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How to become a Agricultural Scientist

Studies how to grow crops and raise livestock better - soil, plants, animals and agribusiness.

What does a Agricultural Scientist actually do?

More about this career

Works on the science behind farming and food production – plant and animal science, soil science, pest management, agricultural economics and agribusiness. It’s a major field in South Africa given how much of the economy depends on agriculture, with employers ranging from research institutes and government extension services to commercial farms and agribusiness companies. Distinct from Agricultural Engineer, which focuses on the machinery and infrastructure side (irrigation systems, farm equipment) rather than the biology and economics of production itself.

Where this degree can take you

  • Agronomist
  • Animal Scientist
  • Agricultural Extension Officer
  • Agribusiness Manager

This is our general description of the role and related jobs, not from an official source – it’s here to give you a fuller picture, not as a careers-counselling guarantee.

Not from an official source

Subjects that usually help

  • Mathematics
  • Physical Sciences
  • Life Sciences
  • Agricultural Sciences (helpful)

This is our general guidance about which school subjects suit this career. It is not an admission requirement and not from an official source – the real requirements are on the degrees below.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

What the degrees we’ve captured actually ask for

  • Mathematics – asked for by 8 of 8 degrees
  • Life Sciences – asked for by 7 of 8 degrees
  • Agricultural Sciences – asked for by 6 of 8 degrees
  • Physical Sciences – asked for by 4 of 8 degrees
  • Mathematical Literacy – asked for by 2 of 8 degrees
  • Geography – asked for by 1 of 8 degrees

Counted from the requirements below (an “or” alternative counts for each subject named). Each degree links to the page it came from.

Degrees that lead here

8 degrees at 6 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Sol Plaatje University

Partly verified

Diploma in Agriculture

Natural & Applied Sciences · 3 years

SPU APS 25

  • English: level 4 (50% or more) OR English: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 5 (60% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 3 (40% or more)
  • Life Sciences: level 3 (40% or more) OR Agricultural Sciences: level 3 (40% or more)

From SPU’s Faculty of Natural & Applied Sciences programme page. We could not confirm the 2027 application closing date (only a stale 2021 date was found on SPU’s applications page).

Source: View the official page (spu.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Tshwane University of Technology

Partly verified

Diploma in Crop Production

Science (Agricultural Sciences) · 3 years

TUT APS 19 points

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 3 (40% or more) OR Mathematical Literacy: level 4 (50% or more)

APS 19 on the Mathematics route, 20 on the Mathematical Literacy route. Recommended: agricultural subjects, Life/Physical Sciences. Closes 31 July 2026. From TUT’s 2027 First-Year Course Information and General Information PDFs. Applications opened 1 April 2026 (fee R240).

Source: View the official page (tut.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Fort Hare

Partly verified

BSc Agriculture in Animal Production

Science and Agriculture · 4 years

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Sciences: level 4 (50% or more) OR Geography: level 4 (50% or more) OR Agricultural Sciences: level 4 (50% or more) OR Information Technology: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Two more subjects – Any other two subjects at level 4 or better.
  • Life Orientation: level 4 (50% or more)

UFH does not state a numeric APS minimum on this programme’s own page, only subject-level requirements. 2027 undergraduate applications: opened 1 May 2026, close 31 October 2026 (from ufh.ac.za/admission).

Source: View the official page (ufh.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Venda

Partly verified

BSc Agriculture (Agricultural Economics, and related streams)

Science, Engineering and Agriculture · 4 years

Univen APS 26

  • English: 50%
  • Mathematics: 50%
  • Physical Sciences: 50%
  • Life Sciences: 50% OR Agricultural Sciences: 50%

Univen offers several sibling streams (Agribusiness Management, Animal Science, Horticultural Sciences, Plant Production, Soil Science, Forestry, Food Science & Technology) at the same APS and subject minimums. From Univen’s 2027 Undergraduate Prospectus. We could not confirm the application closing date from the pages we read (applications opened 1 May 2026) - check the current date on univen.ac.za.

Source: View the official page (univen.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of Zululand

Partly verifiedFrom an older document

BSc Agriculture: Animal Science

Science, Agriculture & Engineering · 4 years

UniZulu APS 28 points out of 48

  • English: 50%
  • Mathematics: 50%
  • Agricultural Sciences: 50% OR Life Sciences: 50%

Mathematical Literacy is not accepted for direct BSc entry. From UniZulu’s own 2026-labelled faculty handbooks, which contain no 2027-specific intake or closing-date information at all - do not assume a date, and treat this as the most recent official figures available rather than confirmed-current for 2027.

Source: View the official page (unizulu.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Partly verifiedFrom an older document

BSc Agriculture: Agribusiness

Science, Agriculture & Engineering · 4 years

UniZulu APS 28 points out of 48

  • English: 50%
  • Mathematics: 50%
  • Agricultural Sciences: 50% OR Life Sciences: 50%

Mathematical Literacy is not accepted for direct BSc entry. From UniZulu’s own 2026-labelled faculty handbooks, which contain no 2027-specific intake or closing-date information at all - do not assume a date, and treat this as the most recent official figures available rather than confirmed-current for 2027.

Source: View the official page (unizulu.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Partly verifiedFrom an older document

BSc Agriculture: Agronomy (Plant Sciences)

Science, Agriculture & Engineering · 4 years

UniZulu APS 28 points out of 48

  • English: 50%
  • Mathematics: 50%
  • Agricultural Sciences: 50% OR Life Sciences: 50%

Mathematical Literacy is not accepted for direct BSc entry. From UniZulu’s own 2026-labelled faculty handbooks, which contain no 2027-specific intake or closing-date information at all - do not assume a date, and treat this as the most recent official figures available rather than confirmed-current for 2027.

Source: View the official page (unizulu.ac.za) (opens the official page)

Walter Sisulu University

Partly verified

BSc Pest Management

Natural Sciences · 3 years

WSU APS 25 points out of 48 (56 for Education programmes)

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)

WSU has no Agriculture faculty; this is its closest applied-science equivalent. From WSU’s 2027 Undergraduate Information Brochure & Admission Requirements. We could not confirm the application closing date from the pages we read - check the current date on wsu.ac.za.

Source: View the official page (wsu.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

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