College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences

Protea Women's captain obtains a cum laude degree from Unisa

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In action: Laura Wolvaardt, captain of the Proteas women’s team

Having recently joined the #CircleofExcellence at Unisa by obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences with cum laude, Laura Wolvaardt, captain of the South African women's national cricket team, Proteas, maintains that discipline and a well-balanced plan led to this achievement. Wolvaardt got the qualification offered by the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences during the recent 2025 Autumn Graduations.

This milestone comes shortly before heading to compete in the 2025 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, set to be hosted jointly by India and Sri Lanka from 30 September to 2 November 2025. Shining on and off the field, Wolvaardt’s remarkable feat is as outstanding as her athletic capabilities. Other than time management, she shares that coffee and hotel Wi-Fi kept her going.

Initially after completing high school, Wolvaardt says that she had set her academic sights on medical school, but later realised that the load of having to attend daily physical classes would not accommodate her hectic schedule. As a sportswoman, she spends a lot of time on field training and travelling across the globe to represent South Africa, especially during international tournaments. However, she states that she remained determined to pursue a course related to the medical field.

Laura Wolvaardt sharing her recently obtained cum laude Bachelor of Science in Life Sciences

Wolvaardt lauds Unisa for offering an enabling environment regardless of her geographic location. She says: "Unisa offers real-time and flexible access to online learning, which is ideal in my context." She adds: "The qualification I chose also has some medical modules, so, if I were to return to medical school, I would have some prior knowledge of the field."


Marked for success

Amongst her notable accomplishments in her early cricket career, Wolvaardt made her debut for the Western Cape Province when she was a teenager. Her career took a significant leap in 2016 when just four months after her debut for the Proteas, she showcased her incredible skills on the international stage in a One Day International (ODI) match against Ireland, scoring a brilliant 105 at the age of 17. This exceptional performance marked her as the youngest century-maker, also earning a recognition as a rising cricket star.


Inspiration drawn from Unisa alumna

Wolvaardt’s desire to study at Unisa was motivated by Unisa alumna, Dr Kirsten van Heerden – an astounding performance psychologist and personal development manager at the South African Cricketers’ Association. Van Heerden, who is also a former Olympics swimmer, author and founding chairwoman of the Girls Only Project – a non-profit organisation dedicated to women in sports - recommended the degree and Unisa to Wolvaardt. Wolvaardt shares that she is appreciative to have delivered on Van Heerden’s recommendation.


The key to avoiding procrastination

Wolvaardt advises students to avoid procrastination. "Start where you are," she advises. Through her experience, she notes that there is never a kairos moment or "perfect enough" condition to invoke action. She concludes: "It becomes easier after you have taken the first steps. You will begin to realise that you have more time than you think."

* By Godfrey Madibane, Acting Journalist, Department of Institutional Advancement

** Images supplied by Laura Wolvaardt

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Publish date: 2025-09-25 00:00:00.0

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