Mafikeng (Mahikeng) Nursing College is the Mafikeng Campus of the North West Nursing College, run by the North West Department of Health. It is on the South African Nursing Council (SANC) list of public colleges accredited for the new nursing programmes (February 2026). The college sets its entry requirements in its yearly intake advertisement, so confirm them against the current advertisement before you apply.
The college was formed when Mmabatho Nursing College (Mahikeng) and Excelsior Nursing College (Klerksdorp) were merged in 2016 under one management and budget.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- The legal minimum for any SANC-accredited nursing programme: a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or equivalent. The Higher Certificate (auxiliary nurse, R.169) runs for one academic year and the Diploma (R.171) for three.
- Subject levels, any points score, age, residence and citizenship rules: set by the college for each intake. Do not rely on figures from third-party websites.
- Accreditation: SANC lists the Mafikeng Campus as accredited for the programmes named below.
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Regulations R.169 and R.171 require applicants to hold at least an NSC or an equivalent qualification and to apply to an institution accredited for the programme. The college then applies its own selection rules.
SANC’s February 2026 list shows the Mafikeng Campus accredited to offer a Higher Certificate in Nursing (50 students per intake), a Diploma in Nursing (40 per intake), an Advanced Diploma in Midwifery (30) and a Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing (25), each with one intake a year. SANC lists the college contact as 018 391 4284. The list is at SANC accredited nursing education institutions.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
The regulations set no subject requirements, so the levels come from the college. Do not assume that Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy or Life Sciences is required or excluded; ask the college, or read the intake advertisement, for the subject levels and any points score.
For comparison only, other provincial colleges set their own rules. Western Cape College of Nursing’s Higher Certificate asks for a total score of 20, and Mpumalanga limits its Diploma intake to citizens aged 18 to 36. These are not North West rules, but they show why you must check the college’s own advertisement.
Documents and Application Requirements
The college sets the documents and the application channel for each intake. In 2020 the North West Department of Health advertised a bursary for the three-year Diploma in Nursing, told applicants to submit forms personally to the college, and warned that no one may charge you for a place or for the training. Treat that as a scam warning that still applies: do not pay anyone to secure a place.
Have the following ready, as most nursing applications ask for them, and check them against the current advertisement:
- A certified copy of your ID
- Your National Senior Certificate or latest results
- Any further documents listed in the intake advertisement
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
The SANC list shows one intake a year per programme. A 2016 North West Health statement said the colleges admit students mid-year and that applications close mid-year, but that is a decade old, so do not plan around it. Check the current advertisement for the closing date of the 2027 intake.
Places are limited by the number of students the college can place in accredited clinical facilities, so apply as soon as the advertisement appears and meet the closing date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Mafikeng Nursing College?
In Mahikeng, North West. SANC lists it as the Mafikeng Campus of the North West Nursing College.
Is it part of a larger college?
Yes. Mmabatho Nursing College in Mahikeng and Excelsior Nursing College in Klerksdorp were merged in 2016 into the North West Nursing Colleges, under one management and budget.
What programmes does the Mafikeng campus offer?
According to SANC’s February 2026 list: the Higher Certificate in Nursing, the Diploma in Nursing, the Advanced Diploma in Midwifery and the Postgraduate Diploma in Primary Care Nursing.
What are the entry requirements?
The legal minimum is an NSC or equivalent. The college sets subject levels and other rules in its yearly intake advertisement, so confirm with the college on 018 391 4284 (the number SANC lists) or with the North West Department of Health.
Does it accept Mathematical Literacy?
Check the current advertisement. The regulations do not decide it, and it may differ by programme and intake.
Confirm current entry requirements and intake dates with the North West Department of Health, and the college’s accreditation with the South African Nursing Council. See nursing college requirements, admission requirements and all education requirements.