Nursing colleges and schools in Cape Town and the wider Western Cape are the public Western Cape College of Nursing (WCCN), two universities (the University of the Western Cape and the Cape Peninsula University of Technology), and private hospital-group providers such as Mediclinic and Netcare. Entry requirements differ by route, so check the programme you want rather than the city.
WCCN, the provincial route, publishes its subject codes and scores. Applications for 2027 are closed; the next window follows the college’s fixed dates (first Monday in May to second Friday in August).
Entry Requirements at a Glance
- WCCN Higher Certificate in Nursing (R169): total score of 20. This leads to registration as an auxiliary nurse.
- WCCN Diploma in Nursing (R171): total score of 24, three years. This leads to registration as a general nurse.
- WCCN Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery (R174): total APS of 27 with a Bachelor endorsement, four years, Athlone campus only.
- UWC and CPUT Bachelor of Nursing: Bachelor-level admission with set English, mathematics and science-related subject levels (details below).
- An accredited programme: nursing education is only legal at institutions and programmes accredited by the South African Nursing Council (SANC).
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The national regulations (R.169, R.171 and R.174) require only a National Senior Certificate (NSC) or equivalent, at an institution accredited for the programme. The programmes run for one, three and four academic years of full-time study respectively. Institutions then add their own subject levels and scores, and meeting the national minimum does not guarantee a place.
Western Cape College of Nursing. This is the Western Cape Department of Health’s college. Undergraduate nursing is offered at the Metro Campus (Athlone), the Southern Cape Karoo Campus (George) and the Boland Campus (Worcester), with the R174 degree at Athlone only. Central administration is in Bellville. Besides the three undergraduate programmes above, WCCN offers an Advanced Diploma in Midwifery and postgraduate diplomas.
Universities. UWC and CPUT offer a Bachelor of Nursing. CPUT’s Department of Nursing Science offers a four-year Bachelor of Nursing, a five-year extended-curriculum Bachelor of Nursing, postgraduate diplomas and Masters.
Private providers. Mediclinic’s Higher Certificate in Nursing (auxiliary nurse) has a Cape Region learning centre at Tygerpark, Bellville. Netcare Education lists a Cape Town campus in the Western Cape. Check that the institution and the programme appear on SANC’s lists of accredited institutions before you pay anything.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Minimum codes for WCCN (NSC matriculants from 2008), from its 2026 brochure:
- Higher Certificate (R169): English (First Additional Language) code 3, Home Language code 3, Mathematics code 2 or Mathematical Literacy code 3, Life Science code 3 or Physical Science code 2, minimum total score 20, Higher Certificate endorsement or better.
- Diploma (R171): English (FAL) code 4, Home Language code 4, Mathematics code 3 or Mathematical Literacy code 4, Life Science code 4, minimum total score 24, Diploma endorsement or better. WCCN’s brochure also allows Physical Science code 4, while its how-to-apply page lists Life Science only, so confirm with the college.
- Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery (R174): English (FAL) code 4, Home Language code 4, Mathematics code 4 or Mathematical Literacy code 5, Life Science or Physical Science code 4, minimum APS 27 with a Bachelor endorsement.
UWC (2027 criteria): at least 30 UWC points; Mathematics code 3 or Mathematical Literacy code 4; English code 4 (Home Language) or code 5 (First Additional Language); and another language at code 4 unless you have Mathematics at level 4. See UWC’s 2027 admission requirements.
CPUT: an NSC with a Bachelor’s pass, Home Language 4, First Additional Language (English or Afrikaans) 4, Mathematics 4 or Mathematical Literacy 5, and Life Sciences 4. The five-year extended programme asks for Mathematics 3 or Mathematical Literacy 4. CPUT’s department page gives a minimum APS, but the minimum is stated differently in different CPUT publications, so check the current prospectus. See CPUT Nursing Science.
Mediclinic’s Higher Certificate in Nursing asks for English level 4, Life Sciences or Physical Science level 3, Mathematical Literacy level 4 or Mathematics level 3, and a minimum of 19 points (20 if Mathematical Literacy applies), excluding Life Orientation.
Documents and Application Requirements
WCCN applications are online only. You register, upload your documents, pay the application fee and then receive an “Application received” email. Qualifying applicants are emailed about an interview and assessment. You may apply for one programme at one campus at a time.
- Certified documents no older than three months
- Your ID
- Your National Senior Certificate (a statement of results is not accepted; Grade 12 applicants submit Grade 11 marks plus their latest Grade 12 marks)
- A marriage certificate, if it applies
- Proof from the Western Cape Education Department, if you are upgrading
- SANC registration and your annual practising certificate, if you are already a nurse
- Proof of payment of the R250 non-refundable application fee, paid by deposit to the Department of Health with the reference WCCN, your surname and your ID number
WCCN says it does not charge assistance fees. For CPUT, expect proof of Hepatitis B/COVID-19 vaccination, SANC forms and indemnity proof. For Mediclinic, apply through its online portal with a short CV, certified Grade 12 certificate or Grade 11 results, certified ID and proof of the application fee.
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
WCCN’s application window runs from the first Monday in May to the second Friday in August, and its home page states that applications for the 2027 academic year are closed. Mediclinic accepts applications from 6 May to 30 June for a January start.
WCCN 2027 tuition is R28 899.60 for the Higher Certificate, R31 155.60 for year one of the Diploma, and R51 740.40 for years one and two of the Bachelor. A R2 500 registration fee is credited to tuition. All campuses offer limited accommodation that you must apply for, with a R2 000 deposit. WCCN’s brochure says it has no financial aid for students, but bursaries are accepted, and Western Cape residents may apply for a Department of Health bursary.
Do not assume a citizenship or residence rule. WCCN’s application and FAQ pages list neither, and international students can apply with SAQA proof of NSC-aligned subjects. Residence matters for the Western Cape health bursary. Mediclinic asks for proof of citizenship where applicable.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the nursing colleges in Cape Town and their requirements?
The public college is WCCN at Athlone, Worcester and George, which asks for a total score of 20 for the Higher Certificate, 24 for the Diploma and an APS of 27 for the Bachelor. UWC and CPUT offer the degree, and Mediclinic (Bellville) and Netcare offer private routes. Requirements for each are above.
Where can I study nursing in Cape Town?
At WCCN (Metro Campus in Athlone, with other campuses in Worcester and George), at UWC or CPUT for the degree, or with a private provider such as Mediclinic in Bellville or Netcare Education.
Do university routes require Mathematics?
Not necessarily. UWC accepts Mathematics code 3 or Mathematical Literacy code 4, CPUT accepts Mathematics 4 or Mathematical Literacy 5, and the WCCN degree accepts Mathematics code 4 or Mathematical Literacy code 5.
When do WCCN applications open?
From the first Monday in May to the second Friday in August. Applications for 2027 are closed, so plan for the next cycle.
How do I check a private provider?
Look the institution and the programme up on the SANC lists of accredited institutions before you pay anything. Only an accredited programme leads to SANC registration.
Apply through the WCCN how-to-apply page, and confirm accreditation with the South African Nursing Council. See nursing school requirements, admission requirements and all education requirements.