How to become a Biologist / Biotechnologist

Bachelor of Health Sciences: Medical Laboratory Science

Applied and Health Sciences · 4 years

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

• •English: level 4 (50% or more)
• •Life Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)
• •Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
• •Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)
• •Interview and placement test – Applicants must undergo an interview and placement testing.

Medical laboratory (diagnostic) science specifically, not general biology research. A "24" appeared near these subjects in the source table but its exact meaning was ambiguous in extraction, so we are not publishing it as the APS. Duration includes 6 months of work-integrated learning in year 3 and 12 months of clinical practice in year 4. Source PDF labelled "2026", not yet confirmed for 2027.

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

BSc

Science · 3 years

Rhodes points 45 points

• •English: 60% if it is your Home Language, 65% if it is your First Additional Language
• •Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
• •Physical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more) OR Life Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)
• •Life Orientation: level 4 (50% or more)

Rhodes points of 39-44 are considered at the Dean’s discretion; 45 or more receives a provisional offer. We show 45 as the qualifying number so that "you qualify" means exactly that - but you are still worth an application from 39. Rhodes has no Engineering and no MBChB. The NBT is recommended, not required. Life Orientation is not scored, but you need at least 50% in it.

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

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)

BSc Human Life Sciences

Science · 3 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 65 %

• •Mathematics: 60%
• •Physical Sciences: 50%

Every Stellenbosch programme is a selection programme. The figures shown are the published minimum requirements - the actual selection threshold is usually higher. Mathematics of 60% or 70% is required depending on which first-year Mathematics module you take.

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

BSc Molecular Biology & Biotechnology

Science · 3 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 65 %

• •Mathematics: 60%
• •Physical Sciences: 50%

Every Stellenbosch programme is a selection programme. The figures shown are the published minimum requirements - the actual selection threshold is usually higher. Mathematics of 60% or 70% is required depending on which first-year Mathematics module you take.

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

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

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

BSc Biological Sciences (Biochemistry, Genetics, Microbiology)

Natural & Agricultural Sciences

UP APS 32 points

• •English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
• •Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
• •Physical Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)

Most UP closing dates are 30 June; Veterinary Science closes 31 May. Grade 12 applicants apply with their final Grade 11 results.

Source: View the official page (drupalwebprod-files.up.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

BSc (General)

Science · 3 years

Wits APS 42 points

• •English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
• •Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
• •NBT – The NBT is required for Science.

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

BSc Biological Sciences

Science · 3 years

Wits APS 43 points

• •English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language
• •Mathematics: level 5 (60% or more)
• •NBT – The NBT is required for Science.

This figure comes from the Wits schools-liaison Grade 12 guide, which is headed for 2026 entry. We have not yet found a 2027 course-finder page confirming it, so treat it as the most recent official figure rather than a confirmed 2027 one.

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

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

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)

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)

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)

Bachelor of Health Sciences: Medical Laboratory Science

Health Sciences · 4 years

VUT APS 27 points

• •English: level 4 (50% or more)
• •Mathematics: level 4 (50% or more)
• •Physical Sciences: level 4 (50% or more)
• •Life Sciences: level 5 (60% or more)

Medical laboratory (diagnostic) science specifically, not general biology research - filed under the closest existing career category. We could not confirm whether VUT offers a separate Nursing qualification. From VUT’s 2027 Undergraduate Minimum Admission Requirements PDF. Academic applications close 30 September 2026 (residences 31 October 2026); fee R110.

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

BSc Pest Management

Natural Sciences · 3 years

WSU APS 25 points out of 48

• •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