Top 12 Geography Courses In South Africa

1. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental & Geographical Science

At: University of Cape Town

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • National Senior Certificate (NSC) with a minimum of 60-70% in English, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences.
  • For international students: equivalent secondary school qualifications.
  • Points Score: UCT uses an Admissions Points Score (APS) system; typically, a minimum score of around 40-45 points.

Postgraduate:

• UCT offers Honours, Masters, and Ph.D. degrees in Geography.
• Honours Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree in Geography or a related field, with at least 65% average in the third year.

2.  Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography

At: University of the Witwatersrand 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with at least Level 5 (60-69%) in Mathematics and English.
  • APS: Generally, students need a minimum APS of 42.

Postgraduate:

• Honours, Masters, and PhD programs in Geography and Environmental Studies.
• Honours Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with a major in Geography, minimum 65% average.

3. Bachelor of Arts (BA) in Geography and Environmental Studies

At: Stellenbosch University 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with at least 60% in English and an APS of around 35-40 points.
  • Good performance in subjects like Geography, Mathematics, and Physical Sciences.

Postgraduate:

• Honours, Masters, and PhD programs are offered.
• Honours Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree in Geography, with a 60-65% average.

4. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography and Environmental Sciences

At: University of Pretoria 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with at least 60-70% in Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
  • APS: Typically, an APS of 32-34 points.

Postgraduate:

• Honours, Masters, and PhD degrees available.
• Honours Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree in Geography or an equivalent qualification.

5.  Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography

At: Rhodes University 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with minimum 60-70% in English and Mathematics.
  • Rhodes uses an APS system, and a score of around 40 is often required.

Postgraduate:

• Offers Honours, Masters, and PhD programs in Geography.
• Honours Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with at least 65% in Geography.

6. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Environmental Sciences (Geography Major)

At: University of KwaZulu-Natal 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with at least Level 5 (60-69%) in Mathematics and English.
  • APS: Usually around 30-35 points.

Postgraduate:

• Honours, Masters, and PhD degrees in Geography.
• Honours Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree in Geography with at least 60% average.

At: University of Free State 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with at least 60-70% in English and Mathematics.
  • APS: Usually, a minimum of 30-34 points is required.
  • Subjects like Geography, Physical Sciences, or Life Sciences are recommended.

Postgraduate:

• UFS offers Honours, Masters, and PhD programs in Geography.
• Honours Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with Geography as a major, with an average of at least 65%.

8. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography and Environmental Management

At: Northwest University 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with at least 60-70% in Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
  • APS: Typically, students need an APS of at least 25-30 points.
  • Geography as a high school subject is beneficial but not mandatory.

Postgraduate:

• Honours, Masters, and PhD programs in Geography.
• Honours Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with Geography as a major, minimum 60-65% in final-year geography courses.

9. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geosciences (with Geography major)

At: Nelson Mandela University 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with at least 60% in Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
  • APS: Usually around 32 points.

Postgraduate:

• NMU offers Honours, Masters, and PhD programs in Geography and Environmental Science.
• Honours Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Geography or a related field with at least 60% average.

10. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography and Environmental Studies

At: Walter Sisulu University 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with at least 50-60% in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and English.
  • APS: Minimum APS of 26-30 points.

Postgraduate:

• Honours and Masters programs in Geography.
• Honours Requirements: A Bachelor’s degree in Geography or a related field with a minimum average of 60%.

11. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography

At: University of Limpopo 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with at least 60% in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and English.
  • APS: Typically around 26-30 points.

Postgraduate:

• Offers Honours, Masters, and PhD programs in Geography.
• Honours Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with a major in Geography and an average of at least 60% in third-year courses.

12. Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Geography

At: University of Zululand 

• Duration: 3 years (Undergraduate)
• Requirements:
  • NSC with at least 50-60% in Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
  • APS: Usually a minimum of 26-30 points is needed.

Postgraduate:

• Honours, Masters, and PhD programs in Geography.
• Honours Requirements: Bachelor’s degree in Geography, with a minimum average of 60%.

General Admission Considerations for Postgraduate Geography Courses:

• Honours Degree: Typically, a bachelor’s degree with a major in geography or environmental studies, with an average of 60-65%, is required.
• Master’s Degree: For a Master’s program, students usually need to have completed an honours degree with a similar average or higher. In some cases, relevant work experience is also considered.
• PhD Program: Admission to a PhD program requires a master’s degree in geography or a closely related field. A research proposal might be needed as part of the application process.

Fees Of Geography Courses In South Africa

The fees for geography courses in South Africa vary depending on the institution, course level (undergraduate or postgraduate), and whether you are a local or international student. Here’s a general overview:

1. Undergraduate Programs:
   • Public Universities: Fees for undergraduate geography programs at public universities like the University of Cape Town (UCT), University of the Witwatersrand (Wits), or Stellenbosch University can range from ZAR 40,000 to ZAR 70,000 per year for local students. For international students, fees are generally higher, ranging between ZAR 90,000 and ZAR 150,000 per year.
   • Private Institutions: Tuition at private institutions can be higher, often ranging from ZAR 60,000 to ZAR 100,000 per year.
2. Postgraduate Programs:
   • Fees for postgraduate degrees (Honours, Master’s, or Ph.D.) typically range from ZAR 45,000 to ZAR 90,000 per year for local students. For international students, fees can be from ZAR 90,000 to ZAR 160,000 or more, depending on the program and institution.
3. Diplomas and Short Courses:
   • Short courses or diplomas in geography or geographic information systems (GIS) may range from ZAR 10,000 to ZAR 40,000, depending on the duration and institution.

Additional costs such as registration fees, study materials, and fieldwork expenses may apply.

It’s best to check with the specific institution for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Career Opportunities Of Geography Courses In South Africa

Geography courses in South Africa open up a range of career opportunities due to the country’s diverse landscapes, environmental challenges, and rapidly urbanizing areas. Here are some key career paths for graduates of geography programs:

1. Environmental Management and Conservation

• Job Roles: Environmental manager, conservation officer, sustainability consultant, park ranger.
• Employers: Government departments (e.g., Department of Environmental Affairs), NGOs, private consultancies.
• Focus: Managing natural resources, developing conservation plans, and ensuring compliance with environmental regulations.

2. Urban and Regional Planning

• Job Roles: Town planner, urban planner, regional development officer.
• Employers: Municipalities, private planning firms, national and provincial governments.
• Focus: Urban development, land use planning, and infrastructure projects.

3. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing

• Job Roles: GIS analyst, remote sensing specialist, cartographer.
• Employers: Mining companies, government agencies, environmental consultancies.
• Focus: Using spatial data to analyze environmental, social, and infrastructure patterns.

4. Disaster Risk Management

• Job Roles: Disaster risk consultant, emergency management specialist.
• Employers: Local municipalities, humanitarian organizations, government.
• Focus: Risk assessment, disaster preparedness, and response planning.

5. Climate Change and Sustainability Consulting

• Job Roles: Climate change analyst, sustainability consultant.
• Employers: Research institutions, international organizations, private firms.
• Focus: Researching and addressing climate change impacts and advising businesses or governments on sustainable practices.

6. Hydrology and Water Resource Management

• Job Roles: Hydrologist, water resource manager.
• Employers: Water boards, environmental agencies, mining companies.
• Focus: Managing water resources, studying water cycles, and ensuring sustainable water use.

7. Academia and Research

• Job Roles: Researcher, lecturer, academic consultant.
• Employers: Universities, research institutes.
• Focus: Teaching geography, conducting research on various geographical phenomena, and publishing academic papers.

8. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• Job Roles: EIA consultant, environmental compliance officer.
• Employers: Environmental consultancies, construction firms, mining companies.
• Focus: Assessing the environmental impact of development projects and ensuring compliance with environmental laws.

9. Tourism and Ecotourism

• Job Roles: Ecotourism manager, tourism planner.
• Employers: National parks, tour companies, local government.
• Focus: Promoting sustainable tourism and managing tourist activities in natural environments.

10. Mining and Natural Resources

• Job Roles: Environmental consultant in mining, land surveyor.
• Employers: Mining companies, geological firms.
• Focus: Land use planning, environmental impact of mining, resource management.

11. Transportation and Logistics

• Job Roles: Transport planner, logistics manager.
• Employers: Local government, transportation companies, infrastructure planning firms.
• Focus: Planning efficient transportation networks and logistics strategies in urban and rural areas.

12. Agriculture and Rural Development

• Job Roles: Rural development consultant, agricultural planner.
• Employers: Agricultural companies, rural development NGOs.
• Focus: Sustainable land use in rural areas, agricultural development, and food security planning

Conclusion

Each university may also have specific prerequisites depending on whether the focus is more on physical geography, human geography, environmental management, or geoinformatics. It’s essential to directly contact the university admissions office or check their website for the most updated requirements, as these can change annually.