students who do not comply with these entrance requirements and who wrote the Institutional Proficiency Test may be considered for the BSc (Four-year programme) by the Admissions Committee. For further information, please refer to the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences Yearbook.

 

Programme composition: The BSc Meteorology degree programme for the 2015 academic year is provided below.

First year, first semester:
Code	Name	Credits
LST 110	Language and study skills 110	6

PHY 114	First course in physics 114	16
WKD 155	Atmospheric structure and processes 155	16
WTW 114	Calculus 114	16
Total credits for compulsory modules		54

First year, second semester:
Code	Name		Credits
AIM 101	Academic information management 101*		6
PHY 124	First course in physics 124		16
WKD 164	Climate and weather of Southern Africa 164		8
WTW 126	Linear algebra 126		8
WTW 128	Calculus 128		8
Total credits for compulsory modules			46
*Students may enrol for AIM 111 and AIM 121 instead of AIM 101 (the same content presented over 2 semesters)
Compulsory credits = (100) Elective credits = (42) Total credits = (142)

 

Second year, first semester:
Code	Name		Credits
GMA 220	Remote sensing 220		16
WKD 261	Physical meteorology 261		14
WTW 218	Calculus 218		12
Total credits for compulsory modules			42

Second year, second semester:
Code	Name	Credits
GIS 220	Geographic data analysis 220	12
WKD 263	Introduction to dynamical meteorology 263	14
WTW 248	Vector analysis 248	12
Total credits for compulsory modules		38
Compulsory credits = (80) Elective credits = (68) Total credits = (148)
Third year, first semester:
Code	Name	Credits
WKD 352	Atmospheric vorticity and divergence 352	18
WKD 356	Climate and community 356	18
Total credits for compulsory modules		36

Third year, second semester:
Code	Name	Credits
WKD 361	Quasi-geostrophic analysis 361	20
WKD 366	Fundamentals of weather forecasting 366	36
Total credits for compulsory modules		56
Electives for the first to third year can be chosen from modules in the following departments: Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, Geology, Plant Production and Soil Science, Chemistry, Plant Science, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Physics, Computer Science.
Compulsory credits = (92) Elective credits = (52) Total credits = (144)

Total credits required: A minimum of (434) credits is required to obtain the degree.

 

The University of Pretoria reserves the right to make changes to the above-mentioned admission requirements and/or degree programme. Prospective students are advised to contact the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences for updated information before applying and/or registering.