What percentage do you need to become a doctor in South Africa?

Asked by: Mr. Peyton Baumbach V  |  Last update: September 16, 2025
Score: 4.8/5 (24 votes)

South African Medical School Requirements Students need to write the National Benchmark Test (NBT) Averaging at least 70% for the National Senior Certificate. Take Core Maths, Physical Sciences, and Life Sciences. And obtain at least 60% in their Home Language.

What marks are needed to become a doctor in South Africa?

Only applicants who obtain a minimum of three distinctions and an overall average of 75% and above for the year will be considered. However, the requirements might be higher as only five (5) spaces are available and selection will be on a competitive basis.

What percentage do you need to study Medicine in South Africa?

For admission to the six-year Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree programme an applicant shall hold the National Senior Certificate (NSC), endorsed by Umalusi, or an equivalent qualification with an aggregate of at least 75% (level 6) (excluding Life Orientation), and with at least 60% (level 5) ...

What qualifications do I need to be a doctor in South Africa?

Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB)

To register as a medical practitioner, a student has to obtain an MBChB degree, followed by a two-year internship and one year of community service. In the medical profession, the health of a patient is of vital importance.

What is the percentage rate of becoming a doctor?

0.25% of all People in the US are doctors. Let's say that 10-30% of all people want to become doctors at some point in their life (like elementary school) then 0.8% to 2.5% of all people make it.

HOW TO BECOME A DOCTOR IN SOUTH AFRICA

24 related questions found

Are doctors in the top 1%?

Doctors like money

The top 1% of physicians earned more than $1.7 million a year. Researchers found that doctors from the best medical schools flock to the highest-paying specialties. Doctors also favor procedures that yield more profits. Some medical specialties are eye-poppingly well-paid.

What percent of pre-med students become doctors?

Med school is hard on the body…

Now you understand why less than ten percent of pre-med college freshman will actually become doctors. The good news is that you're already in medical school, so your chances of having a career in medicine is much higher.

How long is a doctors degree in South Africa?

The qualification offered will be a six-year, MBChB degree (a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) that will produce graduates who fulfil the Health Professional Council of South Africa (HPCSA) graduate attributes and who, on qualification, are competent to work as interns in a South African hospital.

How to get into med school in South Africa?

Entry Requirements
  1. Your matric academic results for five subjects: English, Mathematics, best of Physical Sciences/Life Sciences and the best two other subjects. We consider the percentage achieved, not the symbol. ...
  2. National Benchmark Test (NBT) scores. The average of the NBT scores carries a 40% weighting.

What is the salary of a doctor in South Africa?

Find out what the average Doctor salary is

The average doctor salary in South Africa is R 420 000 per year or R 215 per hour. Entry-level positions start at R 193 334 per year, while most experienced workers make up to R 1 428 000 per year.

What percentage do you need to get into University in South Africa?

Bachelor's Degree Study

Applicants holding a South African National Senior Certificate (NSC) need to pass a minimum of 4 subjects at a rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50-59%) or better in any four 20-credit NSC subjects.

How many years is Medicine in South Africa?

Training of medical doctors

The programme runs over six years and consists of three phases.

How hard is it to become a doctor?

Becoming a doctor demands tremendous patience, personal sacrifice and years of rigorous training. It also takes meticulous planning, experts say – it's crucial to map your path and succeed at every step on the way to this high-stakes career.

Which doctor is needed in South Africa?

Top of the list is a heart transplant surgeon with an average monthly salary of R152,000. Following closely behind are orthopaedic surgeons, cardiothoracic surgeons, plastic reconstructive surgeons, invasive cardiologist surgeons, neurology surgeons, pediatric surgeons and trauma surgeons.

Do you need perfect grades to be a doctor?

While perfect grades are not required for medical school admission, premeds "would want to be in the mid-3.0 range and higher to feel relatively competitive," Grabowski says. Still, it is possible to get into med school with a mediocre or low GPA.

Which university is best for Medicine in South Africa?

  • University of Cape Town. South Africa|Cape Town. ...
  • University of Witwatersrand. South Africa|Johannesburg. ...
  • Stellenbosch University. South Africa|Stellenbosch. ...
  • University of Kwazulu Natal. South Africa|Durban. ...
  • North West University - South Africa. ...
  • University of Pretoria. ...
  • University of the Western Cape. ...
  • University of Johannesburg.

Is it easy to become a doctor in South Africa?

Accumulate Years of Relevant Study and Experience

General medical practitioners in South Africa typically study for 7-8 Years including 6 years spent on theoretical training, one year spent on internship, and another year spent on community service.

What marks do you need to study Medicine in South Africa?

You must have a minimum aggregate of at least 70%. Your Maths, Physics and Life Science must be at least 50%. In reality, most applicants will have averages in the range of 75-85%. Stellenbosch also offers the possibility of transferring from a degree in life sciences or natural sciences at the end of first year.

Is there MCAT in South Africa?

MCAT is administered 15 times over a year. Though no qualification required to appear for the MCAT. However, candidates willing to write Medical School Admission form shall check with individual colleges what qualification they ask for admission in a particular medical courses.

What grade 12 subjects do you need to be a doctor in South Africa?

Primarily, the subjects you choose in high school determine your future. If you prefer to take up medicine as your career, you must pass your Grade 12 with English, Mathematics, Physics/Chemistry, and Life Science.

How many hours do doctors work a day in South Africa?

https://doi.org/10.4102/phcfm.v13i1.2799. BACKGROUND: South African doctors work up to 60 h per week to ensure 24-h service delivery. Many doctors are physically and emotionally exhausted, neglecting families, self-care, patient empathy and innovative thinking about complex health issues.

What is the shortest time to become a doctor?

The easiest way to become a doctor is to enroll in an accelerated BS/MD or combined BS/MD program, which streamlines undergraduate and medical school education into approximately six to seven years.

What is the hardest pre-med major?

Many of the fields that are important to study of medicine are also some of the hardest majors. These include molecular biology, chemistry, and physics. Because of this, pre-med students often have a difficult time choosing what to focus on during their undergraduate years.

How many doctors fail out of medical school?

At present, about 82.5% of US medical students complete the requirement for graduation in 4 years and 97% complete in 8 years with an attrition rate of 3% [4]. In a survey, 11% of the 2222 medical students indicated that they have serious thoughts of dropping out of medical school each year [5].

Do all premeds get into med school?

Applicants who are not accepted by a medical school should take some time to work through their feelings and put things into context. The national average acceptance rate the past few years has been around 40%, so each year, over half of all applicants do not end up being accepted.