University Stellenbosch Faculty of Agriculture Application 2024
Faculty of AgriSciences selection guidelines and admission policy for new entry first years
1 Introduction
A selection procedure is followed in order to meet the target of 370 new first year student intake for 2024, of which 40% (by 2024) have to be diversity candidates.
The 370 students include:
∙Mainstream and Extended Degree Program (EDP) students
∙290 Stellenbosch-campus students and 80 BAgric students at Elsenburg.
The Faculty will accept up to 50 students for the EDP – preference will be given to students from disadvantaged school backgrounds who meet the EDP minimum admission requirements.
The intake of students for the degrees BSc Food Science and BScAgric (Animal Sciences) will be capped.
2 Applications
Closing date for applications is the 30 June of the year preceding the year of study. Late applications may be accepted until 30 September, BUT admission will be dependent on the availability of places in the Faculty and program.
Only fully completed applications will be considered in the selection process.
First, second and third choice applications will be considered for provisional acceptance except for the degree programmes BSc in Food Science and BScAgric Animal Science, for which only first and second choice applicants will be considered.
3 Admission
Grade 11 learners: In the case of prospective students who are still at school, Grade 11 marks will be used for
provisional admission.
Matriculated applicants: Grade 12 marks will be used for provisional admission of prospective students who are no longer in school. Students must be in possession of a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or final results from the Independent Examinations Board (IEB) as certified by Umalusi, or, in the case of prospective students with other school qualifications, a matriculation exemption certificate issued by the South African Matriculation Board.
‘School of Tomorrow’ applicants: Admission of prospective students from the School of Tomorrow school system will be considered on their National Benchmark Test (NBT) results – in the case where a prospective student wrote the NSC examinations, the NSC results will be considered. A letter in this regard will be sent to these applicants.
International qualifications: Applicants with international school qualifications must pass Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics at a comparable standard to the required NSC (Grade 12) level. Mathematics, Chemistry and Physics at IGSCE/GCSE/NSSC OL/O-level does not qualify for admission. All queries concerning international qualifications should be directed to the SU International Office (Tel 0218082565, E-mail interoff@sun.ac.za)
National Benchmark Tests (NBT’s): It is compulsory for all students to write the NBT’s. The NBT results will be used to make informed decisions regarding selection of particular individuals, especially with regard to placement in the Extended Degree Programme (EDP). Students are advised to take the NBT’s before the end of August.
3.1 Admission to the University
Applicants must meet the following requirements.
–A NSC or school-leaving certificate from the Independent Examination Board (IEB) as certified by Umalusi with admission to bachelor’s degree studies, which requires a performance level of at least 4 (50-59%) in each of four subjects designated for university admission, or an exemption certificate issued by the South African Matriculation Board to students with other school qualifications must be acquired.
–Write the National Benchmark Tests (NBT’s)
3.2Minimum admission requirements for Mainstream Degree Programs
In addition to the admission requirements in 3.1. admission to programs leading to BScAgric*, BScFor (Forestry and Natural Resource Sciences)*, BScConsEcol, BSc Food Sc and BAgricAdmin requires a minimum:
–An aggregate of at least 60% (Life Orientation excluded)
–Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 4 (50%)
–Mathematics 5 (60%)
–Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) 4 (50%)
*For the BScAgric with Soil Science and Chemistry as major subjects:
–An aggregate of at least 60% (Life Orientation excluded)
–Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 4 (50%)
–Mathematics 6 (70%)
–Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) 4 (50%)
*For the BScFor (Wood and Wood Products Sciences):
–An aggregate of at least 60% (Life Orientation excluded)
–Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 4 (50%)
–Mathematics 6 (70%)
–Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) 5 (60%)
For the BAgric program offered at Elsenburg:
–An aggregate of at least 55% (Life Orientation excluded)
–Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 4 (50%)
–Mathematics 4 (50%) OR Mathematical Literacy 5 (60%)
–Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) 4 (50%) OR
–Life Sciences 4 (50%) OR
–Agricultural Sciences 4 (50%)
3.3Minimum admission requirements for Extended degree programs (EDP)
Any student who is admitted to a mainstream program may apply for admission to a relevant EDP. Based on school results and/or the results of any assessment or test, including the NBTs, prescribed by the University, a student may be advised or required by the Faculty to follow the EDP route.
Prospective students who were provisionally admitted to mainstream programs based on Grade 11 results, but whose final NSC or IEB results do not meet the minimum requirements of the relevant program, may submit a request for admission to an EDP with the following admission requirements:
For the EDP in the programs leading to BScAgric*, BScFor* (Forestry and Natural Resource Sciences), BScConsEcol, BSc Food Sc and BAgricAdmin:
–An aggregate of at least 60% (Life Orientation excluded)
–Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 4 (50%)
–Mathematics 4 (between 55% and 59.9%)
–Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) 3 (between 45% and 49.9%)
–NBT between 33% and 47%
*For the EDP BScAgric with Soil Science and Chemistry as major subjects:
–An aggregate of at least 60% (Life Orientation excluded)
–Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 4 (50%)
–Mathematics 5 (between 60% and 69.9%)
–Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) 3 (between 45% and 49.9%)
–NBT between 33% and 47%
*For the EDP BScFor (Wood and Wood Products Sciences):
–An aggregate of at least 60% (Life Orientation excluded)
–Afrikaans or English (Home Language or First Additional Language) 4 (50%)
–Mathematics 5 (between 60% and 69.9%)
–Physical Sciences (Physics and Chemistry) 4 (between 55% and 59.9%)
–NBT between 33% and 47%
4.The selection process
∙Selection takes place on the basis of academic merit only.
∙Meeting the minimum requirements of the program applied for does NOT guarantee selection.
∙As soon as provisional acceptance is granted, the applicant will receive a letter in this regard.
∙A student can only be provisionally accepted for one program at any given time at SU. If a student is accepted in for example his/her 2nd choice, the provisional admission (for the 2nd choice) will lapse should the student’s 1stchoice be successful as well.
∙For all programs (except the BSc in Food Science, BScFor (Wood and Wood Products Sciences) and BScAgric with Soil Science and Chemistry) prospective students who have a NSC / Grade 11 average of at least 65% and a Mathematics mark of at least 65%, will be immediately considered for provisional admission to the chosen program. Prospective students who have a lower average and Mathematics mark but who still meet the minimum requirements of a 60% average and 60% for Mathematics will be put on a waiting list and will be considered during the June, August and October selection rounds. The NBT results will be used in these selection rounds.
∙For the program BScFor (Wood and Wood Products Sciences) prospective students who have a NSC / Grade 11 average of at least 65% and a Mathematics mark of at least 70%, will immediately be considered for provisional admission to the chosen program. Prospective students who have a lower average but who still meet the minimum requirements of a 60% average will be put on a waiting list and will be considered during the June, August and October selection rounds. The NBT results will be used in these selection rounds.
∙For the BScAgric with Soil Science and Chemistry prospective students who have a NSC / Grade 11 average of at least 65% and a Mathematics mark of at least 70%, will immediately be considered for provisional admission to the chosen program. Prospective students who have a lower average but who still meet the minimum requirements of a 60% average will be put on a waiting list and will be considered during the June, August and October selection rounds. The NBT results will be used in these selection rounds.
∙For the BSc in Food Science prospective students who have a NSC / Grade 11 average of at least 70% and a Mathematics mark of at least 65%, will immediately be considered for provisional admission to the chosen program. Prospective students who have a lower average but who still meet the minimum requirements of a 60% average and 60% for Mathematics will be put on a waiting list and will be considered during the June, August and October selection rounds. The NBT results will be used in these selection rounds. Only 1st and 2ndchoice applicants will be considered for admission.
5.Selection Committee
Selection of prospective students is done by a selection committee, compiled by the dean of the faculty. All decisions regarding selection are approved by the dean prior to communication with the candidates and decisions are final. All enquiries regarding the selection process will be managed by the Faculty Secretary.