Best Medical schools in South Africa for international students

Today, we will be looking at the finest medical schools in South Africa for international students in terms of learning environment and cost.

South Africa is now associated with more than just Zulu culture after reading this article. It also makes you want to consider pursuing a career in medicine there.

You will find some of the greatest institutions in South Africa that will assist you in achieving your goal of becoming a physician with grace and simplicity.

The remarkable “rainbow nation” today speaks eleven official languages and has thirteen medical schools (only 10 are mentioned on this page). While the University of Cape Town is likely the top medical school, the other institutions included in this article also offer international applicants strong medical degrees.

In South Africa, like in every serious nation, the government places a great priority on healthcare. Thus, the South African government is investing the required cash to ensure that healthcare in South Africa is robust.

Requirements for Studying Medicine in South Africa

The following are the fundamental criteria for studying medicine in South Africa:

Educational History

In essence, a student’s future is determined by the topics he or she picks in high school. If you choose to pursue a profession in medicine as a student, you must pass English, mathematics, physics/chemistry, and life science in 12th grade.

Minimum Marks Required to Enter South African Medical Schools

In South Africa, aspiring physicians have two alternatives for entering medical school. The entry criteria for an MBChB degree vary depending on which of the following choices is chosen:

MBChB Upon Graduation From High School

Entry into a medical program is highly tough due to rigorous quotas and a lack of available seats. However, if the student meets all the prerequisites to study medicine in South Africa, he or she can succeed with a little extra work.

The finest aspect of South African medical colleges is that their selection processes are open to public scrutiny. The majority of medical schools in South Africa have varied entry criteria for their medical programs. However, there are few distinctions.

After General BSc

This is the second possible choice. Students who were unable to enroll directly in the MBChB program can now choose this alternative.

It is regrettable, but inevitable, that there will be dropouts from medical schools, allowing students who just missed their chance to obtain a medical degree a second shot.

Students who failed on their first attempt will now pursue a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree, which is comparable to the MBChB degree. When a student enters the first or second year of medical school, he or she has the option to transfer to any medical school.

However, this chance is only available to students with an outstanding academic record throughout their BSc degree program.

The benefit of this second alternative, despite its intense competition, is that the student will have a clear understanding of what is required and will be able to work toward entering the medical program via this transfer program.

Mandatory National Benchmark Tests

Medical aspirants must pass the National Benchmark Test upon graduation (NBT). This exam is a crucial stepping stone on the path to medical school in South Africa since only students with outstanding grades will be granted admission.

In addition to academic findings from the questions presented, the non-academic accomplishments of the candidate also impact the final exam score.

Score Weighting Conditions

When a student applies to a medical school in South Africa, it is impossible to predict what score he or she will receive due to the varying weightings used to the candidates’ various scores.

The grades required to become a doctor in South Africa are exceptionally high, particularly in the fundamental sciences such as biology, physics, and chemistry.

Furthermore, the high scores necessary to become a doctor in South Africa are acceptable since they assist applicants to medical school identify their intellectual potential.

The marks required to become a doctor in South Africa should not deter you as an applicant, since the greatest professions demand the best brains, and this knowledge forms the basis of their advanced studies.

Community service mandate

One year of mandatory community service must be completed before becoming a qualified medical doctor.

Do not be disheartened or frightened by what you have just read. It may be challenging, but it is not impossible; remember that magnificent accomplishments seldom begin easily.

Cost of medical education in South Africa

The cost of tuition at South African medical schools varies considerably. Many medical colleges charge overseas students significantly higher tuition fees than native students.

The cost of your education may vary based on the institution and program you choose, but as a general estimate, you should set aside around ZAR52,000 (£2,850) every academic year.

Medical schools in South Africa for international students

These universities offer some of the best standards in medical education, upgrading their teaching techniques frequently and investing much in medical research to stay current.

They are here;

The University of Cape Town

As the oldest institution in South Africa, UCT, or the University of Cape Town was founded in 1829 and is located in Cape Town.

It is one of the top-ranked colleges in South Africa. The UCT medical school is ranked 91st in the world by US News (Subject Ranking). The university is now ranked 114th on the list of Best Global Universities.

As an alumnus of this institution, you will receive an excellent education and medical practice skills. The medical school of the University of Cape Town falls under the Faculty of Health Sciences.

The department of Medicine at UCT comprises as many as 19 departments, including Organogram, Allergology and Clinical Immunology, Cardiology, Clinical Haematology, Clinical Pharmacology, Endocrinology, Dermatology, etc. As with most other colleges, UCT offers students scholarships to aid in their studies.

The University of the Witwatersrand

The University of the Witwatersrand, or Wits, is one of South Africa’s first universities. Wits University, founded in 1896, is one of the greatest medical schools in South Africa. This university of public research is based in Johannesburg.

US News ranks Wits as the 135th top school in the world for clinical medicine and the 197th best university worldwide.

At Wits South Africa, you can get a standard MB BCh degree in six years and a graduate degree in four years concurrently. The School of Clinical Medicine is regarded as one of South Africa’s most prestigious medical schools.

The Times Higher Education World Ranking method ranks it among the top 100 institutions for clinical, preclinical, and health disciplines. It was founded 100 years ago. Clinical Medicine, Anatomical Sciences, Oral Health Sciences, and Public Health are among its many schools.

Five large hospitals and several clinics offer students the opportunity to gain practical experience. Today, more than 250,000 alumni are strengthening healthcare systems in several nations throughout the globe.

Stellenbosch University

FMHS, the faculty of medicine and health sciences of Stellenbosch University (founded in 1956), has long been recognized as the gold standard for medical education and research in South Africa.

The school, located at the base of Cape Town’s Tygerberg Hills, aspires to be a thriving community of students, learners, teachers, researchers, clinicians, and other staff dedicated to the development of future health professionals who, through innovation and leadership, will promote health, prevent disease, and provide the best possible healthcare.

University of KwaZulu-Natal

The University of KwaZulu-Natal, or UKZN, was founded in 2004 and is one of the newest public institutions in South Africa. It is quickly becoming one of the most prestigious institutions in South Africa.

With a combined total of 26,000 undergraduate and graduate students. The faculty of clinical medicine at the University of KwaZulu-Natal is now ranked 279th in the world, according to US News and World Report.

KwaZulu-Natal or UKZN has 29 medical disciplines, including Clinical & Professional Practice, Anesthetics, Cardiology, Diabetes and Endocrinology, Dermatology, General Medicine, Diabetes and Endocrinology, etc., as part of its commitment to cultivating health professionals and researchers who will serve the health needs of Africans.

The University of Pretoria

The University of Pretoria, sometimes known as Tuks, is an additional South African institution that is rapidly expanding. This university was founded in 1908.

Tuks is a popular university in Pretoria, having a student body of about 38,000 individuals. According to US News, Tuks ranks 511th worldwide.

School of Dentistry, Health Care Sciences, and Health Systems & Public Health are the faculty’s additional schools.

The faculty of medicine at the University of Pretoria offers degrees such as MBChB, MPharm Med, MPhil (Philosophy and ethics of mental health), BClinical Medical Practice, etc.

The University of the Free State

One of the earliest public universities in South Africa The University of the Free State, or UFS, was founded in 1904 with a total enrolment of 26,000 students. More intriguing is the fact that UFS offers its degree programs in both English and Afrikaans.

UFS is one of the top medical degree-granting institutions in South Africa. At both the undergraduate and graduate levels, UFS provides a vast array of medical degrees. Anesthesiology, Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Dermatology, Family Medicine, Forensic Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Medical Physics are among its programs.

The University of Limpopo

This public institution began operations in 2005 but now enrolls more than 20,000 undergraduates and graduate students. The University of Limpopo is another well-known institution in South Africa that offers medical degrees.

However, the university’s medical degree program is one of the best in South Africa. In Limpopo, as in the majority of institutions in South Africa, the School of Medicine departments are housed inside the college of Health Sciences.

Also, the University of Limpopo merged with Sefako Makgatho University (SMU) in 2014, which has become one of the university’s campuses. The university’s medical school has around nine (9) departments that provide the MB ChB degree, while each approved subject confers postgraduate specialist degrees (M Med.).

The Department of Medicine, the Department of Surgery, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Women’s Health, and the Department of Pediatrics and Child Health are some of the departments of the school of medicine in Limpopo.

Walter Sisulu University

Walter Sisulu College South Africa’s comprehensive university offers one of the continent’s finest medical degrees. WSU or Walter Sisulu University began in 1977.

This South African institution, which began delivering medicine in 1985 with a conventional program and later adopted an innovative curriculum centered on problem-based learning and community-based education, is one of the finest in the country.

The program at Walter Sisulu University incorporates early clinical exposure gradually through the final year.

Like many other medical schools in the country, the Faculty of Health Sciences at WSU offers medical training. In addition, you will discover the departments of family medicine and rural health, human biology, internal medicine, pharmacology, etc.

The University of Western Cape

The University of the Western Cape, or UWC, is another venerable South African public university. The institution began operations in 1959 but received university status in 1970. The college of Community and Health Sciences of the university contains a School of Natural Medicine, however, it does not offer a clear path to a medical degree.

Furthermore, the School of Natural Medicine at UWC provides complete study and training in one of four fields: Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture (CMA), Phytotherapy, Naturopathy, and Unani-Tibb. Upon completion of one of these programs, students will be eligible to register with the Allied Health Professions Council of South Africa (AHPCSA) in their specialty field.

Nelson Mandela University

Nelson Mandela University is another prestigious university in South Africa that provides students with valuable courses and disciplines.

The institution was recently able to officially inaugurate its medical school within the College of Health Sciences.

In March of this year, the nation’s tenth medical school opened to the University’s first groundbreaking cohort of fifty medical students, who are now writing tests. In 2022, 80 first-year students will join these students as they continue to the second year of the six-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChC) degree.

The school’s scientific faculty is now organized into the following schools and departments:

Clinical Care & Medicinal Sciences School
Behavioral and Lifestyle Sciences School
Medical College
Office of Health Sciences Research

FAQs about the Medical schools in South Africa for international students

Below, you will find the answers to the most asked questions about the Medical schools in South Africa for international students;

Can students from outside study medicine in South Africa?

South African education is open not just to its inhabitants, but also to overseas students who choose to study medicine there.

If an institution accepts foreign students, it most certainly accepts international students applying to medical school.

How much does med school in South Africa cost?

The lowest cost is around R27844.51 per year, while the highest cost is approximately R225766.

Is South Africa a suitable place for medical school?

Medical school in South Africa may be a highly rewarding experience. As a highly developed nation in terms of university education, South Africa provides comparatively inexpensive tuition and living expenses.

In addition, studying in South Africa promises an excellent blend of educational prospects and travel possibilities.

Are medical students in South Africa compensated?

During the student’s internship and community work training, the South African National Department of Health will employ and compensate the student.

Conclusion on the Medical schools in South Africa for international students

A medical school is an institution of higher education that teaches students about medicine. A vast number of people throughout the world aspire to become medical doctors.

This is because the medical profession is highly esteemed and revered around the globe. Since medicine is one of the most useful professions to humanity, it continues to have a high reputation and level of esteem.

Without medical professionals and the treatments they give, the global death rate would be higher and the spread of deadly diseases would be more rapid. South Africa is undeniably one of the world’s leading countries for medical treatment.