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How to become a Chemist

Studies materials and reactions - medicines, fuels, materials, food.

What does a Chemist actually do?

More about this career

Works on the materials and reactions behind medicines, fuels, plastics, cosmetics and food – mostly lab-based, in industry, government labs or research. Analytical, organic, inorganic and physical chemistry are the main specialisations, each leading to somewhat different industries.

Where this degree can take you

  • Analytical Chemist
  • Forensic Scientist
  • Quality Control Chemist
  • Materials Scientist

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

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 3 of 4 degrees
  • Physical Sciences – asked for by 3 of 4 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

4 degrees at 4 universities. More are added as we verify them.

North-West University

Not fully verified

BSc (Natural Sciences streams, e.g. Biochemistry & Chemistry)

Natural & Agricultural Sciences · 3 years

NWU APS 26 points out of 48

  • Subject minimums – Per-subject minimums were not captured for this stream.

NWU adds your six best subjects (excluding Life Orientation) on an 8-point scale, for a total out of 48 - read from NWU’s own APS calculator. The requirement shown is what NWU publishes.

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

Stellenbosch University

Selection programme

BSc Chemistry

Science · 3 years

Stellenbosch aggregate 65 %

  • Mathematics: 70%
  • 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.

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

University of Pretoria

BSc Chemistry

Natural & Agricultural Sciences

UP APS 34 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)

The UP tables group Chemistry, Physics, Geology and similar BSc streams together at this level. 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

University of the Witwatersrand

BSc Chemistry with Chemical Engineering

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 6 (70% or more)
  • Physical Sciences: level 6 (70% or more)
  • NBT – The NBT is required for Science.

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

Are your marks enough?

Put your subjects in once and we’ll check them against every degree above – scored each university’s own way.

What do I qualify for?