Undergraduate & honours qualifications

Bachelor of Science Honours in Life Sciences

Qualification stream:	Physiology
Qualification code:	90084 - PHY
NQF level:	8
Total credits:	120
SAQA ID:	98960
APS/AS:	60
Purpose statement: The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide qualifying learners with the ability to apply knowledge and conduct research in a specialised field of Life Sciences in order to enhance and develop new knowledge of human, animal, and plant systems, including health, welfare and the sustainable use of natural resources. Furthermore, learners will also be able to conduct research in related fields and disseminate research findings to relevant stakeholders. More specifically, the qualification will equip learners with systematic knowledge, specialised skills and theoretical competencies in various Life Sciences disciplines in general, and specifically in the topics selected as electives (e.g. Animal Parasitology, Human physiology, Medicinal Use, Plant Systematics, Molecular techniques, Biochemistry, Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology, Protein Integral to Cellular Function, Zoology, and Medical Microbiology).
This qualification will be presented using both online and distance learning modes.

Who can register?

Applicants (new applicants & Unisa students who applied for admission to a new qualification) may only register if they have received an offer of placement from Unisa and have accepted the offer online. Unisa reserves the right to not process and / or to cancel your registration if it is found that you were incorrectly admitted to a qualification.
Re-registering students may register for the 2024 academic year once the registration period opens.

Please note: Should you wish to start a new qualification, please apply online for the alternative qualification during the prescribed application period.

How to choose your modules

Each Unisa qualification is structured in such a way that you need to pass a certain number of NQF level credits within a certain amount of time in order to graduate.

Co-requisite: Module A is a co-requisite for Module B. You want to register for Module B, but have not yet passed Module A. You must then register for both Modules A and B simultaneously. You may NOT cancel your registration for Module A unless Module B is also cancelled.
Pre-requisite: If Module A is a pre-requisite for Module B, you must pass Module A before you may register for Module B.

You may not register for more than the allowed maximum number of credits / modules per academic year and / or semester: 60 credits per semester or 120 credits per academic year.

The maximum number of credits do not include supplementary and / or aegrotat examinations from a previous semester. Modules taken for non-degree / non-diploma purposes also count towards the maximum number of credits allowed.

You must take your available time into consideration when choosing your modules, as this will impact your academic performance. You need approximately

6 to 8 hours per week for semester modules.
4 to 6 hours per week for year modules.

Click here for more information on managing your studies.

Curriculum for this qualification

While you are deciding on the modules for which you will be registering, write down the module names and codes so that you have something to refer to when completing your registration.

Please click on the modules below to see further information (eg semester/year module, NQF level)

Module (Please click on the module to see further information)	Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Compulsory
HMLSC80 - Research Methodology
HRLSC81 - Research Project in Life Sciences
LSH4807 - Advanced Laboratory Techniques
LSH4814 - Advanced Physiology IV
Group B. Choose ONE module from the following:
BOT4801 - Medicinal Plant Use
LSH4802 - Advanced Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology
LSH4804 - Advanced Animal Parasitology
LSH4811 - Health, Lifestyle and Diseases
LSH4812 - Proteins, Integral to Cellular Function
LSH4816 - Exploring Molecular Interactions