The Department of Botany and Zoology has developed highly competitive research programmes in several focal research areas and this is reflected in the design of the Honours course. The department is currently a leader in the fields of Invasion Biology, Ecophysiology, Ecotoxicology, Evolutionary and Behavioural Ecology, Herpetology, Molecular Systematics, Phylogenomics, Conservation genetics, Vegetation Science, Population Biology of Plants, Fynbos Systematics, and Ecology. Most of the staff are NRF-evaluated researchers which means that ample research funding and M.Sc. bursaries are available should you decide to continue your studies in our department after completion of the Honours course. Although emphasis is placed on research, our aim is to deliver well-rounded biologists. The course provides the opportunity for students to be exposed to a wide range of disciplines which will assist those with plans to continue their studies in Botany and/or Zoology to make more informed career choices. For those who have already decided on a specific research field, the programme also allows for a considerable degree of specialization. The B.Sc. (Hons.) course in Botany and Zoology is a one-year course designed to bridge the gap between undergraduate training and post-graduate research. The course does not cover every Botanical and Zoological field, but rather makes use of the expertise available within the Department of Botany and Zoology to provide focused modules in those areas within which staff have considerable research experience. The course comprises theoretical work, seminars, practical tasks, independent research work, and independent consultation of the broader zoological literature.