To study nursing in South Africa you choose a level that matches your matric results, apply to an institution accredited by the South African Nursing Council, and complete a qualification that leads to registration in one of the council categories. Accreditation is what makes the qualification count.
The route people picture is the four-year Bachelor of Nursing, but it is one of several. Auxiliary and enrolled nursing routes have lower entry requirements, take less time, and articulate upward into professional nursing later.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
The practical steps to studying nursing are as follows.
- Establish your matric pass level and which subjects you took
- Choose the nursing qualification level that matches those results
- Confirm the institution accreditation with the South African Nursing Council
- Apply within the intake window, which is often a single annual window
- Complete health screening and police clearance for clinical placement
- Register with the council in the relevant category on qualifying
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
If you have a bachelor pass with Mathematics and Life Sciences, the Bachelor of Nursing degree is open to you. It takes four years and leads to registration as a professional nurse and midwife.
If you have a diploma pass, or a bachelor pass without the required science subjects, nursing college diplomas are the route. If your results are below that, auxiliary nursing is the accessible entry point.
None of the lower routes closes the profession to you. Recognised bridging programmes run from auxiliary to enrolled nursing and from enrolled to professional nursing, and many practising professional nurses entered that way.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Across the routes, Life Sciences is near universal, a language of teaching is always assessed, and the mathematics subject you took determines which levels are open.
Degree routes generally require Mathematics; college routes frequently accept Mathematical Literacy. Physical Sciences appears on some degree programmes.
There is no national APS for nursing. Each institution sets its own requirement, and university degree programmes are consistently the most competitive because of demand.
Documents and Application Requirements
Whichever route you take, 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 qualification is limited by clinical placement capacity, which caps intakes across the sector. Apply early, apply to more than one institution, and consider applying at more than one level.
Many nursing programmes run a single annual intake with a firm closing date. Missing it means a full year wait, so confirm the date as soon as you decide to apply.
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
How long does it take to study nursing?
The Bachelor of Nursing degree takes four years. Auxiliary and enrolled nursing routes are shorter and articulate upward.
What if I do not qualify for the degree?
Nursing college diplomas, enrolled nursing and auxiliary nursing are recognised routes with lower entry requirements that articulate into professional nursing.
Do I need Mathematics to study nursing?
For most university degree programmes yes. Many college routes accept Mathematical Literacy.
How do I check an institution is accredited?
Confirm directly with the South African Nursing Council before paying anything.
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.