Webinar: Pursuing MBBS in India Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM IST FREE
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Free Webinar: MBBS in India
Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 PM
Free Webinar: MBBS in India
Sat, September 5, 2026 | 7:00 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. Indian students who intend to practise in India must still meet the National Medical Commission's conditions (see FMGE & NExT).
WDOMS
Listed in the World Directory of Medical Schools; confirm the exact FAIMER school ID
ECFMG (USA)
As a WDOMS-listed school, graduates can pursue ECFMG certification and the USMLE for training in the United States
NMC / India
Indian students may qualify for practice in India via the NMC route (FMGE/NExT), subject to meeting the NMC's conditions — confirm current rules
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. Confirm the exact current process and international quota 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, confirming the (limited) international medical quota and meeting Department of Home Affairs requirements for foreign students.
Selection is on academic merit and test results; confirm any additional requirements for international applicants.
Successful applicants receive an offer and apply for a South African study visa, showing proof of financial means.
Indian students who intend to practise in India must have qualified NEET-UG before starting and obtain the NMC Eligibility Certificate; this does not apply if the plan is to practise in South Africa (see FMGE & NExT).
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). Indian students who intend to practise in India must also qualify NEET before starting.
Subjects:
There is no unusual age bar; applicants must meet the academic and test requirements for their route. Indian students planning to return to India should note that the NMC's own rules (including NEET) apply to them.
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; Indians intending to practise in India also need NEET and the NMC Eligibility Certificate.
Confirm the International Quota First
Because South Africa prioritises its own citizens for medicine, confirm the (limited) international quota and eligibility with Wits 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). Confirm the current details for international applicants 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) — confirm |
| English | English-medium teaching; IELTS or equivalent as required |
| India-side (if returning) | NEET-UG qualification + NMC Eligibility Certificate for later FMGE/NExT |
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.
Program Structure
The Wits MBBCh is a six-year program 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. Confirm the exact current structure 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; Indian graduates who return to India follow the NMC route. 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 |
| If returning to India | Clear the FMGE/NExT and complete the required internship in India before NMC or State Medical Council registration |
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 program is delivered by the Faculty of Health Sciences at the Parktown medical campus, in partnership with Johannesburg's major public hospitals. Named leaders are verified as of 2025; reconfirm current office-holders on the official site.
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 for Indian students on FMGE/NExT vs staying in South Africa
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) | ₹18,500 – ₹39,000 |
| Food & Groceries | ₹11,500 – ₹21,000 |
| Transport & Personal | ₹7,000 – ₹14,000 |
| Utilities & Extras | ₹4,600 – ₹11,500 |
Average monthly living cost (excluding tuition)
₹41,000 – ₹85,000
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. Confirm current options and prices with Wits Student Accommodation.
Wits has residences on and near its campuses (catered and self-catered), often the safest and most convenient choice for first-year and international students; places can be competitive, so confirm current availability and fees.
Wits accredits private student accommodation providers; the University's housing service lists verified, security-conscious options close to campus.
Students also rent in Johannesburg suburbs near campus (Braamfontein, Parktown, Auckland Park, Melville), but should choose secure, well-located housing given the city's safety realities; confirm the current market.
Johannesburg is diverse and English-speaking, with a large South African Indian community and support networks for international students.
Johannesburg has excellent Indian and halal food (with hubs such as Fordsburg and Mayfair) and well-stocked grocery stores, so Indian and vegetarian students eat very well.
Johannesburg sits at about 1,750 m with a mild, sunny highveld climate; it is inland, so there is no coast, but there are parks, malls and cultural sites.
Johannesburg living costs are far lower than Australia, New Zealand or the UK; budget for backup power (load-shedding) and reliable transport.
Because Johannesburg has significant crime, choose secure residences or accredited housing, use reliable transport (especially at night), and take the University's safety guidance seriously; our counsellors can advise.
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.
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.
Understand the Medical Licensing Pathway
A clear overview of registration in South Africa and the exams needed to practise in India or elsewhere.
Practising in India
An Indian graduate of the University of the Witwatersrand who wants to practise in India follows the National Medical Commission (NMC) route: qualifying NEET before starting, meeting the NMC's foreign-graduate conditions, clearing the screening examination (currently the FMGE, transitioning to the NExT), completing the required internship in India and registering. The 6-year English-medium MBBCh maps reasonably to India's rules, but confirm the details.
Step 1
An Indian student who intends to practise in India must have qualified NEET-UG before beginning the medical program abroad, and obtain the NMC Eligibility Certificate. This applies to the India-return plan; it is not a South African requirement.
Step 2
The Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations 2021 set conditions on course-plus-internship duration completed at the same institution, English-medium teaching, and a degree that entitles practice in the country of study. The 6-year English-medium MBBCh that entitles practice in South Africa maps reasonably to these conditions, but confirm in writing with the NMC how the South African internship and community-service requirements (and the GEMP route, if used) are counted.
Step 3
Graduates returning to India must clear the qualifying examination (FMGE, transitioning to the NExT), complete the required internship in India, and register with the NMC or a State Medical Council.
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, and the exact international fee must be confirmed.
The 2025–26 domestic MBBCh fee was roughly ₹3.5–4.5 lakh per year; international students pay more, 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. Confirm the exact international MBBCh fee on wits.ac.za before deciding.
Ratings
Hear from students and alumni about their experience studying medicine at the University of the Witwatersrand.
4.4
41 reviews
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 | 2025–26 domestic ≈ ₹3.5–4.5 lakh/year; international higher (confirm), 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; NMC via FMGE/NExT (confirm) | 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.
