Information on things affecting your life as a Science student
Checking contact details in PeopleSoft
Deferred examinations – under what circumstances are these awarded, and how do I apply?
Exclusion – what does this mean, how is it decided, and can one appeal an academic exclusion?
Extra time in examinations – do I qualify for this, and how do I apply?
Guidelines for completing Readmission Appeal Forms
HELP – who and where to go for it!
Scholarships – criteria for award of Science Faculty Scholarships
Structure of the BSc degree – putting together the courses you need to meet requirements for a BSc
Student Advisers – who they are, what they are there for, and how to contact them
Supplementary examinations – not all courses have these, but for those that do …
Third Term courses (over the December-January vacation period)
UNISA and other academic institutions – deadlines for applications
Withdrawing from courses during the year – procedures and deadlines
Checking contact details on PeopleSoft
It is vital that your contact details are correct, so that the Faculty can contact you with important information at various times. Please check by logging on to your student record in PeopleSoft that both your term and home/holiday addresses and contact details are correct.
A deferred examination, which is a chance to write your examination at another time, may be granted in certain specific circumstances, including
• if you were ill during the examination period, or
• if you fell ill while writing the exam, or
• on compassionate grounds (e.g. the death of a family member during the examination period), or
• any other reason where clear evidence can be provided to demonstrate that you could not have written the exam.
An application for a deferred exam must be submitted on the prescribed form available from the Student Records Office, New Student Administration Building, within seven days of the exam being written and you must provide documentary evidence (e.g. appropriate medical/death certificates) of your claims. There is no guarantee that a deferred examination will be granted. Deferred examinations are granted at the discretion of the University Deferred Examinations Committee and not the Science Faculty. Please read rules G26.1-27.3 pages16-18 of the General Rules and Policies (Handbook 3) in this regard.
The following topics are covered here:
What is academic exclusion, and how is it decided?
What are the Science Faculty criteria for AVOIDING academic exclusion?
Will results of supplementary examinations affect whether I am excluded?
How will I know that I have been excluded?
Can I appeal the exclusion, and is there a chance I can be readmitted?
Guidelines for completing appeal forms
Deadlines for appeals for readmission
Can I ever come back to UCT if I am excluded?
What is academic exclusion, and how is it decided?
The goal of every student should be to pass all their courses, and to complete the requirements for the BSc degree within 3 years (or 4 years, if first registered in GEPS or on the Science EDP). The Science Faculty does however allow for the possibility of extending this period up to 5 years, and each year students sign on for a normal load of courses, under the guidance of Student Advisers, to keep them on track for completion in the minimum time. The implication of this is that there is a minimum number of courses that must be passed each year, in order to allow for progression through the degree. If a student does not pass this minimum number of courses, he/she may be excluded from the faculty. This means that the progress they have made is considered not sufficient, and they will not be permitted to re-register at UCT in the following academic year. The decision to exclude a student is not made lightly: it is made at the end of the year by the Science Faculty Examination Committee (Science FEC), which includes the Dean, Deputy Deans, Heads of Department, and Student Advisers, and is based on a process in which each student’s academic record is carefully considered and evaluated.
What are the Science Faculty criteria for AVOIDING academic exclusion?
The tables below set out the minimum number of courses a student must pass in relation to the number of years they have been registered at UCT. Note that
• W courses are assigned a value of “1” and F, S or H courses a value of “½”
• “Senior courses” are 2000- or 3000-level courses (e.g. MAM2000W, or EGS3012S)
Minimum number of courses to be passed:
|
Year at UCT |
Total courses |
Senior courses |
3000-level courses |
Pre-requisites for majors |
|
1 |
1½ |
- |
- |
1½ |
|
2 |
3½ |
- |
- |
all 1st year courses |
|
3 |
5½ |
1½ |
- |
- |
|
4 |
7½ |
3 |
- |
- |
|
5 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
- |
Minimum number of courses for students who first registered at UCT in GEPS or on Science EDP:
|
Year at UCT |
Total courses |
Senior courses |
3000-level courses |
Pre-requisites for majors |
|
1 |
1½ |
- |
- |
1 |
|
2 |
3 |
- |
- |
2½ |
|
3 |
5 |
1 |
- |
- |
|
4 |
7½ |
2½ |
- |
- |
|
5 |
9 |
4 |
1 |
- |
Will results of supplementary examinations affect whether I am excluded?
The FEC will consider any supps you have been awarded in determining whether you will be excluded. If it is clear that even if you pass your supps you will still not meet the minimum criteria, then you will be excluded. If, however, by passing your supps you will meet the minimum criteria, the FEC will send you a letter, alerting you to the situation – and warning that if you do not pass the supps you will be excluded.
How will I know that I have been excluded?
You will of course be able to anticipate this by simply adding up the number of courses you have passed and comparing this to the criteria in the table above. However, the official decision will only be known after the final results are posted in early December, when the statement “Not eligible to continue” will appear on your academic transcript, and you will be informed by the University in a letter that you will not be permitted to register at UCT in the following year. The letter will also advise about the appeal process and provide information on key documents required for this.
If you think you may be excluded, do NOT wait for a letter from UCT; rather complete and submit an appeal form before you leave Cape Town.
NOTE that if you are excluded, you may want to register at another institution like UNISA – and the deadlines for applications are often in August. (Check the UNISA web-site for the specific dates.)
Can I appeal the exclusion, and is there a chance I can be readmitted?
Yes, it is possible to submit an appeal to the Science Faculty Readmission Appeals Committee (Science RAC), and this must be done by the end of the year in which you were excluded. The RAC will consider submissions which provide evidence for difficult or unusual circumstances which led to poor performance. The process involves completing an appeal form and submitting this before the deadline (31st December). Assistance is available from Bhavani Krishna: telephone 021-650-2712 to make an appointment. The RAC meets in January and early February, and the decision will be conveyed to you as soon as it is known.
Guidelines for completing appeal forms
-
We require you to explain your poor performance and why you think you will succeed in the Science Faculty in the future. Only students who are likely to complete a degree will be readmitted.
-
It is essential to provide evidence to support your claims, e.g. if a parent was very ill or died, provide certified copies of medical certificates or a death certificate.
-
If you were ill, include copies of medical certificates. Please note: a statement that 'Dr X has seen my medical certificates' or that you were treated by Student Wellness is NOT acceptable. You must ensure that before you leave at the end of the year you have copies of all of these documents available to submit with your appeal.
-
If you attended Student Wellness Services, the Writing Centre, special tutorials etc, provide evidence of this.
-
Indicate whether or not you have registered for or intend to register for third term courses.
-
Provide a telephone number at which we can contact you if necessary, regarding your appeal.
-
Note that we will not consider a second appeal, so it is in your interest to provide a complete appeal.
-
Bhavani Krishna will be available to assist students with this appeal process. Appointments can be made via the Science Faculty Office reception (tel: 021-650-2712).
Deadlines for appeals for readmission:
Appeals for Readmission must reach the Student Records Office by the following dates:
• Progress code RENN: 31 December 2013
• Progress code SUPP: 10 January 2014
Appeals received after this date will not be considered, except under exceptional circumstances.
Can I ever come back to UCT if I am excluded?
One route is via the appeal process outlined above. If your appeal is not successful, it is in principle possible to apply for readmission after a minimum of one year has elapsed. However, the Science Faculty will generally only consider readmission if at least two full courses, recognized for credit at UCT, have been completed through another institution. NOTE again that deadlines for application to UNISA are in August (check the UNISA web-site for specific dates).
Extra time in tests and examinations
You may qualify for extra time in tests and examinations if you have a learning or physical disability. The definition of a disability and procedures for applying for extra time are clearly laid out in the booklet ‘General Rules and Policies’ (G24.1-7 pages14-15) which you received at the beginning of the year during registration. (A copy is available in the Science Faculty Office or here.) If you need assistance or advice about this, contact Bhavani Krishna at the Faculty Office (021 650 2712).
HELP – who and where to go for it!
We recognize that students often need help with a range of issues they are facing, whether they are academic or more general. The university can seem a bewildering and sometimes unfriendly place, but there are many options for seeking assistance, or simply finding someone to talk to about what you are facing. Here is a list of possibilities – and don’t hesitate to contact someone
Academic queries or problems:
-
Related to course material or arising from lectures: speak to your tutor, lecturer or course convener; make use of your class rep if necessary.
-
With regard to a lecturer or the way a course is being run: speak to the course convenor or the Head of the Department that runs the course
-
Related to courses or majors you are registered for: choices, changes, broad advice: see a Student Adviser.
-
Other problems, or if you have not obtained satisfactory answers elsewhere: see the Deputy Dean (Prof Susan Bourne) or the Assistant Dean (Assoc Prof David Gammon).
General queries on your student record or registration details: go the Science Faculty Office (level 6, PD Hahn) or phone them at 650 2712
Medical assistance: contact Student Wellness (650 1020) to make an appointment to see a doctor.
Psychological counselling: contact Student Wellness (650 1020) to make an appointment to see a psychologist
Housing problems: contact Student Housing (650 1045)
Financial problems: contact the Student Financial Aid (650 3672) for advice about funding options.
General problems – or not sure who to speak to: contact the Faculty Office (sci-science@uct.ac.za, 650 2712 or 650 4134), who will assist you or refer you to the appropriate person
Students who have not yet applied for or received a Matriculation Exemption must please contact the Faculty Office, as you will not be allowed to reregister in 2014 without this certificate.
Scholarships: criteria for award of Faculty Scholarships
The Science Faculty awards Faculty Scholarships to students going into their 2nd or 3rd year of study. There is no need to apply for these, as they are awarded for the following year by the Faculty on the basis of academic performance in the current year. The conditions and criteria for the awards are as follows:
-
- To be eligible for a Faculty Scholarship, a student must have passed (on the first attempt) the equivalent of a full course load applicable to the programme and year of study (refer to table below) and have obtained a weighted average of 75% or more.
- The value of the awards is variable and will depend on the amount of funding available and on the number of students who meet the criteria in a given year.
- A further limited number of Faculty Scholarships will be awarded at the discretion of the Dean.
- Students need not apply for a Faculty Scholarship. Awards will be made automatically to those who qualify.
|
3-year degree programme |
4-year degree programme(GEPS or Science EDP) |
|
The equivalent of 4 full courses in the first year of study |
The equivalent of 2 full courses in the first year of study |
|
The equivalent of 3 full courses, including at least 2 senior courses in the second year of study. |
The equivalent of 2 full courses in the second year of study |
|
|
The equivalent of 3 full courses, including at least 2 senior courses, in the third year of study |
Structure of the BSc degree – putting together the courses you need to meet requirements for a BSc
Definitions of courses, credits and majors
The diagram below is a summary of the information in the 2012 Science Faculty Handbook (page 12) and illustrates how courses are defined and an example of how they are put together to meet the requirements of a BSc degree:
-
- W courses have lectures every day over the whole year
- F and S courses have lectures every day over the 1st or 2nd semester respectively
- H courses have lectures 2 or 3 days a week over the whole year
-
Each course has a course code, such as MAM1043H
- “MAM” is the code for the department that runs the course ( in this example Mathematics and Applied Mathematics)
- The first digit in the number indicates the UCT level (1st year, 2nd year, 3rd year, etc)
- The suffix H (or W or F or S) indicate the duration of the course and when it is offered (see earlier points)
- Note that we are also required to indicate how our courses relate to the Higher Education Qualification Framework (HEQF) levels and credit values. The HEQF levels and credit values of courses are also given in the handbook and shown in the diagram. The credit values are dependent on the duration of the course and the level at which it is offered: so, for example, a W course is worth 36 credits at level 5, 48 credits at level 6, and 72 credits at level 7.
• A major is a sequence of 1st, 2nd and 3rd-year level courses in a given discipline, together with any additional required courses. The list of courses required for each major are listed in the Science Faculty Handbook (pages 14-16). From 2012 onwards, every Science student is required to have 2 majors in their degree.
• Majors offered in the Science Faculty include Applied Biology, Applied Mathematics, Archaeology, Astrophysics, Biochemistry, Business Computing (only with a co-major in Computer Science), Chemistry, Computer Science, Computer Engineering (only with a co-major in Computer Science), Computer Games Development (only with a co-major in Computer Science), Ecology & Evolution, Environmental & Geographical Science, Genetics, Geology, Human Physiology, Marine Biology, Mathematics, Mathematical Statistics, Microbiology, Ocean & Atmosphere Science, Physics.
Rules on courses required for the BSc degree
The full set of rules is set out in the Science Faculty Handbook (pages 11-18), and the key points are summarized as follows:
- The curriculum shall include the equivalent of at least nine full-year courses of which at least six full-year courses must be Science courses. A maximum of three full-year courses or the equivalent may be counted from other faculties.
- The curriculum shall include the equivalent of at least four full-year senior courses or the equivalent, of which at least three shall be Science courses.
- The curriculum shall include at least a half Science course in Mathematics (18 HEQF credits, level 5) plus a half Science course in Statistics (18 HEQF credits, level 5), or a full Science course in Mathematics (36 HEQF credits, level 5).
-
Any course in the Faculty of Science may be taken as an elective. Courses from other Faculties may also be taken as electives, but subject to certain constraints and approval by a Student Adviser or Deputy Dean (see Handbook page 13 for detail).
-
The curriculum will generally include two Science Faculty majors. However, it is possible to have one Science Faculty major, and a second major from another Faculty, providing that the other rules listed above are adhered to (such as the need to have at least six full Science courses, etc.).
Student Advisers – who they are, what they are there for, and how to contact them
The Science Faculty has a group of Student Advisers and Senior Student Advisers, whose role is to provide academic advice and assistance to students. They are members of the academic staff, and are able to help with any queries concerning courses required for majors or the BSc degree as a whole. They can also provide guidance on making the right academic choices, and can guide students with more general problems to the appropriate people in the University who can deal with these.
Senior Student Advisers
|
Name and Department |
For queries regarding following majors: |
Contact details |
|
Assoc Prof Sonia Berman
Computer Science |
Business Computing, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Games Development, Mathematical Statistics |
Rm 317 Computer Science Building
sonia.berman@uct.ac.za |
|
Prof John Bolton |
Applied Biology, Archaeology, Ecology & Evolution, Environmental & Geographical Science, Geology, Marine Biology, Ocean & Atmosphere Science |
Rm 2.14 H W Pearson Building
john.bolton@uct.ac.za |
|
Assoc Prof Christopher Gilmour
Mathematics & Applied Mathematics |
Applied Mathematics, Astrophysics, Mathematics, Physics. |
Rm 314 Mathematics Building |
|
Assoc Prof Bette Davidowitz
Chemistry |
GEPS |
Rm 5.22 P D Hahn Building |
|
Assoc Prof Neil Ravenscroft
Chemistry |
Biochemistry, Chemistry, Genetics, Human Physiology, Microbiology |
Rm 6.09 P D Hahn Building
neil.ravenscroft@uct.ac.za |
|
Assoc Prof David Gammon Assistant Dean |
Science EDP |
Rm 6.36 P D Hahn Building |
Student Advisers
|
Name and Department |
|
|
|
|
|
Rm 4.10 Environmental & Geographical Sciences Building babatunde.abiodun@uct.ac.za |
|
Dr B Erni |
Mathematical Statistics |
Rm 6.64 P D Hahn Building |
|
Dr F Gumedze |
Mathematical Statistics |
Rm 6.63 P D Hahn Building |
|
Professor N Illing |
Biochemistry, Genetics, Human Physiology |
Rm 426 Molecular Biology Building |
|
Associate Professor M Kuttel |
Business Computing, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Games Development |
Rm 304.02 Computer Science Building |
|
Professor G Marsden |
Business Computing, Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Computer Games Development |
Rm 304 Computer Science Building |
|
Dr P Meyers |
Human Physiology, Microbiology |
Rm 202 Molecular Biology Building
paul.meyers@uct.ac.za |
|
Dr AM Muasya
|
Applied Biology, Ecology & Evolution, Marine Biology, Ocean & Atmosphere Science |
Rm 3.18.2 HW Pearson Building muthama.muasya@uct.ac.za |
|
Dr C Reed
|
Applied Biology, Ecology & Evolution, Marine Biology, Ocean & Atmosphere Science |
Rm 3.25 John Day Zoology Building |
|
Dr E Bordy |
Geology |
Rm 501 Geological Sciences Building |
|
Dr D Solomons |
Applied Mathematics, Mathematics |
Rm 323.1 Mathematics Building |
|
Dr G Smith |
Chemistry |
Rm 7.08 P D Hahn Building |
|
Mr G Stewart |
Extended Degree Programme |
Rm 304 Computer Science Building |
|
Dr. S. Wheaton |
Astrophysics, Physics |
Rm 4T4 R W James Building
spencer.wheaton@uct.ac.za |
Are supplementary examinations possible in all courses, and what are the criteria?
Supplementary examinations are offered in some (but not all) courses, for students achieving a mark between 45% and 49%. It is important that you check whether the courses you are taking offer supplementary examinations: you should have been notified of this in the course information handed out at the beginning of the course. Please also refer to page 9 (FB4.1-3) of the 2013 Science Faculty Handbook for the Faculty rules related to supplementary examinations.
Can I appeal for a supplementary examination on compassionate grounds?
No. In courses where supplementary examinations are awarded, they are awarded strictly on academic grounds, and not on compassionate grounds. It is therefore not possible to appeal for a supplementary examination, unless you have clear evidence for a procedural irregularity. See the note on Deferred Examinations, which applies to situations where a student is ill during the examination period.
How will I be informed about the award of a supplementary examination, when are these written, and can I get residence accommodation if necessary?
If you are awarded a supplementary examination, you will be informed by the Examinations Office. The examinations are written during the last two weeks in January and in early February. The timetable will be available via the UCT website. If you need to arrange accommodation during the supplementary examination period, you will need a letter from the relevant department or the Examinations Office confirming that you have a supplementary exam. To book accommodation contact chantal.september@uct.ac.za or lee-ann.alexander@uct.ac.za (021 650 1050/1051) at the Vacation Accommodation Office. Students on financial aid will have the cost of accommodation during supplementary examinations added to their financial aid account.
Science students are permitted to register for certain Third Term courses during the November/December sessions. These courses will count as credits in the Faculty of Science as well as towards readmission requirements. Please note that Science students must have their application form for a third term course approved by a Student adviser and signed by the Science Faculty Office. The closing date for registering for third term courses is in mid November 2013: consult the Third Term Web-site for more details. Note that students who have a fee debt of more than R400 will not be allowed to register for third term courses.
UNISA or other academic institutions
Students who have been excluded from UCT are normally advised to register at another institution, such as UNISA, in order to show academic progress and rehabilitation. Note that the closing date for applications for 1st semester courses at UNISA and other institutions is normally in August of the previous year. So, if you are already aware that you may be excluded from UCT, it would be advisable to apply in time for a relevant programme at another institution.
If you are thinking of withdrawing from a course, you should
-
-
download and complete a change of curriculum form, and obtain the required approval and signature of a Student adviser;
-
take note of the financial implications: unless you withdraw from a course within the first week of a semester, you will still have to pay all or part of the course fee, and if it is very late in the semester, the course will still appear on your record and you will be recorded as being absent.
-
Check with the Faculty Office on the deadlines for changes in each semester.