Webinar: Pursuing MBBS in India Thu, November 5, 2026 | 8:30 PM IST FREE
Reserve free seatFree Webinar: MBBS in India
Thu, November 5, 2026 | 8:30 PM
Free Webinar: MBBS in India
Thu, November 5, 2026 | 8:30 PM
One of Africa's leading universities (QS 2026: #291 in the world), South Africa's second-ranked medical school, and home to training at Chris Hani Baragwanath, the largest hospital in Africa. Wits teaches the 6-year MBBCh in English, a world-class, comparatively affordable, MBBS-style degree, though with limited places for international students.
5000+ Students trust us
South Africa
Country
Johannesburg
City (Gauteng, inland)
MBBCh
6-year Bachelor of Medicine & Surgery
English
Medium of instruction
Introduction
Recognition & Prestige
The University of the Witwatersrand is a genuinely world-class research university and, unlike most MBBS-abroad destinations, its rankings are real. It is one of Africa's leading universities and South Africa's second-ranked medical school, with a formidable research record.
#291 in the world
QS World University Rankings 2026 (overall)
#2 in South Africa
For Medicine, after the University of Cape Town (QS by subject)
A top African university
One of Africa's leading research universities
4 Nobel laureates
Wits alumni have won four Nobel Prizes, including in Medicine and Chemistry
The Wits Faculty of Health Sciences offers an MBBCh registrable with the Health Professions Council of South Africa and listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools, with clinical training at Chris Hani Baragwanath, the largest hospital in Africa. It does not meet the National Medical Commission's rules for practising in India (see FMGE).
WDOMS
Listed in WDOMS, the World Directory of Medical Schools.
ECFMG (USA)
As a WDOMS-listed school, graduates can pursue ECFMG certification and the USMLE for training in the United States
NMC (India)
The degree does not meet the NMC's FMGL Regulations 2021, so it does not lead to practice in India (see FMGE).
Complete Information About Studying Medicine at Wits
Get a clear, honest picture of the MBBCh pathway, the limited international quota, the real (and comparatively affordable) costs, and whether it fits your family.
Success stories
Hear directly from students who are studying medicine in Europe with futureMBBS.
Academic Excellence
Wits offers a world-class, English-taught, comparatively affordable, MBBS-style medical education with exceptional clinical exposure. These are its real strengths, with the honest trade-offs of the limited international quota and Johannesburg's safety considerations.
Read all about MBBS abroad in our free brochure
Know exactly what options exist for your medical-career success.
How to Apply
Admission to the Wits MBBCh is on academic merit plus the National Benchmark Tests (undergraduate) or the Wits Admissions Test (for GEMP graduate entry), with limited international places. The exact current process and international quota are published on wits.ac.za.
Decide between undergraduate entry (from school, into the 6-year MBBCh) and the Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP, for those who already hold or are completing a bachelor's degree with about 70%).
Undergraduate applicants need a strong school-leaving result (equivalent to the South African NSC) with the required subjects and write the National Benchmark Tests (NBT); GEMP applicants write the Wits Admissions Test (WAPT). English proficiency is required.
Apply through Wits's admissions process; the international medical quota is limited, and Department of Home Affairs requirements for foreign students apply.
Selection is on academic merit and test results.
Successful applicants receive an offer and apply for a South African study visa, showing proof of financial means.
NEET UG is not part of admission here, and because this degree does not meet the NMC's rules, NEET UG does not open a route to practise in India from it.
Undergraduate applicants need a strong school-leaving qualification (equivalent to the South African NSC) with Mathematics, Physical Science and English and a high aggregate, plus the National Benchmark Tests (NBT). Graduate (GEMP) applicants need a completed or final-year bachelor's degree with about a 70% average and write the Wits Admissions Test (WAPT). NEET UG is not part of admission here, and because this degree does not meet the NMC's rules, NEET UG does not open a route to practise in India from it.
Subjects:
There is no unusual age bar; applicants must meet the academic and test requirements for their route. The degree does not meet the NMC's rules for practising in India, so it does not open a route back to India.
Applicants need strong results with the required subjects (undergraduate) or a bachelor's degree (GEMP), the relevant test (NBT or WAPT), English proficiency and a study visa. NEET UG is not part of admission here, and because this degree does not meet the NMC's rules, NEET UG does not open a route to practise in India from it.
Understand the International Quota First
Because South Africa prioritises its own citizens for medicine, the international quota is limited; factor this in before investing in the application.
Right Test for Your Route
Prepare for the NBT (undergraduate) or the WAPT (GEMP graduate entry), plus strong academic results; Wits medicine is highly competitive.
Undergraduate selection uses academic results and the National Benchmark Tests (NBT); GEMP uses the Wits Admissions Test (WAPT). The current details for international applicants are published on the official site.
| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate route | Strong NSC-equivalent result (Maths, Physical Science, English) + National Benchmark Tests (NBT) |
| Graduate route (GEMP) | A bachelor's degree (~70% average) + the Wits Admissions Test (WAPT); enter Year 3, finish in ~4 years |
| International quota | Limited international medical places (South Africa prioritises domestic and SADC applicants) |
| English | English-medium teaching; IELTS or equivalent as required |
| India-side | NEET UG is not part of admission; the degree does not meet the NMC's rules for India |
Indian applicants typically provide the following for the MBBCh application and the South African study visa:
Admission Guidance & Eligibility Check
Get an honest assessment of the limited international quota and help planning the NBT/WAPT and application from our team.
Programme Structure
The Wits MBBCh is a six-year programme taught in English, from pre-clinical foundations to full-time clinical training at Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke and other Johannesburg hospitals. A graduate-entry route (GEMP) enters at Year 3. The exact current structure is published on wits.ac.za/health.
Total Duration:
6 Years (undergraduate entry); ~4 Years via GEMP from Year 3
Degree:
MBBCh (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, equivalent to MBBS)
Years 1–2
The pre-clinical foundation years covering the basic medical sciences with early clinical and communication skills, taught in English:
Years 3–4
The Graduate Entry Medical Programme phase (which graduates join directly), integrating mechanisms of disease with clinical training through a systems-based, problem-based approach:
Year 5
Full clinical rotations through the major disciplines at Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke and other Johannesburg teaching hospitals:
Year 6
The final clinical year consolidating clinical competence as a transition to internship and registration with the HPCSA:
Clinical training takes place at Chris Hani Baragwanath (the largest hospital in Africa), Charlotte Maxeke Johannesburg Academic Hospital, Helen Joseph Hospital and Rahima Moosa Mother and Child Hospital. In South Africa, graduates complete a two-year internship and a year of community service to register with the HPCSA. This is not the 12-month internship at the same university that the NMC's FMGL Regulations 2021 ask for, so the degree does not lead to practice in India. An indicative pattern is:
| Phase | Focus |
|---|---|
| MBBCh Years 5–6 | Clinical rotations across Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, O&G, Psychiatry, Family Medicine and specialties at Chris Hani Baragwanath, Charlotte Maxeke and other Johannesburg hospitals |
| After graduation (South Africa) | A two-year internship plus community service leading to registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa |
| Practising in India | Not open: the degree does not meet the NMC's FMGL Regulations 2021 |
Get the full curriculum
Download a free brochure to understand the MBBCh structure, the pathway and everything you need to plan.
Legacy
The University of the Witwatersrand has one of the richest scientific legacies in the southern hemisphere, from a Nobel laureate in medicine to the scientists who shaped the study of human origins and modern HIV and vaccine research. Where someone is famous as a Wits professor rather than only a graduate, that is stated plainly.
Studied at Wits from 1942, including in medicine, before a career that reshaped molecular biology. He shared the 2002 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for discoveries about the genetic regulation of organ development and programmed cell death. The Sydney Brenner Institute for Molecular Bioscience at Wits is named in his honour.
A Wits medical graduate who became one of the world's leading authorities on human evolution and a revered anatomist. Over nearly five decades at Wits he taught around 10,000 medical and dental students and led landmark work at South Africa's hominid fossil sites.
Professor of Anatomy and later Dean at the Wits Medical School who, in 1924, identified the 'Taung Child' (Australopithecus africanus), the first evidence that humankind's origins lay in Africa.
Earned her MBBCh at Wits and became a paediatrician and world-renowned HIV vaccinologist. She co-founded the Perinatal HIV Research Unit, served as President and CEO of the South African Medical Research Council, and was named one of Time magazine's 100 most influential people in 2017.
Began his university studies at Wits, completing a BSc, before a distinguished career in molecular biology in the United Kingdom. He won the 1982 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing crystallographic electron microscopy, work fundamental to modern structural biology and medicine.
A Wits professor of vaccinology and the current Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences. A world leader in vaccine research, he led major South African trials of pneumococcal, RSV and COVID-19 vaccines, shaping global immunisation policy.
Wits's medical programme is delivered by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Parktown medical campus, in partnership with Johannesburg's major public hospitals. Named leaders are as of 2025.
Dean: Professor Shabir Madhi (vaccinology)
One of Africa's leading universities; 4 Nobel-laureate alumni
Founded 1922, with a century of medical teaching
World-leading HIV, TB, vaccine and human-origins research
Training at Chris Hani Baragwanath and Charlotte Maxeke
English-medium teaching throughout
Exceptional clinical exposure from the clinical years
Guidance on the NMC position and the South African licensing route
About University
The TW Kambule Mathematical Sciences Building on the University of the Witwatersrand main campus
Get all information about studying medicine at Wits in our free brochure
Read on to understand the real pathway to the University of the Witwatersrand MBBCh.
Role in medicine
Lawns beside the Chamber of Mines Building at the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
Get all information about studying medicine at Wits in our free brochure
Read on to understand the real pathway to the University of the Witwatersrand MBBCh.
Cost of living
Johannesburg is affordable by international standards and generally a little cheaper than Cape Town. The figures below are indicative monthly living costs for a student and are separate from tuition.
| Cost Component | Approximate Amount (per month) |
|---|---|
| Accommodation (residence or shared rental) | ₹23,000 – ₹49,000 |
| Food & Groceries | ₹14,500 – ₹26,000 |
| Transport & Personal | ₹8,600 – ₹17,300 |
| Utilities & Extras | ₹6,000 – ₹14,500 |
Average monthly living cost (excluding tuition)
₹52,000 – ₹1,07,000
Housing
Students at Wits live in university residences, university-accredited housing, or private rentals in Johannesburg, with safety a real consideration in where and how they live. Wits Student Accommodation lists current options and prices.
Need accommodation details?
Get a full overview of housing options with our university guide, or reach out to an expert.
Food & Dining
100% veg options are available. Vegetarian food is easily found in cafeterias, restaurants, grocery stores and university residences, and with a large South African Indian community Johannesburg is excellent for Indian and vegetarian food.
Johannesburg has a large, long-established South African Indian community, with famous food hubs such as Fordsburg and Mayfair, so Indian food, including familiar regional dishes, is easy to find.
Johannesburg has a large Muslim community and widely available halal food, so Muslim students are very well catered for.
Johannesburg has strong vegetarian and vegan options, with dedicated restaurants and clearly labelled menus, so vegetarian students eat very well.
Indian and Asian grocery stores (especially around Fordsburg) stock spices, dal, rice, atta and ready-mixes, and many deliver, so students can cook familiar food.
Food-delivery and grocery apps such as Uber Eats, Mr D Food and the major supermarket apps operate across Johannesburg for both restaurant meals and groceries.
Major supermarket chains (Woolworths, Pick n Pay, Checkers, SPAR) stock lentils, rice, dairy, flour and produce, with Indian grocers filling any gaps.
Location
University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Health Sciences, 7 York Road, Parktown, Johannesburg 2193, South Africa (the main campus is in Braamfontein; teaching hospitals include Charlotte Maxeke nearby and Chris Hani Baragwanath in Soweto)
Nearest Airport
O.R. Tambo International Airport (JNB), about 25 km from campus: Africa's busiest airport, with direct and one-stop connections to India via Gulf and African hubs. South Africa is 3.5 hours behind Indian time and requires a study visa
Local Transport
The Gautrain rapid rail and buses serve the city, alongside metered taxis and ride-hailing (Uber, Bolt); given safety considerations, students are strongly advised to use reliable transport, especially at night
Your Roadmap to Success
Wits MBBCh graduates complete a two-year internship and a year of community service to gain full registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), then pursue specialty training.
This degree does not meet the NMC's rules for practising in India: the internship is a two-year hospital post, not the 12-month internship at the same university that the FMGL Regulations 2021 ask for, and foreign nationals are placed only after citizens and permanent residents.
As a WDOMS-listed school, graduates can pursue ECFMG certification and the USMLE, opening the pathway to US residency.
A Wits MBBCh supports the GMC's routes for the UK and licensing pathways in the Gulf and other countries; Wits's clinical training and reputation are well regarded internationally.
Wits graduates are highly regarded across Africa, with opportunities in clinical practice, global health and research on the continent.
With world-leading HIV, tuberculosis and vaccine research and a Nobel legacy, Wits is a strong base for students interested in academic medicine and global health research.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of registration in South Africa, the exams needed to practise elsewhere, and why the degree does not lead to practice in India.
Practising in India
A South African MBChB does not meet the NMC's rules for practising in India. The six-year course is long enough, but graduates then do a two-year internship at accredited hospitals and a year of community service (South African Government), not the 12-month internship at the same university that the NMC's FMGL Regulations 2021 ask for. Foreign nationals are placed in internship posts only after all South African citizens and permanent residents, and only 2 foreign nationals were placed between 2019 and 2024 (parliamentary reply, 7 March 2024). Without that internship there is no full HPCSA registration. South Africa is also not covered by the FMGE exemption for postgraduates from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK and the USA.
Step 1
NEET UG is not part of admission here, and because this degree does not meet the NMC's rules, NEET UG does not open a route to practise in India from it.
Step 2
The NMC's Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021 need at least 54 months of study plus a 12-month internship at the same university, taught in English, and a licence to practise in the country of study on the same terms as its citizens. In South Africa the internship is a two-year hospital post, and foreign nationals are placed only after citizens and permanent residents, with just 2 placed from 2019 to 2024, so there is no full HPCSA registration either.
Step 3
The NBEMS FMGE bulletin says anyone admitted abroad on or after 18 November 2021 whose degree does not meet the FMGL rules cannot sit the FMGE, so this degree does not lead to NMC or State Medical Council registration.
Student Life Style
Being a medical student at Wits combines a demanding, world-class MBBCh with exceptional clinical exposure and life in Johannesburg, South Africa's energetic economic hub, with the honest reality of the city's safety considerations.
Fees & Financial
A genuine advantage of Wits is affordability: South African tuition and living costs are far below Australia, New Zealand or the UK. Honest financial planning still matters, as international students pay more than domestic students.
In 2026 the MBBCh costs students from outside SADC about R176,300 a year (about ₹10 lakh), but South African tuition and living costs remain a fraction of the Australia, New Zealand or UK level, so Wits can be a genuinely affordable route to a world-class, English-taught degree. Wits publishes the exact international MBBCh fee on wits.ac.za.
Wits and South African bodies offer scholarships and financial aid, but most are aimed at South African and African students, and medicine funding for international students is limited. Research each by name.
Because South Africa is comparatively affordable, the funding requirement is lower than for Australia or New Zealand, but families should still plan carefully. We guide families realistically on costs, loans and whether the numbers make sense.
Compare
Compare the University of the Witwatersrand (MBBCh) with a leading Indian medical college.
Quick Comparison:
University of the Witwatersrand (MBBCh) vs AIIMS New Delhi (MBBS)
| University | University of the WitwatersrandJohannesburg, South Africa | AIIMS New DelhiNew Delhi, India |
|---|---|---|
| Degree & Entry | MBBCh: school-leaver entry (NBT); graduate entry via GEMP | MBBS: school-leaver entry after Class 12 |
| Medium | English | English |
| Duration | 6 years (or ~4 via GEMP); training at Africa's largest hospital | 5.5 years including internship |
| Tuition | 2026 international ≈ R176,300/year (₹10 lakh); still far below Australia/NZ | Nominal (a few thousand rupees per year) |
| Admission | NBT (undergraduate) or WAPT (GEMP); limited international places | NEET-UG (extremely high rank) |
| Recognition | HPCSA-registrable; WDOMS-listed; does not meet NMC rules for India | NMC-recognised |
| World Ranking | QS 2026 #291; #2 in South Africa for Medicine | India's top medical institute (NIRF #1) |
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Our blog
Articles that turn complex medicine-abroad rules into simple, practical steps for students and parents.
FAQ
Short, honest answers to the questions Indian students and parents ask most about studying medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand.
Campus photographs supplied by the content team (University of the Witwatersrand main campus, Braamfontein). Photographs of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Parktown medical campus and of the Johannesburg teaching hospitals are pending.
