Students who do not attain the required mark when applying to do a BSc degree can now do so through a four-year programme with lower entrance requirements.
The programme would be introduced at the University of Pretoria in 2008, the university said in a statement on Tuesday.
It would allow students more time to understand the material presented, with extra modules and additional support material further contributing to improving their understanding of science and science-based subjects.
Entry into the programme would be based on a candidate’s matric results as well as on their performance in an admission test.
The university urged students to apply on or before December 1.
The programme was a response to a ”dire need” for qualified science and technology academics in South Africa.
”The escalating global Aids pandemic has heightened the need for the training of more doctors and nurses.
”This is further solidified by the call from the national Department of Education urging the university to train more engineers.”
The university encouraged previously disadvantaged and disabled students to consider science as a career field. It noted that all students — ”from all walks of life and all races” — were welcome to apply for the programme.
”In spite of the noteworthy progress already made in attempting to make the ratio of qualifying scientists representative of the overall national diversity in our land, much more can still be accomplished.” — Sapa