The Bachelor of Science in Chemistry at Walter Sisulu University is a three-year degree at the Mthatha campus designed to produce graduates with solid foundations across all main branches of Chemistry — including organic, inorganic, physical, and analytical chemistry. Students also take additional Mathematics courses to level two, enabling them to understand Physical Science phenomena at a deeper level. South Africa's mining, pharmaceutical, petrochemical, and manufacturing industries create consistent demand for chemistry graduates, while the programme also serves as an excellent foundation for postgraduate research and academic careers in the chemical sciences.
English Home Language or English First Additional Language: 50–59% (Level 4)
Mathematics: 60–69% (Level 5)
Physical Sciences: 60–69% (Level 5)
APS: 25
Industrial Chemist – Develop, optimise, and quality-control chemical processes and products in pharmaceutical, petrochemical, food, and mining chemical production facilities.
Analytical Chemist – Characterise materials, test product quality, and develop analytical methods for laboratories in mining, food safety, environmental, and pharmaceutical sectors.
Environmental Chemist – Assess chemical pollution in water, soil, and air, and design remediation solutions for environmental consultancies, government agencies, or mining companies.
Chemical Process Engineer (with further study) – Optimise chemical manufacturing processes, scale-up laboratory procedures, and improve plant efficiency in industrial chemical production environments.
Research Chemist (Postgraduate) – Conduct original research in organic, inorganic, or physical chemistry at South African universities, the CSIR, Mintek, or international research institutions.
