2 answers
Vumuyolo
Student
East London, Eastern Cape, South Africa
1
Question
Updated
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Is medical school possible for me?
My name is Vumuyolo. I want to study medicine. I want to become a doctor.
I am 18 and I live in South Africa. I am in Mechanical Engineering NCV Level 2 in 2025 at a TVET college in South Africa. I will continue with Level 3 in 2026. In 2027 I will be in Level 4 NCV and at the same time I plan to write ASC through UCT Online High School. When I finish both in 2027, I want to apply for MBChB in 2028 or sooner if possible. I receive NSFAS funding of R2500 per month to support my studies.
My question is simple. Is this path possible. Are there other ways to reach medical school if I start here. What is the best way to align my current NCV path with ASC and then with medical school.
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2 answers
Karin P.
Lecturer, Academic Advisor, Career Coach
1093
Answers
Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany
Updated
Karin’s Answer
Hi Vumuyolo,
You are ambitious and determined to reach where you want to go! I like that!
The National Certificate: Vocational (NCV) at level 4 is equivalent to the National Senior Certificate (NSC)/matric. It generally allows you to enter bachelors programs in a similar field at university. But, Medical Schools have higher requirements and most of them require NSC. I am assuming that's why you are going to write the Amended Senior Certificate (ASC) through UCT online high-school.
There is also the option to get a bachelors degree in a science field before you apply to Medical School. It would add a bit to your time-line, but you might be able to enter in year 3 instead of year 1 of Medical School.
You can look through the admission requirements for all the Medical Schools in the country. I found the following:
University of Cape Town: does not accept NCV for direct entry
https://health.uct.ac.za/home/undergraduates/prospective-students/admissions/undergraduate-eligibility-and-process
University of KwaZulu-Natal: does not accept NCV for direct entry
https://ww1.applications.ukzn.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Undergrad2025-Web-latest.pdf
Stellenbosch University: does not accept NCV for direct entry
http://www.sun.ac.za/english/maties/Documents/MB,ChB.pdf
University of Pretoria: "might" consider NCV applicants (not sure if this is true for Medical School)?
https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/368/2025/up_ug-prospectus-2026_nsc-ieb_devv4_web.zp260601.pdf
University of the Witwatersrand: accepts NCV under certain conditions, also Graduate Entry Medical Program (GEMP) for applicants with bachelors degree
https://www.wits.ac.za/course-finder/undergraduate/health/medicine-and-surgery
https://www.wits.ac.za/undergraduate/entry-requirements/national-certificate-vocational-ncv-guidelines/
Walter Sisulu University: does not accept NCV for direct entry
https://www.wsu.ac.za/index.php/en/undergraduate-programmes/fees-financial-support/mthatha/medicine-and-health-sciences
Sefako Makgatho University for Health Sciences: does accept NCV, also has a Foundation program
https://www.smu.ac.za/schools/medicine/medicine-undergraduate-admission-requirements/
University of Limpopo: does not accept NCV for direct entry
https://www.ul.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Student-Prospectus-2025.pdf
Nelson Mandela University: does not accept NCV for direct entry
https://www.mandela.ac.za/Study-at-Mandela/Discovery/Qualification-Details?appqual=m1&qual=60090&faculty=1600&ot=V1&cid=667
Please contact any school that you might be interested in, directly and make inquiries for your particular situation so you have correct and up-to-date information. Also make sure that you select the correct subjects that are required to study to become a doctor (i.e. math and not math literacy).
As for funding of your studies: It is possible to transition from NCV funding to medical school funding since it is a higher qualification. You need to apply for NSFAS once you have obtained admission to Medical School.
Keep in mind, that admission to Medical School is extremely competitive and requires high marks in NSC/ASC and a high score on the National Benchmark Test (NBT).
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
You are ambitious and determined to reach where you want to go! I like that!
The National Certificate: Vocational (NCV) at level 4 is equivalent to the National Senior Certificate (NSC)/matric. It generally allows you to enter bachelors programs in a similar field at university. But, Medical Schools have higher requirements and most of them require NSC. I am assuming that's why you are going to write the Amended Senior Certificate (ASC) through UCT online high-school.
There is also the option to get a bachelors degree in a science field before you apply to Medical School. It would add a bit to your time-line, but you might be able to enter in year 3 instead of year 1 of Medical School.
You can look through the admission requirements for all the Medical Schools in the country. I found the following:
University of Cape Town: does not accept NCV for direct entry
https://health.uct.ac.za/home/undergraduates/prospective-students/admissions/undergraduate-eligibility-and-process
University of KwaZulu-Natal: does not accept NCV for direct entry
https://ww1.applications.ukzn.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/Undergrad2025-Web-latest.pdf
Stellenbosch University: does not accept NCV for direct entry
http://www.sun.ac.za/english/maties/Documents/MB,ChB.pdf
University of Pretoria: "might" consider NCV applicants (not sure if this is true for Medical School)?
https://www.up.ac.za/media/shared/368/2025/up_ug-prospectus-2026_nsc-ieb_devv4_web.zp260601.pdf
University of the Witwatersrand: accepts NCV under certain conditions, also Graduate Entry Medical Program (GEMP) for applicants with bachelors degree
https://www.wits.ac.za/course-finder/undergraduate/health/medicine-and-surgery
https://www.wits.ac.za/undergraduate/entry-requirements/national-certificate-vocational-ncv-guidelines/
Walter Sisulu University: does not accept NCV for direct entry
https://www.wsu.ac.za/index.php/en/undergraduate-programmes/fees-financial-support/mthatha/medicine-and-health-sciences
Sefako Makgatho University for Health Sciences: does accept NCV, also has a Foundation program
https://www.smu.ac.za/schools/medicine/medicine-undergraduate-admission-requirements/
University of Limpopo: does not accept NCV for direct entry
https://www.ul.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Student-Prospectus-2025.pdf
Nelson Mandela University: does not accept NCV for direct entry
https://www.mandela.ac.za/Study-at-Mandela/Discovery/Qualification-Details?appqual=m1&qual=60090&faculty=1600&ot=V1&cid=667
Please contact any school that you might be interested in, directly and make inquiries for your particular situation so you have correct and up-to-date information. Also make sure that you select the correct subjects that are required to study to become a doctor (i.e. math and not math literacy).
As for funding of your studies: It is possible to transition from NCV funding to medical school funding since it is a higher qualification. You need to apply for NSFAS once you have obtained admission to Medical School.
Keep in mind, that admission to Medical School is extremely competitive and requires high marks in NSC/ASC and a high score on the National Benchmark Test (NBT).
I hope this helps! All the best to you!
KP
Lakshmi Akavaram
Principal Systems Engineer
8
Answers
Milton, Georgia
Updated
Lakshmi’s Answer
I'm sure you can! It may be a different path now and you may need to take certain pre-requisite courses to attempt for taking the qualifying exam but check out the med schools you want to enroll in for specific requirements. Definitely a possibility. Good luck
Thank you so much, Lakshmi!
Vumuyolo