MBChB

● University of Pretoria
● Study at UP
● MBChB

To be allowed to register as a medical practitioner, a student has to obtain an MBChB degree, followed
by a two-year internship and one year of community service. In the medical profession, the health of a
patient is of vital importance. Patients are treated with the aim of restoring their health. Special
programmes are developed to prevent the spread of diseases and/or infections in the community. The
promotion of a healthy lifestyle is also an important responsibility of medical doctors.

The University of Pretoria’s internationally comparable, problem- oriented and outcomes-based training
programme is accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), and the high
standard of training is recognised locally and internationally. Exchange agreements have been
concluded between the School of Medicine and similar faculties at universities abroad.

Medicine is not only a profession—it is a calling. Prospective students, therefore, have to be prepared to
serve humanity in all its facets. The medical profession demands high ethical standards in practice, and
the career makes heavy physical and mental demands on practitioners.

● Year 1 to the middle of year 5: Theoretical, practical and clinical training in the medical disciplines
● Second half of year 5 and year 6: Student internship, which is patient-centered and where clinical
training takes place in hospitals and clinics. This is followed by two years of internship with clinical
service under supervision in accredited hospitals throughout the country and a compulsory year of
community service. These three years are not part of the university training.
● Community engagement: The curriculum was compiled from the viewpoint that training should
take place through service delivery. In this context, the Faculty provides a comprehensive service to
the broader community through several outreach programmes. Students are already involved in these
programmes during their undergraduate studies. The Daspoort Clinic in Pretoria is an example of a
place that serves as a service training platform where the students can work.
● Research: Advances in medical science depend on active research in the various fields of
specialisation. This is the reason for undergraduate and postgraduate student training in a research
environment, which promotes an enquiry-based approach to learning and skills for carrying out
research.

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

● Disclaimer: This publication contains information about regulations and programmes of the
University of Pretoria. Amendments to or updating of the information may be effected from time to

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 time without prior notification. The accuracy, correctness or validity of the information contained here
is therefore not guaranteed by the University at any given time and is always subject to verification.
The user is kindly requested to verify the correctness of the information with the University at all
times. Failure to do so will not give rise to any claim or action of any nature against the University by
any party whatsoever.

Career Opportunities

General medical practitioners, specialists (after postgraduate training)

Programme Code

10130003

Closing Dates

● SA – 31/07/2020
● Non-SA – 31/07/2020

Admission Requirements

● The following persons will be considered for admission: a candidate who is in possession of a
certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate
(NSC) with university endorsement; a candidate who is a graduate from another tertiary institution or
has been granted the status of a graduate of such an institution; a candidate who is a graduate of
another Faculty at the University of Pretoria; and a candidate who is currently studying at a university.
● Admission to Health Sciences programmes is subject to a selection process.
● Grade 11 final examination results will be used for the conditional selection of prospective students.
● For selection purposes, the sum of the results in six subjects, including English, Mathematics and
Physical Sciences, is calculated.
● Life Orientation is excluded in the calculation of the Admission Point Score (APS).
● The applications of international candidates who come from countries that have medical schools will
not be considered for placement in the MBChB programme, except where intergovernmental

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 agreements are in place.
● Candidates should note that their conditional admission will be revoked if their APS drops
by more than two points in their final school examination results.
● PLEASE NOTE that compliance with the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee
admission to any programme in this Faculty.
● Selection queries may be directed to click here
● A student who is made an offer but does not accept it cannot defer the offer and must reapply to be
considered in the following year.

Transferring students (university experience)

● The applications of students who are studying towards a tertiary qualification or have obtained a
tertiary qualification must meet the following requirements regarding school subjects and
performance levels: They must be in possession of an NSC for degree studies/full exemption
certificate and must have attained a performance level of 5 (or 50% HG if completed prior to 2009) for
Mathematics and Physical Sciences (or Life Sciences, if required).
● If the subjects were not passed in Grade 12, the equivalent subjects (Physics, Chemistry and
Mathematics) must be completed at the tertiary level. University students do not have to submit any
non-academic performance record or CV. In their case selection is based on the results attained in the
qualification(s) previously completed, ie they will be considered on the basis of their results achieved
in higher education.
● The completion of only a three-year diploma or certificate is not considered as university experience,
but will be considered in the school-leaver category and admission will be based on the applicant’s
Grade 12 results.

Qualifications from countries other than South Africa

● A limited number of places are made available to citizens from countries other than South Africa, with
those from SADC countries being given preference. Permanent residents of RSA are not categorised
as foreign students. Applications from citizens from countries other than South Africa may also be
considered if they are:

❍ citizens or permanent residents of countries which have relevant government to government

agreements with South Africa
❍ asylum seekers or refugees

University of Pretoria website click here

Minimum requirements
Achievement level

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 English Home
Language or
English First Mathematics Physical Sciences
Additional APS
Language
AS
NSC/IEB AS Level NSC/IEB AS Level NSC/IEB
Level
5 C 6 B 5 C 35

* Cambridge A level candidates who obtained at least a D in the required subjects, will be considered
for admission. Students in the Cambridge system must offer both Physics AND Chemistry with
performance at the level specified for NSC Physical Sciences in the table above.

* International Baccalaureate (IB) HL candidates who obtained at least a 4 in the required subjects, will
be considered for admission. Students in the IB system must offer both Physics AND Chemistry with
performance at the level specified for NSC Physical Sciences in the table above.

Note: If you accepted admission to BSc (Biological Sciences) with the intention to apply for MBChB or
BChD in the second semester, when places become available in these programmes, you may
register for BSc (Biological Sciences) modules in the first semester, replacing Mathematics (WTW 134)
with Science and World Views (FIL 155), People and their Environment (MGW 112) and Medical
Terminology (MTL 180) - provided that you have an APS of at least 35 and a minimum of 70% for
Mathematics in the final NSC or equivalent qualification.

Selection Process

● Three hundred (300) first-year students are selected annually.

● Only first-choice applicants are considered.
● The University considers both school leavers and applicants who have already studied at tertiary
institutions.
● Compliance with the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the MBChB
programme.
● Conditional selection is based on final Grade 11 results.
● Candidates must comply with the minimum admission requirements.
● Candidates are required to maintain their Grade 11 averages (in terms of which they were
conditionally selected) in the final school examination and ensure that their APS does not drop by
more than two points.
● The conditional selection of candidates is made strictly according to the merit list, and any places that
become vacant are filled from the waiting list.
● NOTE: Based on the results of the first-semester examination, further places are allocated to new

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 first-year students registered for a programme in the Biological Sciences field at the University of
Pretoria.

Duration of study

6 years, full-time.

Faculty Notes

As an international role-player focusing on healthcare in Africa, the vision of the Faculty of Health
Sciences at the University of Pretoria is to maintain health standards through quality education,
research and community service. Since its inception, it has grown to be one of the largest health
training institutions in the country and boasts an undergraduate and postgraduate student corps of over
6 000.

Students who join this Faculty will be part of a new generation of health professionals. The Faculty’s
training is outcomes-based and problem-orientated – a unique way of looking at patients and their
health.

Enquiries about the programme

Click Here

Apply Click here to go to our online applications.

Visit Us Come and take a look around the campus.

Get in Touch Email us and ask a question or give us general feedback.

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●

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Note: Also consult General Rules and Information on the Yearbook website for additional information.

Disclaimer: Due to the continuous restructuring of the Faculty and this website, some of the information
displayed here may not fully reflect the most recent developments in the Faculty. Any discrepancies
that are experienced may be taken up with Student Administration of the Faculty.

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