A BSc Honours is a one-year degree following a Bachelors degree. It provides a broadening of the fundamental mathematical basis developed in the undergraduate mathematics programme.
Admission requirements
For the Mathematics focus you must have a BSc degree with Mathematics as major, or an equivalent qualification, and a final mark of at least 60% for Mathematics 3.
For the Biomathematics focus, you must have a BSc degree approved by the Biomathematics programme committee with an average mark of at least 60% for the relevant third-year modules.
The above are minimum requirements and do not guarantee acceptance. Applications can be made at student.sun.ac.za.
Focus Areas
BSc Honours in Mathematics
For more information regarding the Honours programme, please see the brochures below for 2022.
Convenor: Prof G. Boxall
BSc Honours in Mathematics with focus in Biomathematics
This 1-year course is run in conjunction with AIMS-SA and commences in January each year. It aims to meet the growing demand from molecular biology, systems biology, bioinformatics, ecology, and biomedical science for students and researchers with solid mathematical skills. The course aims to train mathematicians to formulate and analyse precise models for experimental data arising from real-life research problems within the fields of biology and medicine – from predicting the influence of HIV, Aids, malaria, and tuberculosis to the effects of climate change on South Africa.
The course requires a strong foundation in mathematics and an introduction to mathematical modelling using differential equations, and includes modules on: computational and discrete methods in Mathematical Biology, non-linear dynamical systems in mathematical biology, advanced topics in mathematical biology, topics in biological and biomedical sciences, as well as a project. Project topics include the application of mathematical, computational and/or statistical methods to analyse and solve problems in biological sciences, environmental sciences, and medical sciences.
The modules will be presented by local and international researchers in modelling of biological and biomedical systems, population dynamics, mathematical biology, bio-informatics. The projects will be supervised by a researcher in mathematical sciences and a researcher in biological or biomedical sciences.
Students spend the first half of the year at AIMS-SA and the second half of the year at Stellenbosch University.
Application process
The Biomathematics focus of the BSc Honours in Mathematics is jointly run by the Stellenbosch University’s Department of Mathematical Sciences and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS).
The application procedure and form is available on the Stellenbosch University Postgraduate Students website. For consideration for a bursary, please apply for an NRF honours bursary.
For information please send an email to chui@sun.ac.za or biomath@sun.ac.za
Coordinator: Prof Cang hui
Requirements
South African students with a good BSc majoring in Mathematics, and (at least) some courses in a biological/biomedical field, or an equivalent qualification, can apply.