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How to become a Environmental Scientist / Ecologist

Studies ecosystems and how to protect biodiversity and natural resources.

What does a Environmental Scientist / Ecologist actually do?

More about this career

Studies ecosystems and natural resources, and works out how human activity affects them – used in conservation, environmental impact assessments for new developments, and government environmental departments. Expect fieldwork alongside data analysis and report-writing, since most environmental work in South Africa is tied to legally required impact assessments.

Where this degree can take you

  • Ecologist
  • Environmental Consultant
  • Conservation Officer
  • Sustainability Analyst

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
  • Life Sciences
  • Geography (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 2 of 3 degrees
  • Physical Sciences – asked for by 1 of 3 degrees
  • Mathematical Literacy – asked for by 1 of 3 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

3 degrees at 3 universities. More are added as we verify them.

Sol Plaatje University

Partly verified

Bachelor of Environmental Science

Natural & Applied Sciences · 4 years

SPU APS 30

  • English – A "reasonably strong" first-language English mark - Mathematical Literacy is explicitly not accepted for this degree.

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)

Stellenbosch University

Selection programme

BSc Biodiversity & Ecology

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.

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

Tshwane University of Technology

Partly verified

Diploma in Nature Conservation

Science · 3 years

TUT APS 24 points

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

APS 24 on the Mathematics route, 25 on the Mathematical Literacy route. Recommended: Agricultural Sciences, Geography, Life/Physical/Technical 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

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?