The Faculty of Natural Sciences comprises the Department of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Mathematical Sciences and Computing as well as Chemical and Physical Sciences.

The Faculty offers undergraduate and postgraduate degree qualifications ranging from Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Science (Honours), Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy.

In addition, a limited number of Diploma qualifications are also offered in the Natural Sciences. The Faculty is located at the Nelson Mandela Drive site of the Mthatha campus.

Merger of Legacy Institutions

Walter Sisulu University was founded on 1st July 2005 through the merger of the University of Transkei (Unitra), Eastern Cape Technikon and Border Technikon.

These three institutions brought into the merger: Education, Humanities and Social Sciences, while the University of Transkei also brought along the basic sciences and the Eastern Cape and Border Technikons brought along the engineering sciences and technology.

This newly-merged comprehensive higher education institution has positioned itself as a developmental university with the need to increase efficiency and service delivery of its programmes across all its campuses in the Eastern Cape.

Two-Tier Governance Structure

The programmes and qualifications offered in the faculty are collectively managed by the Dean.

The individual departments in the faculty are managed by their respective Heads of Departments (HoDs).

In addition to effective managerial and administrative responsibilities within a department, the heads of departments are in charge of the high standards of courses and programmes offered in their departments together with the overall learning and teaching activities.

The heads are responsible for the maintenance of the total quality of teaching and learning rendered within departments.

Academic Focus of the Faculty

The academic focus of the faculty is to offer basic science programmes with a strong component of mathematics and its related subjects such that, our students can competently respond to discipline-related problems and societal challenges using their higher-level knowledge and judgement.

Vision of the Faculty

The Faculty will be a leading academic centre offering a range of excellent science and mathematics programmes to produce human capital, endowed with scientific knowledge, skills and innovation to address workplace challenges for sustainable development and poverty alleviation.

Mission of the Faculty

In pursuit of its vision, the Faculty will be at the forefront of teaching, research and innovation; pioneering marketable products that lead to new startup businesses.

Our academically skilful graduates will be competitive in the traditional job market as well as capable of starting and owning small businesses that create job opportunities for themselves and the broader community.

The Faculty prides itself on highly qualified and competent academic staff who engage in teaching, research and community engagement.

In addition, their role is to support and nurture young and developing academic staff to maintain continuity.

Where there are identified knowledge or skill gaps, the Faculty will address these through training and deliberate efforts to acquire necessary state-of-the-art equipment for research and teaching.

The Faculty shall strive to make learning and teaching attractive and enjoyable for students and staff alike.

The Faculty firmly believes that excellent scholarship is achievable in a conducive environment, characterised by professionalism, security and free from intimidation.