Africa is the second-largest continent in the world by land area and is home to about one-fifth of the world’s population. The region also faces a high disease burden and a shortage of healthcare workers, with the WHO African Region reporting that the available workforce still falls short of estimated need.
Nursing education in Africa has advanced over the years, and many institutions now offer undergraduate and postgraduate study options. In South Africa, the standard Bachelor of Nursing leading to registration as a professional nurse and midwife is a four-year full-time qualification. Clinical exposure, adequately supervised practice, and regulation remain important issues for nursing education, but universities and nursing schools across the region continue to expand and update their programs.
Basic university nursing education in South Africa is typically completed in four years, while some extended programs take five years. Listed below are nursing programs in Africa, most of which are located in South Africa.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in Africa
1. University of Pretoria
The University of Pretoria in South Africa began in 1908 as the Pretoria branch of the Transvaal University College and became a fully fledged university in 1930. Today, it is one of South Africa’s largest research universities.
The Department of Nursing Science was founded in 1956 and offered the first degree program in Nursing in South Africa. Its history includes the first group of nursing students beginning in 1956, the establishment of the first Chair in Nursing in South Africa in 1966, and the introduction of postgraduate nursing study soon after.
The University of Pretoria publishes current tuition through its annual student-fee schedules. For 2026, the initial tuition-fee payment is R11,000 for undergraduate students and R13,500 for postgraduate students. International tuition depends on citizenship and visa status: SADC students generally pay local tuition plus the international levy, while non-SADC international students in coursework programs are charged double the local tuition plus the levy, with exceptions for full research master’s and doctoral degrees.
2. Nelson Mandela University
Nelson Mandela University is a public university in South Africa. It opened on January 1, 2005, as Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University after the merger of PE Technikon, the University of Port Elizabeth, and the Port Elizabeth campus of Vista University. It was renamed Nelson Mandela University on July 20, 2017. The university operates six campuses in Gqeberha and one in George.
Its nursing programs are offered through the Department of Nursing Science. The Bachelor of Nursing spans four years, while the Bachelor of Nursing Extended program spans five years. The department also supports postgraduate nursing study and research.
Nelson Mandela University publishes estimated costs through its current fee-estimation and student-account resources. For 2026, degree programs, postgraduate diplomas, master’s degrees, and doctoral studies require a full-time down payment of R10,600 before registration. International students are required to pay fees upfront and submit a R4,000 acceptance deposit.
3. University of the Free State
The University of the Free State is a public university in South Africa. It opened in Bloemfontein in 1904 as Grey University College and today operates the Bloemfontein, South, and Qwaqwa campuses.
The nursing program is offered in the School of Nursing under the Faculty of Health Sciences. The school highlights innovative teaching and learning methods and state-of-the-art simulation facilities.
For 2026, the University of the Free State estimates BSocSc Nursing tuition at R55,080 in year one, R54,880 in year two, R51,160 in year three, and R46,290 in year four. Estimated postgraduate tuition is R31,350 for a master’s degree and R23,000 for a doctoral degree. SADC students pay the same tuition as South African students, while non-SADC international students pay 50% more per module.
4. University of Witwatersrand
The University of the Witwatersrand traces its origins to the South African School of Mines, established in Kimberley in 1896, and gained full university status in 1922. Wits has longstanding health-sciences programs and is associated with several South African firsts in health education and services.
Its Bachelor of Nursing is offered through the Faculty of Health Sciences in the School of Therapeutic Sciences. The current BNurs is a four-year, full-time program. Wits also offers an MSc in Nursing and a PhD path in Health Sciences that includes Nursing in the School of Therapeutic Sciences.
Wits does not publish a single flat nursing tuition figure on the program page. Its 2026 student-fee guidance states that tuition is determined individually according to the student’s academic program, and applicants should use the official fees booklet or estimator for current costs.
5. Badr University
Egypt is a transcontinental country located in northeast Africa and southwest Asia. The idea for Badr University in Cairo began in 2010, when Futures Schools students proposed a university to Dr. Hassan El Kalla, Chairman of CIRA. Badr University in Cairo was launched in 2014 as CIRA’s first venture into higher education.
Badr University in Cairo offers a Bachelor of Nursing Science in General Nursing through its School of Nursing. The current program page lists four academic levels and 145 total credit hours. The school includes departments such as Fundamentals of Nursing, Adult Health Nursing, Maternal and Newborn Nursing, Child and Adolescent Health Nursing, Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, Community Health Nursing, and Nursing Administration.
The School of Nursing has worked with the Texas International Education Consortium on nursing education development. Current nursing tuition was not published on the accessible Badr University in Cairo nursing program page reviewed for this update, so applicants should confirm the latest fee directly with the university admissions office.
We hope that this article on the best nursing schools in Africa was helpful. If you are interested, check the Available Programs for International Students!
