University in South Africa
Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa
University profile
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) is a public university at Molotlegi Street, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, Gauteng. It describes itself as a dedicated health sciences university providing professional training and education through teaching, learning, innovative research and community engagement, under the vision of transforming health services through excellence and innovation. Its stated mission includes primary health care-oriented education and research and producing health professionals with transformative leadership capacity.
Academic work is organised in five schools: Medicine, Health Care Sciences, Dentistry (Oral Health Sciences), Pharmacy and Science and Technology. Medicine offers the MBChB (including an extended-curriculum route), Diagnostic Radiography and Emergency Medical Care qualifications. Health Care Sciences comprises seven departments: Human Nutrition and Dietetics, Nursing Science, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech-Language Pathology, Audiology and Public Health, with clinical training in hospitals, clinics and community programmes in Gauteng and North-West. Dentistry offers the BDS, Dental Therapy and Oral Hygiene degrees; Pharmacy offers the BPharm and other programmes; Science and Technology offers BSc streams in life, mathematical, physical and occupational and environmental health sciences, plus four-year extended-curriculum BSc programmes.
The university states that the School of Dentistry hospital complex holds 234 dental surgeries and is equipped to treat about 600 patients a day. The School of Health Care Sciences states that its programmes are reviewed on a five-year cycle by the Health Professions Council of South Africa and the nursing council and are accredited by the Council on Higher Education.
Student life: the Office of Student Life and Governance supports the Student Representative Council, societies, political, social and religious structures, leadership training and annual events such as the Mr and Miss SMU pageant. Sport and Recreation runs clubs affiliated to national and community leagues, with a football stadium and fields, basketball and volleyball courts, squash courts, a gym, karate, dance and table tennis halls. Student residences provide shared rooms for junior students, a security officer in each residence, laundry and kitchen facilities and TV rooms. The library has a 24/7 study area, computer labs, discussion rooms and WiFi, and the university offers psycho-social support to students.
International students: the International Students Office handles admission, registration, accommodation and study-visa support, and all international students belong to the SMU International Students Organisation (SMUISO). Undergraduate selection for medicine and dentistry is described by the university as open to South Africans and, in limited places, SADC nationals (for medicine, citizens of Lesotho and Swaziland named).
A one-off tuition bursary for postgraduate students at first registration. It covers tuition only, capped at the tuition for the first year of registration. Applicants must not have funding from any source (including NRF or employer), must not be registering for an equivalent qualification already obtained or previously registered elsewhere for the same qualification, and must hold at least a 65% aggregate in the preceding qualification. Students must stay registered and make satisfactory progress. The 2026 closing date was 31 May 2026; applications are submitted as hard copies to the Research and Innovation Directorate, Room S524, Clinical Pathology Building ([email protected]). The 2027 round has not yet been published at the time of reading.
The Research and Innovation Directorate advertises postdoctoral fellowships across the five schools; the advert listed on the official page closed on 5 October 2026 (apply to [email protected]).
SMU partners with Standard Bank on student loans. The bank's pamphlet states a 7% rate, covering tuition, textbooks and equipment up to R20 000 a year and accommodation up to R60 000 a year (full time); minimum criteria include South African citizenship, household gross income below R600 000 a year and being a 3rd-year or higher student in selected fields or 5th-year medicine, or postgraduate. Terms are the bank's; see the pamphlet and the university page.
The Financial Aid Office assists students who are needy with academic potential, and its NSFAS page explains the application documents and what an approved NSFAS award covers (registration and tuition, with allowances for food, personal care, learning material and accommodation or transport). The university also links to the Fundi funding service.
Official pages: Scholarship and Financial Aid, NSFAS, Scholarship Programmes, Bursaries.
SMU Postgraduate Tuition Bursary →
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View scholarships for Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University →Applications for the 2027 academic year opened on 1 April 2026 and closed on Friday 31 July 2026 for undergraduate programmes and Monday 31 August 2026 for postgraduate programmes. Applications are submitted online. Applicants may choose two study programmes; the non-refundable application fee is R300 (use the ID number as payment reference) and covers both an undergraduate and a postgraduate application. Upload certified, individually scanned copies of the ID or passport, Grade 11 end-of-year results (current Grade 12) or the NSC/matric/IEB certificate, any degree certificates and academic records, a marriage certificate where applicable, and proof of payment. The residence section is completed only if residence is wanted. Enquiries: 012 521 4058, 5886, 4315, 4319, 4137, 4204, 4979.
Selection is competitive and based on academic performance; the university also states that it prioritises transformation. Each school publishes its own admission and selection rules, and places are limited. The rules say a programme may not be offered where minimum numbers do not register.
Selection runs in phases. In Phase 1, Grade 11 pupils can be pre-selected with an APS of at least 38 and minimum points of 6 each in English, Mathematics, Physical Science and Life Sciences, 5 in Life Orientation, with additional subjects scoring 5 and 4; pre-selection is withdrawn if Grade 12 results fall. Phase 2 uses Grade 12 results, a minimum APS of 38, and ranks by percentage marks in Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Sciences, Life Orientation and English, with demographic quotas based on census data. The 2026 rules list 250 first-year places in categories including NSC holders (145), SADC students from Lesotho and Swaziland (5), SMU graduates (30), other degree holders (5), SANDF cadets (5), SMU BSc I/BDS I/BSc ECP II students (5) and the MBChB extended curriculum (50). The foundation programme is reserved for Black South Africans from Quintile 1 and 2 schools. Graduates with completed natural or health sciences degrees are scored on module marks.
Pre-selection requires an APS of at least 37 (6 in Mathematics, Physical Science and Life Sciences, 5 in English and Life Orientation, plus additional subjects at 5 and 4). Phase 2 requires a minimum 37 and ranks on Mathematics, Physical Science, Life Sciences and English. 42 places are allocated, of which 30 go to first-time NSC holders and 1 to SADC students handled by the International Office.
NSC applicants need a minimum APS of 32: 5 each in Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and English, 4 in Life Orientation and 4 each in two additional subjects (preferably Accounting and Economics). APS points are 8 for 90-100%, 7 for 80-89%, 6 for 70-79%, 5 for 60-69% and 4 for 50-59%. Pre-2008 matriculants need Mathematics and two of English, Biology, Physiology or Physical Science at higher grade. Non-South Africans need A-levels in Mathematics, Physical Science, Biology and English and a matriculation exemption certificate. Other-age applicants with relevant NQF training (for example post-basic pharmacist assistants) can be considered.
BSc Dietetics: minimum total APS 25, with 4 each in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, English and Life Sciences, 3 in Life Orientation and two additional subjects at 3. Bachelor of Nursing and Midwifery: bachelor's-endorsed NSC, APS of at least 25 (or a combined 16 on the four key subjects), with 4 in Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physical Sciences and English; registration with the South African Nursing Council is compulsory. Students must register with the Health Professions Council of South Africa where applicable.
BSc: bachelor's-endorsed NSC, minimum APS 25, with English 4, Mathematics 5, Life Sciences 4, Physical Sciences 4 and two other subjects at 4 each. BSc Extended Curriculum Programme (four years): APS 24 with 4 each in English, Mathematics, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences.
The selection rules present medicine and dentistry as open to South Africans and limited SADC places; SADC applications for dentistry go through the International Office. SMU converts IGCSE, GCSE, HIGCSE, AS/A-level and IB results to APS points in its tables, and non-South African qualifications need an SAQA evaluation / matriculation exemption certificate. For fees, all international students pay an annual membership fee; SADC students pay an annual levy and local tuition fees; other African students pay a levy and twice the tuition fees; students from outside Africa pay a levy and three times the tuition fees. Exchange students do not pay the membership fee and levy. A study visa needs an admission letter, a letter from the International Office, a valid passport, proof of financial support, medical aid cover, a police clearance certificate and the study visa fee (listed as R425) and repatriation fee (listed as R585); allow 4 to 8 weeks and renew permits three months before expiry.
Postgraduate applicants upload certified degree certificates and academic records, ID/passport/permit, professional council registration where applicable, and (for MMed and MDent) a letter of appointment as registrar; Public Health applicants add a motivation letter and CV. MSc Clinical Psychology has a separate application guide. BSc Honours in Science and Technology requires a BSc degree with at least 60% in the relevant third-year major. Additional enrolment forms are sent to [email protected].
The pages read describe one site at Molotlegi Street, Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria, Gauteng (the former Medunsa campus). Postal address: Registry, P.O. Box 60, Medunsa, 0204.
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