BSc Human Physiology

Physiologists study the mechanisms by which the body functions, from the molecular and cellular levels through progressive differentiation to tissue, organs, systems and eventually the integrated interactions and control of body functions. Knowledge is applied during research investigations of normal and abnormal life processes. Basic and clinical research can be entered into at various levels, namely the molecular, cellular, structural and diagnostic levels. Human Physiology is a major for two programmes in biological sciences: BSc (Human Physiology) and BSc (Human Physiology, Genetics and Psychology). Specialised physiology modules form part of student training in medicine, dentistry, nursing, dietetics, biokinetics, communication pathology, food science, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, radiography and some consumer science programmes.
 
During the first year of study towards a BSc (Human Physiology) degree, students are exposed to a generic, basic range of subjects in biological and agricultural sciences. In the second year, physiological systems (neurophysiology, haematology, cardiovascular physiology, pulmonary physiology, renal physiology, nutrition and digestive physiology, endocrinology and reproductive physiology) are studied with biochemistry as a compulsory subject.
 
The programme is concluded in the third year with a selection of integrated physiology modules, namely sport physiology, nutrition and development, psycho-neuroimmunology and cell physiology, as well as industrial physiology. At third year level, students can select some elective modules. Psychology and genetics are compulsory subjects in all three years of study.
 
For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.
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Career Opportunities

Research is performed in cooperation with medical teams in private and government research laboratories (such as the CSIR and the MRC), the South African Bureau of Standards (SABS), pharmaceutical firms, universities, veterinary and industrial institutions and state departments (eg the Department of Health). Physiologists are also found in various other fields, including education (teachers, lecturers and instructors), sports physiology, biostatistics, bioengineering, industrial hygiene, journalism and medical technology, and in the industry as representatives of pharmaceutical firms. Graduates with Genetics and Psychology as subjects also have access to postgraduate programmes offered by the Department of Genetics and the Department of Psychology (in the Faculty of Humanities).

Programme Code

02133408


Closing Dates

  • SA – 03/07/2020
  • Non-SA – 03/07/2020

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.
  • 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.

Candidates who do not comply with the minimum admission requirements for BSc (Human Physiology), 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

 


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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