Microbiology provides many diverse and interesting study opportunities. Micro-organisms (viruses, bacteria and fungi) form an essential part of our planet and students are trained to study their functions and roles, as well as how microbes could be used or controlled in our everyday lives.
Micro-organisms are important to health and agriculture due to the diseases they cause. In this regard, microbiologists study the pathogens responsible for serious infectious diseases affecting humans, animals, wildlife and plants in order to treat and control them. Microbiology also focuses on the different applications that use beneficial micro-organisms in food production, water purification and other industrial applications.
A microbiologist’s basic training is a three-year BSc degree. Apart from exposure to a range of subjects in the biological sciences, there is also a focus on specialised microbiology topics, such as mycology, bacteriology, virology, microbial ecology, clinical microbiology, plant pathology, molecular microbiology, microbial interactions and food microbiology. Students can combine microbiology with genetics, biochemistry, zoology or plant sciences as part of a double major degree.
Postgraduate studies are essential for a career in research. The University of Pretoria has several internationally recognised research programmes of which postgraduate students form an integral part. At the molecular and cellular level, the focus is on issues such as the design of new vaccines, understanding pathogenicity, and the development of new and improved ways to detect and quickly identify microbes. There is also a focus on the discovery and description of new micro-organisms, and gaining a better understanding of their evolution and diversity.
For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.
Microbiologists can pursue a variety of careers involving activities ranging from practical application to basic research. Career opportunities are available in the food, dairy, beer, wine, baker’s yeast and fermentation industries, and at mines where they will be involved in corrosion control. Graduates can also follow careers as medical or veterinary microbiologists, researchers at organisations such as the CSIR, MRC or ARC, or lecturers and researchers at academic institutions.
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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 (Microbiology), 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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