BSc Extended programme – Physical Sciences at University of Pretoria

B.Sc Physical Science is a 3-year undergraduate program that deals with energy and matter and lets the students know the concepts of mass weight and other theoretical concepts essential for the course. The main aim of the course is to involve the study and concepts of chemistry, physics, earth science, and so on.

Admission requirements

Candidates who do not comply with the minimum admission requirements of programmes in the Department of Physical Sciences may be considered for admission to the BSc Extended programme for the Physical Sciences. The BSc Extended programme takes a year longer than the normal programmes to complete.

BSc — Extended Programme — Physical Sciences Minimum requirements
Achievement level
English Home Language or English First Additional LanguageMathematicsPhysical Sciences  APS
NSC/IEBAS LevelNSC/IEBAS LevelNSC/IEBAS Level
4D4D4D28

This programme is not available for students who meet all the requirements for the corresponding mainstream programme.

Note: Only students who apply in the final year of their NSC or equivalent qualification, will be considered for admission into any of the BSc – Extended programmes.

Additional requirements

  1. Students who are admitted to one of the BSc extended programmes register for one specific programme. Three extended programmes are available:

BSc (extended programme) – Mathematical Sciences 

BSc (extended programme) – Biological and Agricultural Sciences 

BSc (extended  programme) – Physical Sciences 

These programmes are followed by students who, as a result of exceptional circumstances, will benefit from an extended programme.

Students who do not comply with the normal three-year BSc entrance requirements for study in the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, may nevertheless be admitted to the Faculty by being placed on the BSc (extended programme).

Generally, the BSc (extended programme) means that the first study year in Mathematics, Physics, Biology and Chemistry is extended to take two years.

After completing the BSc (extended programme) successfully, students join the second year of the normal BSc programme to complete their degrees.

The possibility of switching over to other faculties such as Engineering, Built Environment and Information Technology, Veterinary Science and Health Sciences, after one or two years in the extended programme, exists. This depends on selection rules and other conditions stipulated by the other faculties.

Students who wish to follow one of the BSc extended programmes will be subjected to an Institutional Proficiency Test and will be considered for admission by the Admissions Committee. Information in this regard is available at the Client Services Centre.

Applications for admission to the BSc (extended programme) should be submitted before 30 September each year.

Details are obtainable from the Student Administration at the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences.

The rules and regulations applicable to the normal study programmes apply mutatis mutandis to the BSc (extended programme), with exceptions as indicated in the regulations pertaining to the BSc (extended programme). For instance, students placed in the BSc (extended programme) must have a National Senior Certificate with admission for degree purposes.

An admissions committee considers applications for the BSc (extended programme) annually.

Regarding subject choices, admitted students are individually placed on the BSc (extended programme) according to their prospective field of study. Students may NOT change this placement without the permission of the Chairperson of the admissions committee.

Minimum duration of study: 4 years

What can you do with physical science?

Cyclotron Specialist.

Laboratory Technician.

Measurement Engineer.

Research Associate.

Software Engineer.

Systems Engineer.

Technician.