Mining Engineer
Plan and run safe, productive mining operations — one of South Africa's oldest and best-paid engineering fields.
What the job involves
- Plan how ore is extracted safely and economically.
- Manage underground or open-cast production teams.
- Apply mine health and safety law every day.
School subjects you need
Pure Mathematics required. If you take Mathematical Literacy in Grade 10, this career is normally closed to you at degree level.
- Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
- English
- Geography
- Engineering Graphics & Design
Marks you normally need
- Minimum NSC pass
- Bachelor's pass
- Indicative APS
- Roughly 32–38
- Subject percentages institutions look for
- Mathematics: 65%+
- Physical Sciences: 60%+
These are indicative ranges for guidance only. Every university, university of technology and TVET college sets its own admission requirements — check the current prospectus of the institution you are applying to.
Study routes
- BEng / BSc Eng (Mining)4 years
Vacation work underground is usually compulsory; many students are bursary-funded by mining houses.
What you could earn
- Entry level
- R40 000 – R60 000 per month
- Mid-career
- R70 000 – R110 000 per month
- Senior
- R130 000 – R200 000 per month (mine managers)
Indicative gross monthly ranges from public South African salary sources. They vary by employer, province and experience, and are not guarantees. Compare all careers.
Where you can study this
Public institutions that commonly offer this field. Confirm the exact programme, its minimum APS and the closing date on the institution's own admissions page.
- University of Cape TownUCT · Cape Town
- University of the WitwatersrandWits · Johannesburg
- Stellenbosch UniversitySU · Stellenbosch
- University of PretoriaUP · Pretoria
- University of KwaZulu-NatalUKZN · Durban and Pietermaritzburg
- University of JohannesburgUJ · Johannesburg
- North-West UniversityNWU · Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark
- Nelson Mandela UniversityNMU · Gqeberha
- Walter Sisulu UniversityWSU · Mthatha, East London, Butterworth, Komani
- Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyCPUT · Cape Town and Bellville
- Durban University of TechnologyDUT · Durban and Pietermaritzburg
- Tshwane University of TechnologyTUT · Pretoria and surrounding campuses
- Vaal University of TechnologyVUT · Vanderbijlpark
- Central University of TechnologyCUT · Bloemfontein and Welkom
- Mangosuthu University of TechnologyMUT · Umlazi, Durban
Official sources
Questions learners ask
Isifinyezo / Opsomming
isiZulu: Uhlela imisebenzi yezimayini ephephile. Kudinga iMathematics nePhysical Sciences.
Afrikaans: Beplan veilige mynbedrywighede. Suiwer Wiskunde en Fisiese Wetenskappe is nodig.