Industrial Engineering

Industrial Engineering studies the systems, processes, technology and people that make up organisations.

Overview

Improve and optimise productivity and quality in manufacturing and service companies.

Industrial engineers are often involved ‘behind the scenes’, answering questions like:

  • How do vehicle manufacturers economically produce hundreds of variations of the same vehicle?
  • How can South Africa streamline its public healthcare delivery to ensure quality care for all?
  • How can you safely and quickly send money to your family in another country, if they don’t have a bank account? 

Industrial engineers apply science, mathematics, and engineering methods to understand and integrate complex systems and processes. They increase productivity and quality by finding improved ways of doing things.

Industrial Engineers need to have knowledge and skills in a wide variety of disciplines. An Industrial Engineering degree at Wits will equip you with a solid foundation in the science of Engineering with an emphasis on developing analytical techniques and generalised problem solving skills. 

The Bachelor of Science in Engineering - Industrial Engineering (BSc Eng Industrial) is a 4 year full-time course. The first two years of study are common to the three branches taught in the School - Mechanical, Industrial and Aeronautical Engineering. From the third year onwards the curriculum becomes more focused on specific Industrial Engineering theories, principles and tools.

Wits has a strong history of collaboration with industry and other world class institutions. This enables students to tackle realistic projects within industry from the third year onwards. In final year, the second half of the year is dedicated to project work (design and research). These projects are often industry-related whilst others are at the forefront of the School's research, and frequently lead on to postgraduate study.

Career Opportunities

  • Enterprise Resource Planning Consultant
  • Inventory Engineer
  • IT Consultant
  • Logistics Engineer
  • Management Consultant
  • Production and Operations Manager
  • Process Engineer
  • Quality Control Engineer
  • Supply Chain Consultant
  • Technical Manager

Curriculum

A common first-year programme was introduced from 2019 across all professional engineering disciplines.

The academic curriculum is regularly modernised in order to ensure that it meets the highest professional and academic standards and that it simultaneously remains locally relevant and applicable.

Many engineering students entering the engineering programmes have limited knowledge of the different branches of engineering and only gain the knowledge to make an informed choice of the programme during their first year.

A first-year curriculum that is identical for all programmes allows students to amend their choice at the end of the first year.

First-year
  • Engineering Chemistry
  • Introduction to the Engineering Profession
  • Engineering Analysis and Design IA AND IB
  • Engineering Mathematics IA AND IB
  • Engineering Physics IA AND IB
  • Applied Physics I

AND, one of the following courses:

  • Elementary IsiZulu Language and Culture IA
  • Elementary Sesotho Language and Culture IA
  • The International Relations of South Africa and Africa
  • Introduction to Political Studies
  • Southern Africa in the Era of Globalisation
  • Identity and Society
  • Introduction to Ethics I
  • Introduction to Philosophy: Knowledge and Reality
  • Global Encounters and Contemporary Realities IA
Second-year
  • Electrical Engineering
  • Mathematics II
  • Mechanical Engineering Laboratory I
  • Introduction to Materials Science and Engineering
  • Applied Mechanics A AND B
  • Computing Skills and Software Development
  • Engineering Design
  • Machine Elements
  • Fluid Mechanics I
  • Engineering Thermodynamics
Third-year
  • Industrial Engineering Design
  • Industrial Engineering Investigation
  • Mechatronics I
  • Business Management
  • Operations Management: Techniques
  • Manufacturing Technology: Processes
  • Principles of Organisational Behaviour
  • Engineering in its Social Context
  • Operations Research
  • Mathematical Topics (Industrial)
  • Mathematical Methods (Industrial)
  • Vacation Work I (Mechanical)
Fourth-year
  • Design Project
  • Research Project
  • Manufacturing Technology: Systems
  • Business Studies
  • Systems Management and Integration
  • Decision Support and Intelligence Systems
  • Operations Management: Systems Integration
  • Engineering Professional Activity
  • Selected Topics in Social Science
  • Vacation Work II (Mechanical)

Entry Requirements

APS 42+

English Home Language OR First Additional Language
Level 5

Mathematics
Level 5

Physical Sciences
Level 5

Wait-listing

Applicants with English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences at Level 5 will be wait-listed, subject to place availability. Generally, applicants who achieve Level 6 in English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences stand a greater chance of being accepted.

University Application Process

  • The Student Enrolment Centre at Wits handles all student applications.
  • Please click here for an overview of the application process. 
  • Check the admission requirements for your degree. Check if any additional selection requirements apply. 
  • Submit your application, required documentation and application fee before the closing date.
  • Once you have applied, an admissions consultant will be assigned to your application.
  • Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
  • If you are an international applicant and/or have a foreign qualification, please click here.

Compliance with the minimum requirements does not guarantee a place at the University. The University has a specific number of places for first year undergraduates, approved by the Department of Higher Education and Training. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees for the first year of study. The Fees website also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal. 

The Financial aid office provides information on student funding and scholarships. University-funded Scholarships include Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships, University Entrance Scholarships, Equality Scholarships, Sports Scholarships and National Olympiad winner awards. For information about NSFAS funding, please visit the NSFAS website. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.

Wits Plus applicants: terms of payment are in accordance with University regulations, and students are not eligible for University bursaries/NSFAS or residential accommodation.