South Africa offers several pathways for students interested in nursing. The appropriate option depends on the qualification level, the provider’s current accreditation status, and the student’s career goals.
Prospective students should distinguish between degree programs and certificate pathways. The bachelor’s programs highlighted below at the University of the Witwatersrand and the University of Pretoria require four years of full-time study. Future Nurses Nursing School lists a one-year, full-time Higher Certificate in Nursing pathway for auxiliary nursing.
Accreditation and intake availability can change. Local and international applicants should check each provider’s current admissions information and confirm its status with the South African Nursing Council before applying.
This article highlights top nursing education providers in South Africa.
Top Schools Offering Nursing Programs in South Africa
1. University of Witwatersrand
- Study Program
- Degree Offered: Bachelor of Nursing (BNurs)
- Duration: Four years, full-time
At the University of the Witwatersrand, commonly known as Wits, the Bachelor of Nursing prepares students for general nursing and midwifery practice. The four-year, full-time curriculum includes sciences, nursing theory, and clinical learning.
Wits describes nursing as combining compassion, knowledge, and health technology to promote the health of individuals, groups, and communities. Nursing students study in a multidisciplinary environment and work through real-life health scenarios. The program should be considered on the basis of its curriculum and current admissions requirements rather than an unsupported claim that it is the single best nursing school in South Africa.
2. University of Pretoria
- Study Program
- Degree Offered: Bachelor of Nursing Science (BNurs)
- Duration: Four years, full-time
The University of Pretoria’s Department of Nursing Science states that it introduced the first undergraduate nursing course in South Africa in 1956. Its Bachelor of Nursing Science is a four-year, full-time program that prepares students for general nursing and midwifery. The university states that the program is accredited by the South African Nursing Council.
The program combines theoretical and clinical training with supplementary subjects such as anatomy, physiology, psychology, and pharmacology. The department also emphasizes teaching, research, and students’ intellectual, cultural, and personal development.
We hope that this article on nursing schools in South Africa was helpful. To find more information about studying abroad, check out the Available Programs for International Students.
