Virology
The Bachelor of Health Sciences (Honours) in the field of Virology is offered through the School of Pathology at the Faculty of Health Sciences. The degree is a full-time one-year or part-time two-year programme.
Overview
The programme involves coursework and research essay components delivered in a blended approach over two semesters. Course outcomes are evaluated using formative and summative assessments throughout the programme.
Career Opportunities
Completion of the Honours in Virology programme will strengthen you to persue a career in:
- Public or private diagnostic laboratories - internships as medical technicians, technologists, or scientists
- Research laboratories or organisations - enry-level (researcher/field specialist)
- Academic institutions - entry-level lecturer and/or academic tutor
- Corporate sector - technical or field specialist
Curriculum
The coursework component comprises four moudules; Introduction to Virology, Molecular Biology, Basic Immunology, and Laboratory Techniques that aim to enable candidates to achieve various outcomes about the knowledge and skills required for candidates in the field of Virology at an Honours level, namely:
- Apply concepts of Virology to disease diagnosis and management
- The role of immune system response against viral infections
- Molecular and genetic processes about viral evolution leading to the emergence and re-emergence of new viruses and/or viral strains
- Viral infectious disease transmission including infection control measures and the use of vaccines
- Antiviral drugs and vaccines
- Laboratory techniques and a research project
- Communication and presenting skills necessary
Entry Requirements
For admission into this course, you require a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Bioinformatics, Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Genetics and Development Biology or Microbiology or Biotechnology. Bachelor of Health Sciences degree in Biomedical Science, Biokinetics, or Health Systems Science. Exercise Science or equivalent. Final acceptance is subject to achieving an average minimum mark of 65% in all subjects from the mid and final examinations.
The application should be accompanied by:
- Certified copies of undergraduate examination results or official transcript
- A letter of motivation for wanting to study for the degree
- An updated CV.
Note: meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee students a place in this programme, and HPCSA registration is not required at this stage.
University Application Process
- Applications are handled centrally by the 雷速体育_雷速体育直播 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 雷速体育_雷速体育直播 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. The University's Postgraduate Funding portal is a database of scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities available to Wits postgraduate students. 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.