Genetics is the study of how the genetic material in the cells of all living organisms is transmitted from parent to offspring across generations and how that genetic material is encoded and decoded to provide the blueprint of all life on earth. This pioneering discipline is at the core of the biological, agricultural, veterinary and medical sciences and has become essential in fields as diverse as virology and epidemiology, biodiversity conservation and sustainable agriculture.
The advent of advanced technologies continues to enhance existing research strategies. This allows for dynamic interdisciplinary collaboration, not only within the life sciences, but also in fields such as informatics and mathematics. The genomes of numerous animals, plants and pathogens, as well as those of humans, have been decoded. This has led to new informative methods for studying gene interactions at various cellular levels. Computational modelling has proven invaluable to novel gene discovery and understanding the origins and spread of emerging viruses, such as the H1N1-influenza virus and the SARSCoV-2 Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The Division of Genetics is an active player on the international scientific stage and offers internationally recognised undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. These degrees are research oriented and have a strong emphasis on developing analytical skills. The Department of Genetics offers both single- and dual-major options in its Genetics and Human Genetics programmes. This gives students the choice to specialise in genetics as a single major, or to combine their genetics subjects with a second multidisciplinary major, such as biochemistry, microbiology, plant science or zoology, as well as human physiology in the Human Genetics programme.
At the undergraduate level students are provided with a thorough background in the principles of genetics, as well as the applications of these principles in fields as diverse as genomics, plant and animal biotechnology, diagnostics and risk determination, bioethics and conservation ecology, as well as population, behavioural and evolutionary studies.
For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.
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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 (Human Genetics), 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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