About us
MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCES
The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences at Stellenbosch University is a centre of innovation and rigorous academic inquiry that sets new benchmarks in health education. We offer various undergraduate and postgraduate programmes rooted in cutting-edge research and real-world clinical practice. Our curriculum integrates the latest scientific discoveries with practical training, ensuring that students develop the technical expertise and the ethical grounding needed to address complex health challenges.
We aim to develop future health professionals who, through innovation and leadership, will promote health, prevent disease and provide optimal healthcare. We have a diverse student body of nearly 5 000 undergraduate and postgraduate students.
Our academic offerings span diverse health disciplines, equipping you with the knowledge, skills and values essential for a successful career in the healthcare sector. Whether your passion lies in clinical practice, research, or public health, our programmes are designed to prepare you for the evolving demands of the field.
Our programmes
From building a strong foundation through our undergraduate programmes to pursuing advanced specialisation with our postgraduate options, you’ll gain the expertise and practical skills needed to excel in any healthcare environment.
Undergraduate programmes
Students build a robust foundation in the health sciences, equipping them with the essential knowledge and practical skills needed for a rewarding career. Whether you aspire to practice in medicine, nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, or speech-language and hearing therapy, our comprehensive curriculum prepares you for success and lifelong learning.
Postgraduate programmes
These offer a pathway for specialisation and advanced training across various health science disciplines. With over 90 different honours, master’s and doctoral options available, these programmes cater to diverse interests and career goals, allowing you to deepen your expertise and contribute to groundbreaking research and clinical practice.
Our research
Our approach is built on three core pillars that define our commitment to excellence in health sciences education.
World-class research
We conduct ground-breaking research that addresses the significant health challenges facing Africa and the world.
Transformative learning
We offer a stimulating environment that encourages critical thinking and innovation.
Social impact
We are committed to making a positive difference in the lives of our communities.
Transformation initiatives
We strive to bring to fruition impactful transformation initiatives at our faculty, with all our stakeholders.
Our departments
Our academic portfolio spans a comprehensive range of disciplines in the health sciences; from clinical specialties and biomedical research to health services education, including the following departments within our faculty:
- Anesthesiology and Critical Care
- Biomedical Research Institute
- Biomedical Sciences
- Medicine
- Health Professions Education
- Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
- Nursing and Midwifery
- Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Paediatrics and Child Health
- Family and Emergency Medicine
- Global Health
- Pathology
- Psychiatry
- Medical Imaging and Clinical Oncology
- Surgical Sciences
Our research
Research is the heartbeat that drives every part of our work. At our Biomedical Research Institute (BMRI) and across the faculty in different facilities, teams are tackling the prevention and treatment for diseases like tuberculosis and advancing cardiovascular research, developing new diagnostic tools and therapies that directly improve patient care while in our Department of Health Professions Education, researchers are redefining how future healthcare professionals learn, blending classroom innovation with real-world clinical insights.
Our collaborative environment empowers postgraduate researchers to dive into projects on tuberculosis, HIV, neurological disorders and other critical health challenges. By fostering partnerships that encourage hands-on investigation, we create an authentic space where every discovery can potentially transform healthcare outcomes in the future.
Our social impact
Whether through innovative public health initiatives or hands-on training in rural hospitals, we are dedicated to creating, sharing and applying knowledge that transforms lives and strengthens society's overall health. The Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences is committed to making a real difference by promoting health and advancing health equity. We work hand in hand with local clinics and community health centers to train health professionals who are ready to serve in both urban and rural settings.
Our success is built on partnerships with local government, NGOs and community leaders, ensuring that our research and teaching directly address the challenges faced on the ground. For instance, our mobile health clinics and rural training programmes bring vital medical services directly to underserved areas, ensuring that quality care is accessible to everyone.
Our transformation journey
As a dynamic entity, we have often led the way in expressing our commitment to transformation. We believe that the facilitation of a journey toward positive transformation represents our espousal of the values presented to us in the South African Constitution.
We have built a strong reputation of advancing health and equality over the past few decades, and we will continue to play a leadership role underpinned by our commitment to transformation in this regard.