Postgraduate Diploma in Adult Critical Care Nursing at University of the Witwatersrand

Programme overview

The Postgraduate Diploma in Adult Critical Care Nursing prepares registered professional nurses for advanced specialist practice in critical care settings. Offered by the Department of Nursing Education in the Faculty of Health Sciences, this 120-credit programme develops the clinical reasoning, technical proficiency, and leadership required to provide expert, evidence-based care to critically ill adults and their families. Teaching combines weekly seminars using a blended learning approach, integrating simulation, and supervised clinical placement in accredited intensive care units.

Faculty: Health Sciences | Department: Therapeutic Sciences | Duration: 2 Years | Study mode: part-time | Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

What you will study

The programme requires students to complete 2 compulsory courses for a total of 120 credits. Within the 120 credits there is also a structured clinical practice requirement. Compulsory Courses: Scholarship and Fundamentals of Critical Care Nursing (Adult) (60 Credits) Specialist Practice of Critical Care Nursing (Adult) (60 Credits) Scholarship and Fundamentals of Critical Care Nursing (Adult) (60

Career pathways

Graduates are prepared for senior specialist clinical roles in adult ICUs across South Africa's public and private hospital sectors, with the programme articulating to a Master of Science in Nursing (NQF Level 9) for those wishing to pursue research, advanced practice, or doctoral study. The specialist knowledge gained also positions graduates for roles as clinical specialists in the medical devic

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Bachelor of Nursing (R174, R425), Diploma in Nursing (R425) or equivalent qualification at NQF Level 7, recognised by the South African Nursing Council (SANC). Current registration with SANC as a Professional Nurse. Minimum two years' post-registration clinical nursing experience.

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Postgraduate applications are made online at www.wits.ac.za/applications; the closing date for each programme is listed in its course finder entry. The application fee is R200 (not payable by current Wits students applying online), paid via the Self-Service Portal or by EFT to the Wits University Application Fees account at FNB.

Apply through the official page: https://www.wits.ac.za/applications

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