Nursing at WSU Walter Sisulu University

Walter Sisulu University Nursing Department

The Faculty was established in 1985 with the introduction of MBChB programme. At this time, the Department of Nursing which was already operating under the Faculty of Economic Sciences, was relocated.
The Faculty of Health Sciences has its headquarters at Mthatha Campus but has an academic health service complex that spreads throughout the Eastern Cape Province including Mthatha, East London Hospital, Port Elizabeth, about 15 district hospitals mainly in the North Eastern Region of the Eastern Cape and seven community health centres.
The teaching platform is further enhanced by the establishment of Health Resource Centres at Mthatha, East London, Port Elizabeth and Queenstown which creates an academic environment throughout the Eastern Cape Province so that students are taught properly by joint staff that has access to library and internet facilities, to enable the functions of an academic institution to be fulfilled adequately.
 The Faculty has three areas of specialisation:

– Medicine
– Nursing
– Allied Health Professions.
The research niche areas are:

Basic Sciences: Human Nutrition, Medicinal Plants & Traditional Medicine
Clinical Sciences: Clinical Epidemiology, Chronic Diseases including Tuberculosis, Asthma, Cardiac Diseases, HIV & AIDS from Health Promotion and Prevention including HIV Vaccine Testing to Monitoring and Evaluation of HIV & AIDS Management including ARVs
Public Health: The Burden of Disease, Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Health Systems Research, Health Informatics
Medical Education: Problem-based Education, Community-based Education, Service-Learning.

HEALTH SCIENCES UNDERGRADUATE PROGRAMMES

BCur (Basic)

Nelson Mandela Drive

• Senior Certificate: Matriculation Exemption
• Conditional Exemption or Mature Age Exemption if candidate is 23 years old in the year of registration
• English HG-E/SG-D; Biology HG-E/SG-D; Physical Science E HG or D SG
• (E SG will be considered if one of the above subjects is D HG)
• NSC (Degree): Achievement rating of 4 (50-59%) in English at First Additional Language Level
• 5 (60-69%) in isiXhosa at a Home or First Additional Language level
• 4 (50-59%) in Mathematical Literacy or 3 (40-49%) in Mathematics
• 4 (50-59%) in Life Sciences
• 4 (50-59%) in Physical Science
• 4 (50-59%) in Information Technology
• 4 (50-59%) in Life Orientation
• All candidates shall be subjected to selection processes.

BSc Health Promotion (Allied Health Professions)

Nelson Mandela Drive

• Senior Certificate: Full Exemption with an overall C aggregate symbol (or higher) at first attempt with:
  • English HG-D/SG-C; Physical Science HG-D/SG-C; Mathematics HG-D/SG-C; Biology HG-D/SG-C
  • NSC (Degree): Achievement rating of 4 (50-59%) in English at First Additional Language Level
  • 4 (50-59%) in isiXhosa both at Home or First Additional Language level
  • 3 (40-49%) in Mathematical Literacy
  • 4 (50-59%) in Life Sciences
  • 4 (50-59%) in Life Orientation
  • 4 (50-59%) in Physical Science
  • 4 (50-59%) in Agricultural Science
• All candidates shall be subjected to selection processes.

Bachelor of Medical Clinical Practice (Medicine)

Nelson Mandela Drive

• Senior Certificate: Matriculation Exemption or Conditional Exemption or Mature Age Exemption
• NSC (Degree): Minimum achievement rating of:
  • 4 (50-59%) in English at a Home Language or First Additional Language
  • 4 (50-59%) in Mathematics
  • 5 (60-69%) in Physical Science
  • 5 (60-69%) in Life Sciences
  • 4 (50-59%) in isiXhosa
  • 4 (50-59%) in Life Orientation
• All candidates shall be subjected to selection processes.

Bachelor of Social Work (Allied Health Professions)

Nelson Mandela Drive

• Senior Certificate:
• NSC (Degree): Achievement rating of:
  • 4 (50-59%) in English
  • 4 (50-59%) in isiXhosa or any other additional Language
  • 4 (50-59%) in Life Orientation
  • 4 (50-59%) in Life Sciences
  • 4 (50-59%) in Physical Science
  • 3 (40-49%) in Mathematical Literacy
• All candidates shall be subjected to selection processes.

HEALTH SCIENCES FACULTY REQUIREMENTS

SELECTION PROCEDURE

Short listing

A selected number of candidates will be short listed for an interview, after which recommendations for the final selection for admission will be referred to the Faculty Admission Committee.
Final selection for admission

Academic results and performance at interviews will weigh equally. The recommendations of the Faculty Admission Committee will be final.
Please note

Due to the structure of the curriculum, admission can only be at MBChB 1 level. However under special circumstances, students coming from other schools that offer integrated problem-based and community based programmes may be considered at levels other than MBChB 1, to cater for multiple entry points.

VISITING MEDICAL STUDENTS

The Faculty accepts visiting undergraduate medical students from other health sciences faculties who are in their semi-final or final clinical year of study only. Visiting students will take part in clinical clerkship along with WSU medical students.

Such students will still be registered by the Faculty with HPCSA and such visits still take place under WSU’s auspices.

Research Students in non–clinical departments are not allowed to work with patients and will not be registered with the HPCSA.

Visits are limited to a maximum period of six weeks in all divisions. No exceptions will be made in this regard. The full elective placement must be spent in the department to which you have been allocated.

BACHELOR OF MEDICAL SCIENCES

Entry Requirements

Assumption of Earlier Learning

Basic medical sciences deal with fundamental scientific basis of the body function. It therefore requires certain basic understanding of the body functions.

Students with a good pass in chemistry, physics, mathematics and biology/ life sciences will find it easier to understand the basic medical science principles.

The following shall apply to entry in to first (1st) year of the programme :

• Students who qualify for university admission with good passes in the above specified subjects are eligible for admission the 1st year of the programme.
• Students without matriculation exemption can enrol in the Science Foundation year in lieu of the matriculation exemption.

 

BACHELOR OF MEDICAL CLINICAL PRACTICE (B MED CLIN PRAC)

Entry Requirements

Senior Certificate

Student intake is determined by a structured selection process, whereby academic and personal attributes are given equal importance. From 2009, a national Senior Certificate (NSC) will be required with an achievement rating of 4 (50% or better) in four recognized NSC 20-credit subjects: English, Mathematics, Biology and Physical Science.

National Senior Certificate (NSC)

Compulsory Subjects

4(50-59%) in English at Home language or First Additional language level
4(50-59%) in Mathematics
5(60-69%) in Physical Science
5(60-69%) in Life Sciences

Not Compulsory Subjects

4(50-59%) in isiXhosa
4(50-59%) in Life Orientation

Learners who register for this qualification at Level 7 will also need to have the following:

• the ability to communicate in English at NQF level 4 because most of the textbooks and documentation will be in English;
• the ability to communicate in isiXhosa as most of the patents are isiXhosa speaking. There is a course in isiXhosa offered by the University Department of African languages and a language laboratory to assist with the learning. All non-isiXhosa speaking students will be required to pass that course before proceeding to clinical contact with patients.

 

BACHELOR OF MEDICINE AND BACHELOR OF SURGERY (MBChB)

Admission procedure

Due to the structure of this curriculum, admission to MBChB can only be at MBChB I level. However, under special circumstances, students coming from other medical schools that offer integrated problem-based and community-based programmes, may be considered at levels other than MBChB I, on a case-by-case basis.

National Senior Certificate (NSC)

Compulsory Subjects

5(60-69%) in English at Home language or First Additional language level
5(60-69%) in Mathematics
5(60-69%) in Physical Science
5(60-69%) in Life Sciences

Not Compulsory Subjects

4(50-59%) in isiXhosa
4(50-59%) in Life Orientation

Good performance in Grade 11 end-of-year examinations and Grade 12 mid-year/trial examinations will be a recommendation.

Applicants with qualifications from countries other than the Republic of South Africa will have their qualifications evaluated by the Joint Matriculation Board (JMB).

The University Admissions Office will communicate with the JMB on this issue. Candidates with A-levels should have obtained a minimum of 3 principal passes at grades D or better. Applicants with diplomas and/or degrees will be considered on merit.

Selection Procedure

A selected number of candidates will be short-listed for an interview, after which recommendations for final selection for admission will be referred to the Faculty Admissions Committee.

Final selection for admission

Academic results and/or performance, as well as performance at interview will weigh equally.

The recommendations of the Faculty Admissions Committee for admission will be final.

The closing date for MBChB applications will be 30 September.

Please note that it is the responsibility of the applicant to provide the University with official results. No applicants will be processed without results.

Std 9/Grade 11 : End-of-year results
Std 10/Grade 12 : June or trial examination results
Std 10/Grade 12 final results
Diploma/Degree end-of-year results

Walter Sisulu University Nursing Application

Documents required for application:

New applicants:

The university considers various post-matric certificates for admission purposes.

1. The following certificates are accepted:

• The “Old Senior” certificate
• The National Senior Certificate “NSC”
• National Certificate Vocational “NCV”
• N6 certificate

2. Some departments may consider mature age exemption for admission into some programmes. For more information you may enquire from the Admissions Office at supportappl@wsu.ac.za.

Transfer students:

Students who are from another tertiary institution may apply and submit the following documents:

• Matric Certificate
• Post-matric certificate;
• Identity document;
• Official academic report;
• Conduct certificate

International applicants:

You will need to first apply to Universities South Africa (Usaf) for evaluation of school results or other degree/diploma certificates. When you receive the results from Usaf you may commence with the application process and upload the results and the copy of your passport.