Life at the cellular and molecular level depends on the specific interaction and cooperation of many individual biomolecules. To understand life at a fundamental level, biochemists study the role of individual biomolecules and relate this function to its unique structure. Challenges of global relevance, such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, antimicrobial drug resistance and other human or animal diseases are addressed by using flow cytometry, cell sorting, biophysical analysis, protein crystallography, genome analysis, selective gene expression and metabolic profiles. Biochemists can work in medicine, veterinary science, the food and pharmaceutical industries and agriculture, and many other fields.
First-year students are exposed to a range of biological and physical science subjects to ensure a firm scientific basis. In the second and third years, they delve deeper into biochemistry, combining theoretical lectures with appropriate practical studies to learn the principles and methodology of research. In the third year, the study of the genome, transcriptome, proteome and lipidome of a living cell is pursued. Proteome analysis, crystallography, cell structure and function, enzymology and immunology are applied to understand the molecular basis of disease.
Ideally, biochemistry is combined with chemistry, microbiology, genetics, human physiology, plant science, zoology and food science. All these subjects include both theoretical and practical aspects. Students may choose elective modules related to their studies.
Postgraduate studies in Biochemistry include honours, master’s and doctoral degrees. The one-year honours degree is open to students from the biological or chemical sciences and includes exposure to a range of technologies, some self-study and a research project. At the master’s and doctoral levels, students conduct research in fields such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis, anti-microbial drug resistance, diabetes, other human diseases and plant-derived medicines.
For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.
Biochemistry offers many opportunities for exciting and challenging careers in the food and pharmaceutical, fine chemicals and waste processing industries. Careers at research councils, such as the Medical Research Council (MRC), the Agricultural Research Council (ARC), the Cancer Association of South Africa (CANSA) and the Water Research Commission (WRC) are possibilities, as are academic institutions, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and forensic and pathology laboratories. Career opportunities include those of researcher, teacher, lecturer and medical representative. Graduates are comfortable in work environments such as universities, research institutes, pharmaceutical companies, biotechnology companies and related industries.
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Important information for all prospective students for 2022
Transferring students
A transferring student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme at the University of Pretoria (UP) –
A transferring student will be considered for admission based on
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 –
A returning student will be considered for admission based on
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
University of Pretoria website: click here
Minimum requirements | |||
Achievement level | |||
English Home Language or English First Additional Language | Mathematics | Physical Sciences | APS |
NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | |
5 | 5 | 5 | 32 |
Candidates who do not comply with the minimum admission requirements for BSc (Biochemistry), may be considered for admission to the BSc – Extended programme – Biological and Agricultural Sciences, which requires an additional year of study.
BSc – Extended Programme – Biological and Agricultural Sciences Minimum requirements | |||
Achievement level | |||
English Home Language or English First Additional Language | Mathematics | Physical Sciences | APS |
NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | |
4 | 4 | 4 | 26 |
Note:
*The BSc – Extended programmes are not available for students who meet all the requirements for the corresponding mainstream programme.
*Please note that only students who apply in their final NSC or equivalent qualification year will be considered for admission into any of the BSc – Extended programmes.
3 years, full-time.
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.
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