Nursing school is a broad term covering university nursing departments, public nursing colleges and private nursing education institutions. What they have in common is that every one of them must be accredited by the South African Nursing Council for its qualification to lead to registration.
Entry requirements differ substantially between the three types, so the useful first step is deciding which type of nursing school suits your results, rather than searching for a single entry standard that does not exist.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Whichever type of nursing school you apply to, the following are assessed.
- Your National Senior Certificate pass level, which determines the qualifications open to you
- Life Sciences and a language, at the level the school requires
- A mathematics subject, with the level and type depending on the qualification
- Health screening, because of clinical placement
- A police clearance certificate
- Accreditation of the school itself with the South African Nursing Council
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
University nursing departments offer the Bachelor of Nursing and require a bachelor pass with science subjects. They are the most academically demanding route and lead to registration as a professional nurse and midwife.
Public nursing colleges, run provincially, offer diploma and certificate qualifications with lower entry requirements, and frequently restrict intake by citizenship and sometimes by province.
Private nursing education institutions offer accredited qualifications at various levels. They can be a legitimate route, but this is the segment where unaccredited providers appear, so verification matters most here.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Life Sciences is the one subject that appears across virtually all nursing routes, reflecting the anatomy and physiology content of every level.
Mathematics versus Mathematical Literacy is what separates the routes in practice. University degrees generally require Mathematics; college diplomas and certificates frequently accept Mathematical Literacy.
Language matters more than applicants expect, because nursing involves detailed record keeping and patient communication. Schools commonly specify a minimum in the language of teaching.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications normally require the following.
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Your National Senior Certificate or latest statement of results
- Proof of the application fee, where one is charged
- A medical or health screening report
- A police clearance certificate, because students are placed in clinical settings
- Proof of immunisation, where the clinical facility requires it
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Every nursing school is limited by the clinical placements it can supervise, which is the real constraint on intake size across the sector. That is why nursing is competitive at every level and why closing dates are enforced strictly.
Apply to more than one school and to more than one level if your results allow it. Many applicants who miss a degree place are admitted to a diploma or certificate route and articulate upward later.
Confirm programme accreditation with the South African Nursing Council before enrolling anywhere, since only an accredited programme leads to registration and therefore to practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of nursing school are there?
University nursing departments, public provincial nursing colleges and private nursing education institutions. Entry requirements differ substantially between them.
Which nursing school should I apply to?
Match the type to your results: universities for the degree with a bachelor pass and science subjects, colleges for diploma and certificate routes.
How do I check a nursing school is legitimate?
Confirm its accreditation directly with the South African Nursing Council before paying anything.
Why are nursing places so limited?
Intakes are capped by the number of students a school can place in accredited clinical facilities, not by classroom space.
Confirm programme accreditation with the South African Nursing Council before enrolling anywhere, since only an accredited programme leads to registration and therefore to practice. Confirm entry requirements and closing dates with each institution for your intake year. See nursing requirements, admission requirements and browse all education requirements.