Computer Science Programmes

BSc Computer Science is the primary option for students who want to pursue a career in software development. This degree is an international qualification that enables you to find work at national and international companies. With the appropriate electives it can also lead to an honours programme in Computer Science (see our information for prospective PG students for more information on the appropriate electives) or to an honours programme in another subject, such as Applied Mathematics, Economics, General Linguistics, Mathematical Statistics, Mathematics, Operations Research, and Statistics.

Many disciplines now require some knowledge of how to write computer code and in many programmes students learn to use particular software, such as MS Excel, Matlab, or R for data analysis.

In Computer Science the focus is on software development. This page lists programmes at Stellenbosch that include a full Computer Science curriculum, as well as most programmes that include some Computer Science modules. The information is given for general guidance, but may be out of date; it is important to confirm details in the University calendar (yearbook). If you consider applying then also read our information for prospective students.

Quick aside:

When you come to university, you must choose a degree e.g., BSc
a degree variant, called a programme e.g., BSc Computer Science
and a programme variant, called a focal area. e.g., BSc Computer Science: General Computer Science

Programmes that include a full Computer Science curriculum

The following programmes include the option to take the full core curriculum through to the third year:

Programme	Focal areas with a full CS curriculum
BSc Computer Science¹:	General Computer Science Computer Systems Data Science
BDatSci:²:	Computer Science
BSc Mathematical Sciences:	Applied Mathematics Mathematics Abstract Mathematics Operations Research
BCom Mathematical Sciences:	Data Science
BCom Economic Sciences
BSc GeoInformatics

All the BSc Computer Science focal areas contain the full Computer Science core curriculum and with at least 32 credits of quantitative modules at second- or third-year level can lead to an honours programme in Computer Science (see our information for prospective PG students for a list of quantitative subjects and/or modules). The General Computer Science focal area further allows students to register for additional Computer Science electives on third-year level.
BDatSci is an interfaculty four-year programme and students register for BDatSci in the faculty that offers their chosen focal area. The Computer Science focal area contains the full Computer Science curriculum; the other focal areas contain some Computer Science modules, but not all.

Programmes that include some, but not all Computer Science modules

The following programmes and focal areas include some, but not all Computer Science modules.

Programme	Focal areas with some CS modules
BDatSci	Applied Mathematics Statistical Physics Analytics and Optimisation Behavioural Economics Statistical Learning
BSc:	Biomedical Mathematical Sciences Biomathematics Bioinformatics and Computational Biology
BSc Physics:	Laser Physics (Physical) Nuclear Physics Radiation and Health Physics Theoretical Physics
BEng Electrical and Electronic:	Data Engineering Informatics Robotics
BSc Chemistry:	Chemistry and Polymer Science Materials Technology

Note that, just because a programme allows you to enrol for first-year Computer Science modules, does not mean that you can necessarily also enrol for second- and third-year Computer Science modules. The focal area may not include all the modules through to third-year or there may be timetable clashes. It is important to read the university documentation very carefully.

Computer Science Curriculum

The Computer Science core curriculum includes Computer Science: 114, 144, 214, 244, 343, 344, and at least two of 314/313/315.

First Semester	Second Semester
First year 114 Introductory Computer Science 1	144 Introductory Computer Science 2
Second year 214 Data structures and Algorithms	244 Computer Architecture
Third year 314 Concurrency 313 Computer Networks 315 Machine Learning	344 Program Design (Software Engineering) 343 Databases and Web Programming 345 Computability and Automata