A Doctor is a professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through the study, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of disease, injury, and other physical and mental impairments.
Requirements to Become a Medical Doctor in South Africa
The first step to becoming a medical doctor in South Africa is to satisfy the entry requirements of one’s preferred school of medicine.
Candidates needed to hold a matriculation exemption certificate with passes in Maths and Physical Science. Since then, this has changed to National Senior Certificate passes in at least four of seven school subjects with a minimum level of four.
This is followed by an internship period of 24 months, during which he or she must rotate between a number of disciplines and complete a further year of paid community service.
Once qualified, if a medical doctor chooses to specialise in any given discipline, further intensive studies within the chosen filed and a board examination will be required to secure the additional specialist qualification.
This, however, may change his or her status and lead to a consultant’s post, but it will entail no change to the subject’s
There can often be some confusion regarding the use of a title that many people mistakenly believe to be the sole right of a physician.
While it is, of course, true that surgeons often prefer to distinguish their skills from those of the physician by assuming the title of mister, any individual who has been awarded a doctorate degree, whether it may be in philosophy, divinity, or literature gains an automatic right to assume the title of doctor, even though he or she lacks a medical qualification.
Upon completion of the mandatory period of community service, the newly qualified healthcare professional is free to apply for a post in the public or private sector, or to establish his or her own private practice.
Generally, the latter is a step only taken subsequent to a period of residency within a state or private hospital or clinic. The state service, however, has deteriorated badly in the face of burgeoning patient numbers and serious funding shortfalls which, in turn, have served to increase pressure on the private sector.
What subjects are needed in high school to become a doctor?
Maths (not maths Literacy), physical science and life sciences are the subjects generally required when applying for medicine in South Africa but I know a few people who have been accepted into medical school and have done well despite not having done life sciences in high school.
How long does it take to study medicine in South Africa?
To become a doctor in South Africa you have to study for 6 years (5 years at UFS) or 7 years if you are on the extended programme provided you do not fail any year.
What are the different ways to get into medical school in South Africa?
· The most direct way is straight from matric if you have awesome marks and community service etc but this is the hardest way to get in for most people.
· The second way is to apply to study for a course related to medicine in health sciences, biology or in science and perform well so that you can apply to transfer into medicine in your second year of varsity.
· The 3rd way is through to apply to wits medical school to enter into 3rd year of medical school through their Graduate Entry Medical Programme, if you have completed a degree in university that included subjects in Biology, Physics and/or Chemistry. Click here to find out more about that option and its entry requirements.
· The 4th way is to apply to go to study medicine in Cuba on the government bursary.
Medical Schools in South Africa and their fees
1 University of Cape Town – ZAR 69560
2 University of Witwatersrand – ZAR 62890
3 University of Pretoria – ZAR 55000
4 University of kwaZulu-Natal – ZAR 44220
5 University of Stellenbosch – ZAR 55096
6 University of the FreeState – ZAR 44390
7 Walter Sisulu University – ZAR
8 Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University ( previously known as MEDUNSA) – ZAR 31450
9 University of Limpopo – ZAR 48038
How many years does it take to become a doctor in South Africa?
How long does it take to study medicine in South Africa? To become a doctor in South Africa you have to study for 6 years (5 years at UFS) or 7 years if you are on the extended programme provided you do not fail any year.
Is it easy to become a doctor in South Africa?
Limited medical seats and strict quotas make entry into a medical course extremely difficult. However, if you satisfy all the requirements to study medicine in South Africa, you can make it with a little more effort. Besides academic grades, medical aspirants have to take up National Benchmark Tests (NBTs).
What marks are needed to become a doctor in South Africa?
You must have a minimum aggregate of at least 70%. Your Maths, Physics and Life Science must be at least 50%. In reality, most applicants will have averages in the range of 75-85%. Stellenbosch also offers the possibility of transferring from a degree in life sciences or natural sciences at the end of first year.
How much money does it cost to become a doctor in South Africa?
The cost of tuition can vary quite a lot for medicine in South Africa. The cheapest can be $1850 per year, while the most expensive is around $15,000. In addition, you have to think about living costs as well, which can be quite expensive in South Africa.
How much do medical students get paid in South Africa?
Once approved for a bursary, a medical student will be paid R10 000.00 in January and the remaining R10 000 in August as stated above in the Policy.
Is medicine hard to study?
Studying medicine comes with a certain expectation to work harder on average than most other students. Obviously this is true to an extent in medicine, but there is an additional challenge, which is the very high pass marks for the “2nd MB” exams, the ones you have to pass in order to become a doctor.
How much do doctors earn in South Africa per month in rands?
R1,549,530 (ZAR)/yr.
Do doctors make a lot of money in South Africa?
How much doctors, engineers, lawyers and scientists get paid in South Africa. For these employees, their salary for 2018 will range from R89,631 (level 1) to R523,818 (level) 10 for lower pay levels, to between R697,011 (level 11) and R973,047 (level 12) for the higher levels covered by the agreements.
Which university can I study to be a doctor in South Africa?
You can only study medicine in accredited South African Universities. There are nine medical universities in South Africa, including the University of Cape Town, University of Witwatersrand, and Stellenbosch University.