What You Need to Know About Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) sits in Ga-Rankuwa, Gauteng, and it only does one thing, health sciences. You'll find doctors, pharmacists, nurses, and other health pros training here across 17 programs in 5 faculties. If you want a health career and you're ready for the grind, this is one of the top spots in the country for it.
Getting in here isn't easy. Spots are limited and everyone applying wants the same health careers, so competition is real. Medicine only has about 50 spaces in the extended programme, and if you're from a Quintile 1 or 2 school and missed the main medicine cutoff, that extended route is your backup.
What APS Do You Need?
SMU doesn't use the standard 42-point APS scale you'll see at other universities. It works off your best 7 subjects including Life Orientation, with a maximum of 49 points total. So when you see a number like 32 or 38, remember it's out of 49, not 42.
Most programmes at SMU want at least 32 APS, with solid marks in Maths, Physical Science, and Life Sciences depending on the course. Medicine (MBChB) is the toughest, needing at least 38 APS, and only around 50 spots open up each year. The Bachelor of Speech Language Pathology needs 28 APS, plus solid marks in Life Sciences, Maths, Physical Science, and your home language. The Diploma in Emergency Medical Care has one of the lowest entry points at 15 APS, making it a solid route into a paramedic career.
Fees and Funding
Figuring out how you'll pay for varsity is stressful, and SMU doesn't publish one flat tuition number since it varies by programme. Check the official SMU fees page for exact details on your specific course. If you're self-funding, you'll need to pay an initial minimum fee of R4 500 before you're allowed to register.
NSFAS funds students at SMU just like other public universities, so if you qualify financially, apply through the myNSFAS portal. Beyond NSFAS, keep an eye out for other bursaries since health science degrees are pricey to self-fund.
Life on Campus
Res spots at SMU are limited and given out first come first served, so getting in isn't guaranteed even once you're accepted onto your course. If you don't get a res spot, South Point offers accredited off-campus accommodation for SMU students. Check the official SMU accommodation page for exact costs and details.
Not sure if your marks are enough to get into SMU? Use our free APS calculator to check where you stand, remembering SMU's scale runs out of 49, not 42.
