Bachelor of Science in Agriculture in Applied Plant and Soil Sciences is a four-year, full-time degree programme. It teaches the principles of plant-based agriculture within the disciplines of agronomy, horticultural science, pasture science and soil science. Graduates can embark on a diverse range of careers in the agricultural and environmental fields.

Students who have a keen interest in plants and soil, would like to improve their understanding of the environment and want to make a difference in the world are the ideal candidates for this degree.

Graduates make a direct contribution to sustainable food production, while simultaneously protecting our natural resources.

This programme is unique in terms of the combination of disciplines taught within the degree. Students are exposed to the various fields within plant production and soil sciences, which ensures that graduates are well-rounded and able to access a wide array of career opportunities, or make informed decisions on specialisation should they wish to continue with postgraduate studies.

Our graduates are highly sought after and often have to choose between several offers of employment.

The degree is accredited by the South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions (SACNASP) and graduates can be registered as professional natural scientists.

Career opportunities include:

• Public sector. The Agricultural Research Council (ARC); government departments that address issues related to agriculture and rural development, water supply, conservation and the environment; the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR); provincial departments of agriculture and nature conservation; the South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI); municipalities; South African National Parks; and national farming and food production agencies.
• Private sector. Companies involved in seed, fertilizer and plant protection research, development and marketing; environmental planning and management; nurseries; vegetable, fruit, ornamental and cut flower production; and irrigation.
• Entrepreneurial. Consultants to producers of crops, pastures, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, and ornamental and cut-flowers; landscaping enterprises; managing own farms and nurseries for extensive (field) or intensive (tunnel/greenhouse) production systems involving various crops; and managing companies specialising in irrigation, reclamation and soil conservation.
• Extension services involving knowledge transfer. Nature conservation; national and provincial departments of agriculture and the environment; environmental management and rehabilitation, including mine lands; nurseries; crop, turf grass and weed management; private companies servicing field crops, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, fruit, ornamental and cut-flower production.

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

Graduates could be employed as teachers and lecturers at schools and academic institutions, as well as researchers and managers at various public and private institutions

• Public sector: The ARC, DWS, Department of Tourism, Department of Agriculture, DEFF, DT, DALLRD, DMRE, the CSIR, provincial agriculture and nature conservation departments, SANBI, municipalities, SANParks, national farming and food production agencies.
• Private sector: Companies involved in seed, fertiliser and plant protection research and development, environmental planning and management, nurseries, vegetable, fruit and ornamental cut flower production, and irrigation.
• Extension services involving knowledge transfer: Nature conservation, national and provincial departments of agriculture and the environment, environmental management and rehabilitation, nurseries, crop, turfgrass and weed management, private companies servicing field crops, vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, fruit, ornamental and cut-flower production.
• Entrepreneurial: Consultants in crop, pasture, vegetable, medicinal and aromatic plants, ornamental and cut-flower production systems and landscaping enterprises, managing own farms and nurseries for extensive (field) or intensive (tunnel/greenhouse) production systems involving various crops, and. managing companies specialising in irrigation, reclamation and soil conservation.

Important information for all prospective students for 2025

The admission requirements below apply to all who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications. Click here for this Faculty Brochure.

Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS. 

Applicants currently in Grade 12 must apply with their final Grade 11 (or equivalent) results.

Applicants who have completed Grade 12 must apply with their final NSC or equivalent qualification results.

Please note that meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.

Successful candidates will be notified once admitted or conditionally admitted.

Unsuccessful candidates will be notified after 30 June.

Applicants should check their application status regularly on the UP Student Portal at click here.

Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to the International undergraduate prospectus 2025: Applicants with a school leaving certificate not issued by Umalusi (South Africa), available at click here.

International students: Click here.

Transferring students

A transferring student is a student who, at the time of applying at the University of Pretoria (UP) is/was a registered student at another tertiary institution. A transferring student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance. Students who have been dismissed from other institutions due to poor academic performance will not be considered for admission to UP.

Closing dates: Same as above.

Returning students

A returning student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme is/was a registered student at UP, and wants to transfer to another degree at UP. A returning student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance.

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, as per faculty-specific requirements.
• Only ONE transfer between UP faculties and TWO transfers within a faculty will be allowed.
• Admission of returning students will always depend on the faculty concerned and the availability of space in the programmes for which they apply.

Closing date for applications from returning students

Unless capacity allows for an extension of the closing date, applications from returning students must be submitted before the end of August via your UP Student Centre.

All modules will only be presented in English, which is the University's official language of tuition, communication and correspondence.

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.

• Disclaimer: This publication contains information about regulations and programmes of the University of Pretoria. Amendments to or updating of the information may be effected from time to time without prior notification. The accuracy, correctness or validity of the information contained here is therefore not guaranteed by the University at any given time and is always subject to verification. The user is kindly requested to verify the correctness of the information with the University at all times. Failure to do so will not give rise to any claim or action of any nature against the University by any party whatsoever.