This is a programme for those persons intending to pursue tertiary education in the fields of science, engineering and technology and require a bridging programme to facilitate their smooth entry into the tertiary education sector.
The programme will be outsourced to UKZN, where a Science Foundation Programme (SFP) has been in existence for more than 10 years, and a BSc4 (foundation or augmented) programme has been in existence for a few years.
The SFP is a one-year access programme for students from disadvantaged schools who are interested in a science-based degree but do not have full matric exemption. The students would have done Mathematics and Science (Physical Science or Biology or Agricultural Science) at secondary school. The BSc4 programme targets students from disadvantaged schools who attained full matric exemption, but do not meet the requirements to be admitted directly into the Faculty of Science and Agriculture. For the BSc (augmented) programme, students who only marginally miss the Faculty of Science and Agriculture-entry requirements are admitted into the BSc degree, but take a reduced load of first-year courses.
The BSc (foundation) stream is for students who have full matric exemption, but whose performance is below that of students qualifying for BSc (augmented) programme.
The duration of BMSTE is one-year and commenced at the beginning of 2009. Thereafter batches of students should be enrolled for the years of 2010, 2011 and 2012.
Accreditation: Accreditation will be via UKZN structures and the satisfaction of SAQA requirements. National Department of Education already funds the operational costs of the UKZN programme.
The Moses Kotane Institute has awarded 200 MKI bursaries to students
accepted onto one of the access programmes in the Centre for Science
Access (CSA) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (Pietermaritzburg and
Westville Campuses) for 2010.
The MKI bursaries for students
to study through the Center for Science Access in 2010 amounts to a
sponsorship of just over R10 million. This is almost a million rand
more than MKI invested in students studying through the CSA in 2009
This
follows on from the fantastic results achieved by our MKI bursary
holders in 2009. In total 154 of the 200 students we sponsored have
taken up a full time science degree in 2010. The Moses Kotane Institute
is extremely proud of its association with the Center for Science
Access and we feel confident that through these bursaries we ensure
that we play a huge role in producing the scientists of tomorrow.
Our
bursaries provide access into a science or science-related degree at
the University of KwaZulu-Natal for students from a disadvantaged
background who do not meet the minimum entry requirements to go
directly into a science degree (B.Sc.).
The bursary is for full tuition and accommodation for the year.
For 2010 the Moses Kotane Institute has funded the following:
Pietermaritzburg Campus:
BSc4 Foundation = 26 students
Science foundation = 7 students
BSc4 Augmented = 33 students
Westville Campus:
BSc4 Foundation = 67 students
BSc4 Augmented = 67 students
MKI Bursary Induction 2010
Pictured
with some of the 134 students who received a Moses Kotane bursary in
2010 are Vanessa Singh (Dep. Head) of the Center for Science Access,
Professor Modi (CEO) of the Moses Kotane Institute and Professor
Kindness (Deputy Dean) Faculty of Science and Agriculture. Next to
Professor Albert Thembinkosi Modi is Ms Nelly Gumede, a MKI bursary
recipient in 2009, who is studying a BSc this year and next to
Professor Andrew Kindness is Confidence Seane, also a MKI bursary
recipient in 2009, who is also studying towards a BSc.
WHAT IS THE CENTRE FOR SCIENCE ACCESS?
The
Centre for Science Access (CSA) is located within the College of
Agriculture, Engineering and Science at the University of
KwaZulu-Natal. It aims to provide access to science or science-related
degrees to students from disadvantaged schools.
The Centre offers 3 options for studying:
1. The BSc4 (Augmented)
2. The BSc4 (Foundation) and
3. The Science Foundation Programme.
- BSc-4 (Augmented):
This
programme has been operating on the Durban Centre since 1991 and is now
offered on the Westville and Pietermaritzburg campuses. It is for
students from disadvantaged schools, who are interested in science
degrees, but whose matric results are slightly below Faculty entry
requirements although they have a full matriculation exemption or NSC
degree. Students are admitted into first year BSc but initially take
fewer courses with extra tutorials and practicals, and a course in
Scientific Communication and Life Skills. The first year of the degree
is therefore spread over a maximum of two years during which students
can also take some second year modules. Thereafter students carry the
normal load for their degrees. Thus students take four years to
complete a three-year Science degree, having progressed more slowly,
but being more assured of success.
- BSc-4 (Foundation):
This
programme is for students from disadvantaged schools who have a full
matric exemption or NSC degree, but whose matric points or grades are
not sufficient for the BSc4 (Augmented) option. This programme is a
modification of the Science Foundation Programme (SFP), which has been
in existence on the Pietermaritzburg campus since 1991 and on the
Westville campus since 1999. Students will be admitted into the BSc
degree programme, and offered full year courses that improve their
knowledge as well as practical and study skills in Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry and Biology. In addition, students take courses in
Scientific Communication and Life Skills. A pass of 50% in every
module provides students with access to the first year of a general
science degree at UKZN and gives students 32 degree credits.
Students
need to meet specified sub-minima to gain entrance into particular
named programmes such as Computer Science, Dietetics, Information
Technology, Actuarial Science and Biomedical Science. There are
limited places in Engineering and Health Sciences which require
excellent academic performance in the BSc4 (Foundation) for possible
admission. Although every effort will be made to accommodate students
who pass the BSc4 (Foundation), students may be offered a different
programme or campus from their first choice. Candidates are not
permitted to repeat the BSc4 (Foundation).
- The Science Foundation Programme:
This
option is similar to the BSc4 (Foundation) above, except that it is for
students who do not have a full matric exemption or NSC degree. Those
who are admitted into the SFP are provided with a full year of
foundational pre-university level modules, including Mathematics,
Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Communication in Science and Life Skills.
A pass of 50% in every module provides students with access to the
first year of a general science degree at UKZN. Students need to meet
specified sub-minima to gain entrance into particular named programmes
such as Computer Science, Dietetics, Information Technology, Actuarial
Science and Biomedical Science.
There are limited places in
Engineering and Health Sciences which require excellent academic
performance in the SFP for possible admission. Although every effort
will be made to accommodate students who pass the SFP, students may be
offered a different programme or campus from their first choice.
Candidates are not permitted to repeat the SFP.