Meteorology is the study of atmospheric phenomena. This not only includes the physics, chemistry and dynamics of the atmosphere but is extended to include many of the direct effects of the atmosphere upon the earth’s surface, the oceans and life in general. Meteorologists aim to achieve complete understanding, accurate prediction and artificial control of atmospheric phenomena.

Weather and climate are critical in people’s lives as they can affect many of our daily activities, such as agriculture, sports, travel and tourism. In the long term, they may even determine whether humankind survives or not. There is increasing concern that human activities may irreversibly change the earth’s weather and climate. Serious concerns are also expressed regarding the effects of air pollution. Meteorologists and atmospheric scientists are interested in understanding how the physics and dynamics of the atmosphere work.

Undergraduate modules include physics and calculus, atmospheric structures and processes, the South African climate and weather patterns, physical meteorology, remote sensing, geographic data analysis, dynamic meteorology, vector analysis and a weather forecasting module. The practical component is presented by a professional meteorologist using specialised software. Additional electives can be chosen from mathematics and applied mathematics, physics, mathematical statistics, and geography and geoinformatics.

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

• Disclaimer: This publication contains information about regulations and programmes of the University of Pretoria. Amendments to or updating of the information may be effected from time to time without prior notification. The accuracy, correctness or validity of the information contained here is therefore not guaranteed by the University at any given time and is always subject to verification. The user is kindly requested to verify the correctness of the information with the University at all times. Failure to do so will not give rise to any claim or action of any nature against the University by any party whatsoever.

Meteorologists are employed by institutions involved in the study, interpretation and prediction of weather and phenomena relating to the climate. The South African Weather Service (SAWS), the CSIR, some universities, agricultural institutions and general industries employ meteorologists who mainly practise as specialists in the following areas:

• Researchers: They research all aspects of the weather and climate in order to improve understanding of atmospheric phenomena. Atmospheric modellers use supercomputers to solve complex flow dynamic equations of the atmosphere. The monitoring of air quality and the modelling of the impact of air pollution on society are two important aspects that need to be addressed. Research into climate change is receiving increasing attention.
• Weather forecasters: It is the duty of the forecaster to analyse data and predict the weather by using models that are run on supercomputers. Weather forecasts are issued on different time scales, from very short-range forecasting to forecasts valid for months ahead, as well as seasonal forecasts. There are also some private weather forecasting positions, such as presenting the weather on television.
• Climatologists: They manage important data sets that contain large volumes of information gathered by the SAWS and other organisations.
• Consultants: Some meteorologists who work as consultants in the private sector and at universities provide specialised research services.
• Lecturers: A few academic positions are available for meteorologists and climatologists at South African universities. They ensure that the training of meteorologists meets international standards.

The BScHons Meteorology degree, which is required to become a professional meteorologist, complies fully with the Manual on the Implementation of Education and Training Standards in Meteorology and Hydrology Volume I – Meteorology.

Important information for all prospective students for 2022

• The admission requirements apply to students who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications.
• Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to:
  • Brochure: Undergraduate Programme Information 2022: Qualifications other than the NSC and IEB, available at click here.
• Citizens from countries other than South Africa (applicants who are not South African citizens) should also refer to:
  • Brochure: Newcomer’s Guide 2021, available at click here.
  • Website: click here.
• School of Tomorrow (SOT), Accelerated Christian Education (ACE) and General Education Development Test (GED): The University of Pretoria no longer accepts qualifications awarded by these institutions.
• National Certificate (Vocational) (NCV) Level 4: The University of Pretoria may consider NCV candidates, provided they meet the exemption for bachelor’s status criteria and the programme requirements.

Transferring students

A transferring student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme at the University of Pretoria (UP) –

• is a registered student at another tertiary institution, or was previously registered at another tertiary institution and did not complete the programme enrolled for at that institution, and is not currently enrolled at a tertiary institution, or has completed studies at another tertiary institution, but is not currently enrolled at a tertiary institution, or has started with tertiary studies at UP, then moved to another tertiary institution and wants to be readmitted at UP.

A transferring student will be considered for admission based on

• an NSC or equivalent qualification with exemption to bachelor’s or diploma studies (whichever is applicable); and meeting the minimum faculty-specific subject requirements at NSC or tertiary level; or having completed a higher certificate at a tertiary institution with faculty-specific subjects/modules passed (equal to or more than 50%), as well as complying with faculty rules on admission;
• previous academic performance (must have passed all modules registered for up to the closing date of application ) or as per faculty regulation/promotion requirements;
• a certificate of good conduct.

Note: Students who have been dismissed at the previous institution due to poor academic performance, will not be considered for admission to UP.

Returning students

A returning student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme –

• is a registered student at UP, and wants to transfer to another degree at UP, or was previously registered at UP and did not complete the programme enrolled for, and did not enrol at another tertiary institution in the meantime (including students who applied for leave of absence), or has completed studies at UP, but is not currently enrolled or was not enrolled at another tertiary institution after graduation.

A returning student will be considered for admission based on

• an NSC or equivalent qualification with exemption to bachelor’s or diploma studies (whichever is applicable); and meeting the minimum faculty-specific subject requirements at NSC or tertiary level; or previous academic performance (should have a cumulative weighted average of at least 50% for the programme enrolled for);
• having applied for and was granted leave of absence.

Note: Students who have been excluded/dismissed from a faculty due to poor academic performance may be considered for admission to another programme at UP.  The Admissions Committee may consider such students if they were not dismissed more than twice. Only ONE transfer between UP faculties will be allowed, and a maximum of two (2) transfers within a faculty.

Important faculty-specific information on undergraduate programmes for 2022

• The closing date is an administrative admission guideline for non-selection programmes. Once a non-selection programme is full  and has reached the institutional targets, then that programme will be closed for further admissions, irrespective of the closing date. However, if the institutional targets have not been met by the closing date, then that programme will remain open for admissions until the institutional targets are met.
• The following persons will be considered for admission: Candidates who have a certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate (NSC) with university endorsement; candidates who are graduates from another tertiary institution or have been granted the status of a graduate of such an institution, and candidates who are graduates of another faculty at the University of Pretoria.
• Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the Admission Point Score (APS).
• Grade 11 results are used for the conditional admission of prospective students. Final admission is based on the final NSC/IEB results.

University of Pretoria website: click here

Candidates who do not comply with the minimum admission requirements for BSc (Meteorology), may be considered for admission to the BSc – Extended programme – Physical Sciences, which requires an additional year of study.

The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences is home to more than 6 500 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Faculty presents degrees in fields ranging from the proverbial A to Z – from actuaries to zoologists, and consists of 13 departments.

All degree programmes are designed to develop problem-solving individuals who can easily adapt to changing circumstances and take the lead in their chosen fields of specialisation. The qualifications awarded are of world-class and provide access to a multitude of career opportunities for dynamic and creative people. According to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings the University has achieved new world rankings in Physical Sciences, a discipline which features strongly in NAS and also maintains excellent positions on the ISI Web of Science (WOS) field rankings in Plant and Animal Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Environment and Ecology Sciences.

In the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, we strive to continuously improve our high impact research and significantly address the national shortage of PhD graduates that respond to global and local challenges.