BSc Medical Sciences

The Department of Anatomy forms part of the School of Medicine in the Faculty of Health Sciences and offers a BSc degree in Medical Sciences in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. The aim of this degree is to train students in the basic medical sciences, which include clinical anatomy, physical and forensic anthropology, histology, cell biology and embryology. These subjects can be combined with elective modules from physiology, pharmacology and genetics. This three-year programme provides a graduate with broad background knowledge. It is highly recommended that students continue their postgraduate studies (honours, master’s and doctorate) in the above main areas of anatomy.
 
Students who intend to apply for admission to MBChB in the second semester when places become available in the programme may register for BSc (Medical Sciences) modules in the first semester, replacing Mathematics (WTW 134) with People and their Environment (MGW 112) and Medical Terminology (MTL 180), with the proviso that these students, should they not be selected, must complete Mathematics (WTW 165) in the second semester of their first year. Students who wish to add  MGW 112 and MTL 180 are required to have an APS of at least 35 and a minimum of 70% for Mathematics in the final NSC or equivalent qualification.
 
Graduates are sought-after by institutes in the academic, government and private sectors, where they are employed as lecturers, researchers, medical and forensic scientists, and sales representatives in the medical sciences and pharmacological industries. Several of our postgraduates are currently studying at research facilities in North America and Europe.
 

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

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Career Opportunities

Postgraduate studies are highly recommended. Honours, master’s and doctoral degrees can be obtained in any of the sub disciplines of anatomy, namely neuro-anatomy, clinical anatomy, cell biology, physical and forensic anthropology, histology and embryology. Students who obtain this degree can also continue with their studies to obtain postgraduate degrees in physiology, genetics and pharmacology.

Career opportunities include research in any of the subdisciplines of anatomy , in academia, in forensic science and in the health science industry. Other careers that can be considered are in the sport sciences, virology, chemical pathology, immunology, health administration or ergonomics. Technical careers are also possible, for example in the Anatomy or Physiology departments at universities.


Programme Code

02133407


Closing Dates

  • SA – 19/05/2020
  • Non-SA – 19/05/2020

Admission Requirements

  • 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 are in possession of a certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate 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 from the calculation of the Admission Point Score (APS).
  • Grade 11 results are used for the conditional admission of prospective students. Final admission is based on Grade 12 results.
  • Please note that the Faculty does not accept GED and School of Tomorrow qualifications for entry into our programmes.

Transferring students

Candidates previously registered at UP or at another university

The faculty’s Admissions Committee considers applications of candidates who have already completed the final NSC or equivalent qualification examination and/or were previously registered at UP or another university, on grounds of their final NSC or equivalent qualification results as well as academic merit.

Candidates previously registered at a FET college or a university of technology

The faculty’s Admissions Committee considers the application of these candidates on the grounds of their final NSC or equivalent qualification results as well as academic merit.

Qualifications from countries other than South Africa

  • Citizens from countries other than South Africa and South African citizens with foreign qualifications must comply with all the other admission requirements and the prerequisites for subjects/modules.
  • In addition to meeting the admission requirements, admission is based on the performance in the TOEFL, IELTS or SAT, if required.
  • Candidates must have completed the National Senior Certificate with admission to degree studies or a certificate of conditional exemption on the basis of a candidate’s foreign qualifications, the so-called “Immigrant” or “Foreign Conditional Exemption”. The only condition for the “Foreign Conditional Exemption” that is accepted is: ‘completion of the degree course’. The exemption certificate is obtainable from Universities South Africa (USAf). Detailed information is available on the website at click here.

University of Pretoria website: click here

 

Minimum requirements

Achievement level

English Home Language or English First Additional Language

Mathematics

Physical Sciences 

APS

NSC/IEB

AS Level

NSC/IEB

AS Level

NSC/IEB

AS Level

5

C

5

C

5

C

32

*  Cambridge A level candidates who obtained at least a D in the required subjects, will be considered for admission. Students in the Cambridge system must offer both Physics AND Chemistry with performance at the level specified for NSC Physical Sciences in the table above.

*  International Baccalaureate (IB) HL candidates who obtained at least a 4 in the required subjects, will be considered for admission. Students in the IB system must offer both Physics AND Chemistry with performance at the level specified for NSC Physical Sciences in the table above.

Mid-year consideration for Health Sciences:

Students who intend to apply for admission to MBChB in the second semester when places become available in the programme may register for BSc (Medical Sciences) modules in the first semester, replacing Mathematics (WTW 134) with People and their Environment (MGW 112) and Medical Terminology (MTL 180), with the proviso that these students, should they not be selected, must complete Mathematics (WTW 165) in the second semester of their first year. Students who wish to add  MGW 112 and MTL 180 are required to have an APS of at least 35 and a minimum of 70% for Mathematics in the final NSC or equivalent qualification.

Candidates who do not comply with the minimum admission requirements for BSc (Medical Sciences), may be considered for admission to the BSc – Extended programme -- Biological and Agricultural Sciences. The BSc – Extended programme takes a year longer than the normal programme to complete.

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

AS Level

NSC/IEB

AS Level

NSC/IEB

AS Level

4

D

4

D

4

D

26


 

Selection Process

There are only 72 places in the first year of BSc (Medical Sciences). Students who apply for BSc (Medical Sciences) as their first choice before 30 September and who meet the minimum entrance requirements will be admitted until the places are full.


Duration of study

3 years, full-time.


Faculty Notes

The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences is a diverse faculty with 13 departments that is supported by more than 20 centres and institutes. More than 5 000 students register in this faculty annually of which 70% are undergraduate and 30% postgraduate students.

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.

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.


Enquiries about the programme

Click Here
How to apply

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