Professional Nurse
Care for patients, run clinics and manage wards. A four-year degree or a shorter college route, with strong demand across the public sector.
What the job involves
- Assess patients, give medication and monitor recovery.
- Run primary healthcare clinics and immunisation programmes.
- Supervise enrolled nurses and nursing assistants.
School subjects you need
Mathematics strongly preferred. Confirm the exact requirement with the institution you apply to.
- English
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics
- Physical Sciences
Marks you normally need
- Minimum NSC pass
- Bachelor's pass for the degree; Diploma pass for some college programmes
- Indicative APS
- Roughly 26–33 for the four-year degree
- Subject percentages institutions look for
- English: 50%+
- Life Sciences: 50–60%+
- Mathematics: 40–50%+ (Mathematical Literacy accepted by some colleges)
These are indicative ranges for guidance only. Every university, university of technology and TVET college sets its own admission requirements — check the current prospectus of the institution you are applying to.
Study routes
- Bachelor of Nursing degree4 years
Offered by universities; leads to registration as a professional nurse.
- SANC-accredited college diploma3 years
Nursing colleges also offer a one-year auxiliary nurse route as a first step.
What you could earn
- Entry level
- R20 000 – R30 000 per month
- Mid-career
- R30 000 – R45 000 per month
- Senior
- R45 000 – R70 000 per month (specialised and management roles)
Indicative gross monthly ranges from public South African salary sources. They vary by employer, province and experience, and are not guarantees. Compare all careers.
Where you can study this
Public institutions that commonly offer this field. Confirm the exact programme, its minimum APS and the closing date on the institution's own admissions page.
- University of Cape TownUCT · Cape Town
- University of the WitwatersrandWits · Johannesburg
- Stellenbosch UniversitySU · Stellenbosch
- University of PretoriaUP · Pretoria
- University of KwaZulu-NatalUKZN · Durban and Pietermaritzburg
- University of JohannesburgUJ · Johannesburg
- North-West UniversityNWU · Potchefstroom, Mahikeng and Vanderbijlpark
- University of the Free StateUFS · Bloemfontein
- University of the Western CapeUWC · Bellville, Cape Town
- Rhodes UniversityRhodes · Makhanda
- Nelson Mandela UniversityNMU · Gqeberha
- University of Fort HareUFH · Alice and East London
- University of LimpopoUL · Mankweng, Polokwane
- University of VendaUniven · Thohoyandou
- University of ZululandUniZulu · KwaDlangezwa, Richards Bay
- Walter Sisulu UniversityWSU · Mthatha, East London, Butterworth, Komani
- Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences UniversitySMU · Ga-Rankuwa, Pretoria
- University of South AfricaUnisa · Distance learning, head office in Pretoria
- Cape Peninsula University of TechnologyCPUT · Cape Town and Bellville
- Durban University of TechnologyDUT · Durban and Pietermaritzburg
- Tshwane University of TechnologyTUT · Pretoria and surrounding campuses
- Central University of TechnologyCUT · Bloemfontein and Welkom
Official sources
Questions learners ask
Isifinyezo / Opsomming
isiZulu: Ukunakekela iziguli ezibhedlela nasemitholampilo. Kudinga iLife Sciences nesiNgisi.
Afrikaans: Versorg pasiënte in hospitale en klinieke. Lewenswetenskappe en Engels is die kernvakke.