As a prospective student looking for where to study pharmacy in South Africa, there are many options for you in South Africa. Pharmacists in South Africa have many career opportunities in various fields of endeavours.
The minimum requirement to practice as a pharmacist in South Africa is the Bachelor of Pharmacy (Bpharm). Pharmacy degree is a four-year course in the university with a strong focus on hospital and community pharmacy practices.
The academic schedule is a full-time schedule divided into first and second semesters per academic session.
The major areas covered under the four years are Pharmacology and Applied Therapeutics, Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Pharmaceutics, and Pharmacy Practice
- Admission Requirements to Study Pharmacy in South Africa
- Where to Study Pharmacy in South Africa
- Rhodes University Faculty of Pharmacy
- Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT)
- Nelson Mandela University
- The University of Limpopo
- The University of the Western Cape
- The University of the Witwatersrand
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
- North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus)
- Other Pharmacy related courses
Admission Requirements to Study Pharmacy in South Africa
The basic requirements to study pharmacy in South Africa might vary as we move from one institution to another. The basic requirement is that the candidate should National Senior Certificate with Bachelor status, or a matriculation exemption from the council. English proficiency is also necessary.
Where to Study Pharmacy in South Africa
Whether you are a domestic student or an international student looking for where to study pharmacy in South Africa, there are many choices in South Africa. The School of Pharmacy in South Africa are:
- Rhodes University Faculty of Pharmacy
- Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT)
- Nelson Mandela University
- The University of Limpopo
- University of KwaZulu-Natal
- The University of the Western Cape
- North-West University
- The University of the Witwatersrand
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Rhodes University Faculty of Pharmacy
It is the only Faculty of Pharmacy in South Africa. To gain admission, a candidate must obtain the National Senior Certificate with Bachelor status, or obtained a matric exemption certificate from the Board. A rating of 6 for Mathematics, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences is also considered.
Also, candidates with a matric exemption of the Joint Matriculation Board must obtain at least a D symbol in Mathematics, Physical Science and Biology on the Higher Grade.
A score point of 45 and above will probably receive an offer of admission, while 34 and below are mostly rejected.
- Fees: International student (Tuition only R28 450 or Tuition and residence R68 000), South Africa students (Tuition only: R5 890 Or Tuition and Residence: R5 890 + R19 120 = R25 010.
- Web: https://www.ru.ac.za/pharmacy
Tshwane University of Technology’s (TUT)
Applicants can offer a Bachelor of Pharmacy and B. Tech (Pharmaceutical Sciences) in this institution. The B. Tech is for students who already have three years of qualification in health related science courses. They can work in clinical research and drug registration agencies.
- Acceptance fee: R500, R1500 first school fees instalment.
- Website: www.tut.ac.za
Nelson Mandela University
The School of Pharmacy is under the Faculty of Health Sciences.
Minimum requirement: NSC achievement rating of a minimum of 50% for Home language or English First Additional Language, 65% for Physical Sciences and Mathematics each.
Applicant with NSC Grade 12 Mathematics needs at least Applicant Score of 410. The University no longer uses Admission Point Score (APS) method, but Applicant Score (AS)
- Fees: R 38 310 (non SADC)
- Website: www.mandela.ac.za/
The University of Limpopo
This is the third-oldest pharmacy school in South Africa. They offer Bpharm, and other postgraduate courses in Pharmacy such as Mpharm in Pharmacy Practice, Pharmaceutics, Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical chemistry.
Entry requirements include Matric bachelor certificate with a minimum of 27 APS score. For each compulsory subject, the minimum score is Mathematics 5, English 4, Life Sciences 5, Physical Sciences 5. Other Additional subject(1) 4 and Additional subject (2) 4. The scores exclude life orientation.
- Tuition: R50,000 to R54,000, Doctor of Pharmacy: R17,160.33
- Web: https://www.ul.ac.za
The University of the Western Cape
The University of the Western Cape School of Pharmacy offers both undergraduate and postgraduate courses in Pharmacy.
The minimum requirements include National Senior Certificate (NSC), with Bachelor’s Level 4 (50-59%) in English (Home or First Additional Language), Level 3 (40-49%) in another Language, Level 4 (50-59%) in Mathematics, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences.
- Fees: Masters in Clinical Pharmacy: R52,890, Bpharm R39,046–R43,225 Per annum, International students pay R82,641 per annum.
- Website: https://www.uwc.ac.za/study/all-areas-of-study/schools/school-of-pharmacy/
The University of the Witwatersrand
The School of Therapeutic Sciences (Faculty of Health Sciences) offers pharmacy degree.
The Basic NSC requirements are English Home OR First Additional Language Level 5, Level 5 for Mathematics, Life Sciences AND/OR Physical Science Level 5.
National Benchmark Test (NBT) scores are part of the component. The NSC and NBT each weigh 50%. Applicants must write NBT except those who are using the Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP) only, final year student or graduate of Bachelor’s degree.
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- Tuition: R49 150 for Bpharm, R34 570 for Mpharm.
- https://www.wits.ac.za/course-finder/undergraduate/health/pharmacy/
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Bachelor of Pharmacy degree is under the College of Health Sciences, UKZN.
The minimum requirement is NSC Degree in English, Life Sciences, and Life Orientation, and Maths and Physical Sciences 4 (Choices 1 and 2 only). Point score of 48 to 33.
- Fees: R42296 for Bpharm, R80115 for Mpharm.
- https://ukzn.ac.za/site-index/pharmacy-and-pharmacology/
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
The School of Pharmacy is one out of the five schools in the Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). The school offers Bpharm, Masters of Pharmacy.
- Fees: Ranges between R30,000 to R70,000
- Web: https://www.smu.ac.za/en/schools/pharmacy/
North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus)
The School of Pharmacy is under the Faculty of Health Sciences. The school offer, Bpharm, Master of Pharmacy and Doctorate Degree.
The minimum requirement is the NSC score in Maths Level 5 (60-69%), Physical Science level 5 (60-69%); an APS score of 32, 50 – 59% pass in the home language or first additional language level.
- Admission: 160 candidates in the provisional list.
- Fees: First payment of between R10,000 to R20,000
- Web: https://health-sciences.nwu.ac.za/pharmacy/study-pharmacy
Other Pharmacy related courses
The School of Pharmacology in South Africa
- Stellenbosch University
Pharmacy Technician Schools in South Africa, (Higher Certificate (NQF Level 5) And Advanced Certificate (NQF Level 6)
- Nelson Mandela University
Pharmacist Assistants Schools in South Africa (NQF Level 3) and Post Basic (NQF Level 4)
A pharmacist assistant helps the pharmacist in medical dispensing by measuring, packaging, compounding, and distributing medication in a hospital or community pharmacy setting. It is a two-year course in South Africa. The course is also an easy alternative for those who do not make the grade to study pharmacy in South Africa. Some pharmacist assistant schools in South Africa are:
- Abaluleki Professional Consulting cc/University of Fort Hare Consortium
- Health Science Academy (Pty) Ltd
- Pharmacy Healthcare Academy
- S Buys Academy (Pty) Ltd.
- Pharmacy Training and Development Project: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (previously Medunsa)
Short Courses (NON NQF)
- Health Advance Institute
- Insight Medicine Information
- Pharmacy Education International cc
- North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus)
- Quad Pharmaceutical CC
- S Buys Academy (Pty) Ltd
- Health Science Academy (Pty) Ltd
- Pharmacy Training and Development Project: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (previously University of Limpopo (Medunsa Campus)
- Public Health Institute of South Africa
I have 31 points do I qualify for bridging Course to Pharmacy