South Africa has 9 universities with internationally accredited medical schools. Some of these universities were segregated in the apartheid years, where different universities would accommodate students of different colour. All this changed in 1994 and all the universities started accepting students of all colours and creeds.
South Africa has been producing many excellent doctors over the many decades that the medical schools have been in existence. The reason for this is because these medical schools have always made use of the best doctors and professors in their specialised fields, as well as make use of the most up to date medical advances and teachings as well as be on the forefront of medical research worldwide.
The undergraduate programme
All the current medical schools in South Africa offer the undergraduate degree called Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery). This is abbreviated as M.B.,Ch.B. The University of the Witwatersrand abbreviates their qualification as M.B.,B.Ch but it is the exact same degree.
This degree consists of 6 years studying and training at the chosen medical school. Only the University of the Free State has a 5 year medical degree course. Two other universities also had a 5 year course but reverted back to the 6 year degree.
Those who are looking at wanting to study medicine can do so from the time they are done with school. There's no need to complete an undergraduate degree, or part thereof, to be accepted into a medical school. This is different from places such as the United States that require a prospective medical student to have completed a pre-med degree. A South African scholar needs to do very well in subjects like Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences in order to be considered for a medical student position.
International accreditation
All the medical schools in South Africa offer excellent skill-sets to their student doctors and are also on the forefront of clinical research.
South Africa also has excellent academic hospitals that are associated with the clinical training of medical students. Provisions are made to be sure that these students are trained by consultant doctors and professors who offer theoretical and practical training in their medical and surgical specialties.
All these medical schools therefore have international accreditation that allows newly qualified doctors to perform research and train further in postgraduate studies of their choice at institutions overseas.
Regarding non-South African medical applicants
There are non-South Africans who apply to study at South African medical schools, especially individuals from other African countries. It's important to remember that the South African government doesn't subsidise the studies of non-South African citizens, and their tuition fees are more than likely to be higher (there could be some variation here though, especially if you come from one of the neighbouring countries).
The best advice to a foreign applicant, is to contact the relevant medical school’s office for international students in order to receive the correct and relevant information regarding their situation. One way for foreign students to apply for a medical student position, is to do so as an elective student as this may be an easier way to be accepted into the undergraduate medical programme.
South African Medical Schools
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (previously known as MEDUNSA - Medical University of South Africa up until 2014)
The medical school is found in the Faculty of Health Sciences and the university is situated in Ga-Rankuwa. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University used to be called MEDUNSA before the medical school was renamed in 2014.
Further information can be attained here.
University of Cape Town (UCT)
This is the oldest medical school in South Africa (situated in the Faculty of Health Sciences). The university was founded in 1912 and is located in Cape Town. UCT has a famous research facility and Dr. Christiaan Barnard performed the world's first heart transplant at Groote Schuur Hospital, which is the medical school's teaching hospital.
Further information regarding the application process for this medical school can be found here.
University of the Free State (UFS)
The medical school at the Faculty of Health Sciences at this university was founded in 1972 and is located in Bloemfontein.
Information regarding the application process to this medical school can be found here. This is the medical school's rule book and it contain the contact details of all the relevant areas you would need information from when applying to this school.
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
This university's medical school is called the Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine and it was founded in 1950. The medical school is situated in Durban and has a campus in Pietermaritzburg as well.
Information on applying to study medicine at this university can be obtained here.
University of Limpopo (UL)
The School of Medicine at the University of Limpopo is situated in the newly revamped Faculty of Health Sciences. This institution still offers the undergraduate medical degree.
Further information regarding application to this school can be found here.
University of Pretoria (UP)
The medical school at this Faculty of Health Sciences was founded in 1943 and is located in Pretoria.
Further information regarding application to this university can be obtained here.
University of Stellenbosch (Maties)
The medical school at the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Stellenbosch was founded in 1955 and is located at it's name sake, Stellenbosch in the Western Cape.
Information regarding what the undergraduate medical degree comprises of can be found here.
Under the apply tab on the page you can look for the requirements that are needed from the medical school when applying as a medical student.
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
This school of clinical medicine is situated at the Faculty of Health Sciences and it was founded in 1919 and located in Johannesburg.
Further information on the school of clinical medicine at Wits can be found here.
Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
The medical school of this university is situated in the Faculty of Health Sciences and was founded in 1976 and located in Mthatha, Eastern Cape.
Information regarding the undergraduate programmes offered at the Faculty of Health Sciences at WSU can be found here.
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