The Department of Plant Sciences at the University of the Free State is a multidisciplinary academic department dedicated to excellence in teaching, research, and community engagement in the plant sciences. Through its divisions of Botany, Plant Breeding, and Plant Pathology, the department contributes to sustainable agriculture, biodiversity conservation, food security, and environmental resilience through innovative scientific research and student development.
Department mission and commitment
The Department of Plant Sciences was established in 2002. Since then, the mission of the Department of Plant Sciences is the synthesis, development and creation of knowledge within Botany, Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology to the benefit of society.
The Department of Plant Sciences is committed to:
• The advancement of the disciplines Botany, Plant Breeding and Plant Pathology.
• The establishment of relevant study programs in biological and agricultural sciences in conjunction with other departments and groups at UFS.
• The presentation of quality under-graduate education to prepare students for a career and post-graduate studies.
• The presentation of quality post-graduate supervision of research orientated Honors, Masters and Doctoral programs.
• The creation of a culture and environment beneficial to research of international standing.
• The rendering of community service.
• The active propagation of the UFS as a university of preference.
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The University of the Free State (UFS) Department of Plant Sciences (Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa campuses) consists of the following divisions:
- Botany (Bloemfontein and Qwaqwa)
- Plant Breeding (Bloemfontein)
- Plant Pathology (Bloemfontein)
These divisions are multi-disciplined and cover plant-related teaching subjects and research. Some subjects of interest include:
- Conventional Plant Breeding
- Crop Protection
- Disease surveillance
- Ecology
- Ecophysiology
- Ethnobotany
- Evolutionary Ecology
- Extension
- Food Nutritional Value and Protein Quality
- Molecular Plant Breeding
- Molecular Plant Pathology
- Mycology
- Palaeobotany
- Physiology and Biochemistry
- Phytomedicine
- Plant Disease Epidemiology
- Plant Pathology
- Plant Phylogenetics
- Plant-Animal interactions
- Pollination Ecology
- Proteonomics
- Rust Pathology
- Soil Health Ecology
- Taxonomy
- Systematics
- and many more.
Students and researchers have access to the most modern laboratories and scientific equipment.
Important Links:
2027 Undergraduate Prospectus
2026 Faculty Rule Book (All campuses)
2027 Postgraduate Prospectus
Apply online
Undergraduate studies
| Code | Learning program | Requirements |
| BC4320
Q4310 | BSc in Botany (BFN Campus)
BSc in Botany (Qwaqwa Campus) | AP score =32 | Level 4 - Tuition language | Level 5 - Mathematics and Life Sciences and Physical Sciences |
| BC431920 | BSc in Biochemistry and Botany |
| BC432031 | BSc in Botany and Genetics |
| BC432041 | BSc in Botany and Plant Breeding |
| BC432042 | BSc in Botany and Plant Pathology |
| BC432049 | BSc in Botany and Zoology |
| BC432082 | BSc in Plant Health Ecology |
| BC432742 | BSc in Plant Health Management |
| QC432075 | BSc in Botany and Life Sciences (Qwaqwa) |
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| BC540041 | BSc Agric in Plant Breeding | AP score =32 | Level 4 - Tuition language | Level 5 - Mathematics and Life Sciences and Physical Sciences |
| BC540042 | BSc Agric in Plant Pathology | Level 5 - Mathematics and Physical Sciences and Life Sciences or Agricultural Sciences |
Postgraduate studies
Honors Degree
| BC460020 | BSc Honours in Botany | Selection | 60% average for third-year Botany modules | 30 September
|
| BC460041 | BSc Honours in Plant Breeding | Selection | 60% average for third-year Plant Breeding modules |
| BC460042 | BSc Honours in Plant Pathology | Selection | 60% average for third-year Plant Pathology modules |
| BC460082 | BSc Honours in Plant Health Ecology | Selection | 60% average for third-year Plant Health or appropriate Plant Pathology modules |
| BC560041 | BSc Agric Honours in Plant Breeding | Selection | 60% average for third-year Plant Breeding modules | 30 September |
| BC560042 | BSc Agric Honours in Plant Pathology | Selection | 60% average for third-year Plant Pathology modules | |
| QC460020 | BSC Honours in Botany (QwaQwa) | Selection | 60% average for third-year Botany modules | |
Master's Degree
| BC480020 | MSc in Botany | Selection |
| BC480041 | MSc in Plant Breeding | Selection |
| BC480042 | MSc in Plant Pathology | Selection |
| BC480081 | MSc in Plant Breeding Interdisciplinary | Selection |
| BC480082 | MSc in Plant Health Ecology | Selection |
| BC480083 | MSc in Plant Pathology Interdisciplinary | Selection |
| BC580041 | MSc Agric in Plant Breeding | Selection |
| BC580042 | MSc Agric in Plant Pathology | Selection |
| BC580081 | MSc Agric in Plant Breeding Interdisciplinary | Selection |
| BC580083 | MSc Agric in Plant Pathology Interdisciplinary | Selection |
| QC460022 | MSc in Botany (QwaQwa) | Selection |
Doctoral Degree
| BC490020 | PhD in Botany | Selection |
| BC490041 | PhD in Plant Breeding | Selection |
| BC490042 | PhD in Plant Pathology | Selection |
| BC490081 | PhD in Plant Breeding Interdisciplinary | Selection |
| BC490082 | PhD in Plant Health Ecology | Selection |
| BC490083 | PhD in Plant Pathology Interdisciplinary | Selection |
| QC490020 | PhD in Botany (QwaQwa) | Selection |
Bloemfontein Campus contact details: QwaQwa Campus contact details:
