University Of Cape Town Medicine Requirements
University Of Cape Town Medicine Requirements, The Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree programme at University of Cape Town (UCT) takes six years to complete. Students who graduate with an MBChB and complete two year’s internship and a year’s community service are allowed by the Health Professions Council of South Africa to practise as a medical doctor.
In addition, the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree programme at University of Cape Town promotes communication skills, teamwork, professional values and competent clinical practice, in the context of the Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Health Care systems. Students are equipped with critical thinking and lifelong learning skills.
The curriculum follows the structure set out below, and the details for each year will be developed during the year before implementation.
All students are admitted to the same Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery programme. Students who by the middle of the first year have not met certain minimum requirements are transferred to an Intervention Programme, which starts in Semester 2 and continues to the end of Semester 3, i.e. the middle of the second year, after which they join Semester 2 of the standard programme. (A semester is half a year.)
The courses prescribed for each semester are as follows:
Semesters 1 and 2 (first year)
- Becoming a Professional
- Introduction to Integrated Health Sciences: Part 1
- Chemistry for Medical Students
- Introduction to Integrated Health Sciences: Part 2
- Physics
- Becoming a Health Professional
A student who fails any first or second semester course must register for the Intervention Programme before continuing with semester 2.
Semesters 3 to 6 (second and third years)
- Integrated Health Systems Part IB
- Becoming a Doctor Part IA
- Becoming a Doctor Part IB
- Integrated Health Systems Part IA
- Becoming a Doctor Part 2A
- Becoming a Doctor Part 2B
- Integrated Health Systems Part 2
- Introduction to Clinical Practice
In semester 4, students study Special Study Modules.
Semesters 9 to 10 (fifth year)
- Anaesthesia
- Primary Health Care Elective
- Paediatrics (including Paediatric Surgery)
- Medical and Surgical specialities (including Dermatology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Ophthalmology, Otorhinolaryngology and Rheumatology)
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Surgery (including General Surgery, Plastic Surgery and Urology)
- Pharmacology and Applied Therapeutics
- Trauma
- Orthopaedic Surgery
- Forensic Medicine
Semesters 11 and 12 (sixth year)
- Surgery
- Medicine (including Dermatology)
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Family Medicine
- Psychiatry
- Paediatrics (including Paediatric Surgery)
The curriculum is subject to change as a result of on-going curriculum development processes.
During the student’s internship and community service training, the National Department of Health of South Africa will employ the student, and the student will receive a salary.
Once registered by the Health Professions Council of South Africa upon completion of your internship and community service, successful graduates may set up their own practice as a medical doctor, or may choose to work in a hospital, clinic, or other institution where a doctor’s services are required.
Graduates may also choose to become a specialist, in which case the student will embark on postgraduate studies (and register for the Master of Medicine or “MMed” degree) in the field of their choice.
Some graduates who have excelled academically may choose to pursue an academic career, involving teaching and research in addition to clinical practice, at a university’s Health Sciences Faculty such as this one.
Admission requirements
In addition, there are subject requirements and minimum performance levels for an applicant to qualify for consideration:
For MBChB (medicine), applicants who wrote Senior Certificate examinations in 2007 or before 2007 must have passed Mathematics and Physical Science with at least 40% (E) at Higher Grade or 50% (D) at Standard Grade to be eligible for consideration. Applicants who have written the new National Senior Certificate examinations (from 2008) must have passed Mathematics plus Physical Science plus English at level 4, and meet an overall minimum cut-off point for consideration.
- 18 years of age
- In good standing at your home school
- 3.0 GPA or better on a 4.0 scale (GPAs under 3.0 will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will require additional documents outlined in a section below)
- Sophomore, Junior, or Senior standing when program begins. Applicants need to have at least three semesters of course work when they enroll at the UCT (first semester sophomores can apply). Some local university courses may not be available to students of Sophomore standing. Please contact your IES Abroad Representative for more details.
- Online Application
Applications may be considered after the published deadline on a space available basis. Please note that late applicants may be required to submit a non-refundable confirmation deposit upon acceptance in order to secure a place in the program. Please contact us with questions about applying after the deadline.
Submit the following in your MyIESabroad account after your Online Application is processed:
- Home School Authorization
Your on-campus study abroad advisor can either complete the Home School Authorization electronically through IES Abroad’s PartnerPortal system, or by filling out the PDF form linked above. Consult your study abroad advisor to determine how they would prefer to complete your Home School Authorization. - Official Transcript(s) for each college/university you have attended since high school. If you have multiple transcripts, IES Abroad will average the GPAs for all colleges/universities you have attended and use that cumulative GPA when reviewing your application.
- UCT Course Preference Form
Complete the above form by listing 5-7 course preferences for your term. Pay close attention to the term number (F courses for spring term, S courses for fall term). Please note: IES Abroad students should plan on only taking one 100 level course. - Digital Headshot Photo Please upload a passport-style headshot in JPEG format. This photo must be clear and recent, with a full front view of your face and shoulders. Your photo will be used by University of Cape Town staff for official documents in preparation for your arrival.
- Students attending higher education institutions outside of the U.S. may need to submit English language proficiency exam results. Contact your IES Abroad Representative for more information.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS IF CUMULATIVE GPA IS BELOW 3.0:
- Professor Recommendation
Although there is no length requirement, the recommendation must indicate a professor’s opinion of the applicant’s academic ability to pursue university-level coursework in a foreign country, in addition to any information that would help IES Abroad gain a better understanding of the applicant. - Personal Academic Essay
Although there is no length requirement, the essay must address your GPA, any particular academic challenges faced, reasons you chose this IES Abroad program, and how it fits into your academic career.
GET DETAILS ON UNIVERSITY APPLICATION IN SA