study nursing south africa
How much does it cost to study nursing in South Africa?
Nursing is a popular career choice in South Africa, and is considered one of the best-paid careers locally.
While some students may be able to study this degree on bursaries or scholarships, others would have to pay for their studies themselves. There are options such as student loans to cover the cost. Fortunately nursing courses in South Africa are not prohibitively expensive.
In general, students looking for a masters degree should budget R100 000 or more for their tuition fees alone – an undergraduate nursing degree comes in cheaper at approximately R30 000 – R40 000 per year. International students should budget significantly higher than this amount, as universities do charge more from foreign students.
What is included in the cost of studying nursing in South Africa?
The cost of studying nursing in South Africa depends on a variety of factors, including the location and duration of the university program you choose. What’s more, there are many different expenses that should be factored into total costs, such as:
- Tuition Fees
- Accommodation
- Meals
- Transport
- Medical Aid
- Books & Equipment
- Visa Costs
Where can you study nursing in South Africa?
If you’ve decided that nursing is the career for you, now you’ll have to choose where to study. We’ve profiled some of the options in South Africa below, but first, here’s what you need to get into one of these programmes.
To enrol into a general nursing diploma or degree programme at a university or university of technology in South Africa, you’ll need:
- A Grade 12 certificate with any four subjects (including English and Mathematics) passed at Level 4 or better
- Your school-leaving certificate must prove that your academic average was 50% or better
- Your admission points total must be 30+ (your Grade 11 and 12 results determine this)
Student visas for studying nursing in South Africa
If you are not a resident of South Africa, you will need to obtain a student visa in order to be able to study nursing in this country. A student visa is the document that allows you to enter South Africa for the purpose of studying at one of the country’s higher education institutions. It is important that if you wish to study nursing in South Africa, you apply for a student visa early on in your application process as it can take some time before your application is approved or declined.
There are two types of visas available: one for students who have been granted provisional admission into an institution and another for those who are looking at applying but have not yet been accepted by an institution. You can find out which type of visa applies to your situation by contacting the nearest South African High Commission or by visiting their website (if applicable).
It costs money to study nursing and there are fees that you need to pay.
Once you have been accepted, there are fees that you will need to pay. These include tuition fees, registration fees and study material costs. Additional costs will include accommodation, transport and other costs related to studying nursing.