How Many Years To Study Medicine In South Africa?

Studying medicine in South Africa is a very serious business. It takes a long time and a lot of commitment, but it’s worth it. Before you decide which university to apply to and how many years to study at that university, make sure you understand what you’re getting into!

How Many Years To Study Medicine In South Africa?

Students in South Africa studying medicine will study at a university for six years. The first three years are spent in a classroom, and the last three years are spent in the clinical setting with patients. This means that students will not see any patients during their first year of study.

The first 3 years consist of medical studies that do not involve any contact with patients. In these years, students learn the fundamentals of science and medicine. They study topics like anatomy, physiology and pharmacology as well as medical ethics.

The next 3 years comprise clinical training that involves basic medical care for patients in hospitals or clinics. Students learn how to diagnose illnesses and treat them using drugs and surgery if needed.

After their studies are complete, doctors must participate in at least two years of supervised clinical practice where they work under the supervision of experienced doctors before they can start practicing on their own (known as internships).

The last 3 years, known as the clinical years, involve real contact with patients. For these 3 years, students live in hospitals and gain extensive practical experience.

The clinical years are the most important part of medical school because they provide students with a broad range of experiences that cannot be obtained in a classroom setting or during an internship. The learning environment is very different than other parts of medical school; it’s more hands-on, which helps prepare you for the challenges you will face when you enter your residency program.

It’s also during this time that you get to make decisions about what kind of doctor you want to be: a surgeon or family physician? A pediatrician or geriatrician? These choices will affect where and how long your training takes place after graduation from medical school—and they won’t be easy ones!

If you are really smart and really committed, then studying medicine in South Africa could be a dream come true. The first three years (called the preclinical phase) are all theoretical learning, with no actual hands-on experience with patients. If you can survive those three years, then your reward is three years of practical training at an accredited hospital under the supervision of experienced doctors and specialists.

After that final year of practice, it’s time for the exams! These consist of several stages:

• Step 1: A series of written examinations on basic science topics
• Step 2: Another series of written examinations on clinical science topics (such as physiology or anatomy)
• Step 3: An oral examination conducted by panels consisting mainly or entirely physicians from outside South Africa

Closing

The medical studies in South Africa are very demanding. They require a lot of commitment and hard work. But if you are willing to endure this challenge and make it through, then you will be rewarded with a great career as an amazing physician who has the power to heal people.