Environmental Science
The School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies offers a Master of Science (MSc) by coursework and research report in the field of environmental science.
Overview
This MSc is aimed at students who are interested in a career in environmental management and sustainability. It equips students with theoretical and practical knowledge, skills and competency in human-environment interactions, aspects which are increasingly being demanded by governments, society and industry globally.
The programme gives students an opportunity to acquire knowledge in a broad range of topics relating to environmental management systems and monitoring as well as sustainability.
Career Opportunities
Students who graduate with expertise in environmental science have many career opportunities and will be highly sought-after in the labour market within Southern Africa and globally.
Recent developments across the globe show that societies require sustainable management of the environment and natural resources, resulting in the enactment of new and ambitious environmental legislation in several areas such as chemical management, environmental and social impact assessments, including environmental health and safety. These new developments are creating many jobs within the sub-region, sub-Saharan Africa and globally, as many companies, industries and organisations are now required to comply with environmental laws and legislation.
As a graduate in environmental science, you will likely have a career in the environment and development sectors or a range of other occupations such as working as an environmental consultant and assessor, environmental education officer, environmental manager, nature conservation officer, recycling officer, waste management officer, water quality scientist, environmental health practitioner, landscape architect, town planner, toxicologist, transport planner, ecotourism, wildlife tourism, wildlife conservation, protected areas management, field biology, environmental management and international development etc. you may also be employed In ministries and government agencies, or in international authorities and expert organisations e.g., EU, UNFCCC, or FAO.
Curriculum
Students registered in this programme will be exposed to and will have an opportunity to study a wide range of topical issues within the discourse of environmental management systems, including environmental monitoring and impact assessments; land use and modelling; soil and water resource management; communicating science in an era of crisis; landscapes and climate change; globalisation of food; people and palaeoecology; sustainable tourism; biodiversity conservation and preservation including knowledge on environmental technologies for sustainable production systems.
Students will learn different strategies and methods for solving environmental problems and ensuring environmental sustainability.
Entry Requirements
Applicants are required to have an Honours Degree in Environmental Studies or any cognate discipline in Science, Social Science or Humanities or a relevant NQF level 8 qualification.
This is a highly competitive programme and therefore this minimum requirement allows your application to be considered and does not guarantee admission.
University Application Process
- Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process. Refer to Wits Postgraduate Online Applications Guide for detailed guidelines.
- Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
- Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
- Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.
Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.
International students, please check this section.
For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.
University Fees and Funding
Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.
For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.