Become a geomatics professional

The infrastructure sector needs geomatics technologists and professionals to plan, optimise, build, and maintain structures. A geomatics career path can provide prospective professionals with the opportunity to make a beneficial impact on society.

The Department of Infrastructure is responsible for building and maintaining roads of provincial importance, creating human settlements that allow its residents to access social and economic opportunities close to where they live, schools and school infrastructure, and health infrastructure such as hospitals and clinics. It offers an exciting opportunity to aspiring geomatics practitioners through the Masakh’iSizwe Bursary Programme.

The Programme offers financial and non-financial support to students studying towards a geomatic qualification at these 3 higher education institutions (HEIs):

• University of Cape Town (UCT)
• Stellenbosch University (SU)
• Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)

What is geomatics?

Geomatics is the study of methods and technologies used to collect, distribute, analyse and present geographical, and spatial data, both natural and human-made. A geomatics professional or ‘geomatician’ will use his/ her problem-solving and analytic skills to formulate and present 3D and 2D data through measurement, asset mapping, recording and dissemination.

• Geomatics careers and areas of application
• Geographic information system (GIS) Technologist
• GIS Professional
• Spatial Data Analyst
• GIS Developer
• City/Urban Planner
• Logistics
• Hydrography
• Mapping
• Photogrammetry
• Remote sensing and surveying

Minimum requirements

In addition to English or Afrikaans (a South African language of learning and teaching) you will need certain National Senior Certificate subjects at our partner HEIs.

For admission to study towards a Diploma in Geomatics at the Cape Peninsula University of Technology, applicants need the following subjects and results:

• Mathematics (4: 50%) or Technical Maths (5: 60%)
• Physical Science (4: 50%) or Technical Science (5: 60%)

Visit CPUT’s website for the prospectus.

The University of Cape Town offers a BSc (Geomatics) in Geoinformatics, and a BSc (Geomatics in Surveying). The minimum requirements for entry to the BSc in Geomatics programme are Mathematics (minimum 75%), Physical Science (minimum 70%) and a faculty point score (FPS) of 450 for guaranteed admission.

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment website offers more information on admission requirements.

A BSc GeoInformatics undergraduate degree at the Stellenbosch University combines the science of geography with geographical information technology. These are the subjects you will need for admission into this programme:

• Physical Science (4: 50%)
• Mathematics (5: 60% or 6: 70% depending on your degree courses)

Visit SU’s website for more information about the programme.