| Code | Faculty | Department |
|---|---|---|
| 10131002 | Faculty of Health Sciences | Department: Nursing Science |
| Credits | Duration | NQF level |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum duration of study: 4 years | Total credits: 538 | NQF level: 08 |
Note: Also consult General Academic Regulations G1-G15.
Conferment of the degree
The Bachelor of Nursing Science [BNurs] is conferred on students who have fulfilled all the programme requirements as well as the prescribed practical and clinical training successfully.
Important information for all prospective students for 2025
The admission requirements below apply to all who apply for admission to the University of Pretoria with a National Senior Certificate (NSC) and Independent Examination Board (IEB) qualifications. Click here for this Faculty Brochure.
Minimum requirements | |||
Achievement level | |||
English Home Language or English First Additional Language | Mathematics | Life Sciences | APS |
NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | NSC/IEB | |
4 | 4 | 4 | 28 |
For advice on a second-choice programme, please consult a Student Advisor. To make an appointment, send an email to [email protected].
Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.
Applicants currently in Grade 12 must apply with their final Grade 11 (or equivalent) results.
Applicants who have completed Grade 12 must apply with their final NSC or equivalent qualification results.
Please note that meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee admission.
Successful candidates will be notified once admitted or conditionally admitted.
Applicants should check their application status regularly on the UP Student Portal at click here.
Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to the International undergraduate prospectus 2025: Applicants with a school leaving certificate not issued by Umalusi (South Africa), available at click here.
International students: Click here
A limited number of places are made available to citizens from countries other than South Africa (applicants who are not South African citizens), with those from SADC countries being given preference. Applicants who have multiple citizenships, including South African citizenship, will be considered to be South African.
Transferring students
A transferring student is a student who, at the time of applying at the University of Pretoria (UP)is/was a registered student at another tertiary institution. A transferring student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance. Students who have been dismissed from other institutions due to poor academic performance will not be considered for admission to UP.
Closing dates: Same as above
Returning students
A returning student is a student who, at the time of application for a degree programme is/was a registered student at UP, and wants to transfer to another degree at UP. A returning student will be considered for admission based on NSC or equivalent qualification and previous academic performance.
Closing date for applications from returning students is the same as the above
Note: Any deliberate ommission of information, or false information provided by an applicant in the application may result in the immediate cancellation of the apllication, admission or registration.
Academic exclusion from further study
In accordance with the stipulations of the General Academic Regulations, a student must complete the degree programme for which he or she is registered within the prescribed minimum period of study plus one year.
A student must pass in all the prescribed core modules of a specific year of study to be promoted to a subsequent year of study. A student can only be promoted to a subsequent year of study if the student has not failed more than two fundamental modules of seven weeks each per semester or one module of 14 weeks per semester. A non-negotiable prerequisite for admission to the final year of study is pass marks in all the core and fundamental modules of the preceding years of study. Refer to the programmes for fundamental modules in each discipline.
A pass mark refers to a final mark of at least 50%.
Modules with practical and clinical training credits cannot be passed unless all the prescribed clinical hours and practical activities have been completed to the satisfaction of the relevant head of department.
The Chairperson of the examination moderating meeting may, after assessing the student’s total profile, grant special approval to be promoted to the next year of study.
Modules can only be taken in advance or repeated if it can be accommodated in the existing examination timetable.
A student who must repeat a year of study may, with the approval of the Chairperson of the examination moderating meeting and the relevant head of department, be allowed to take fundamental modules of the subsequent year, if he/she complies with all the prerequisites for the relevant modules. No adjustment to existing timetables will be allowed.
The following fundamental modules are relevant:
? SLK 110, FSG 251, 252
Certain hospitals and healthcare facilities have been approved for the purposes of practical and clinical training in Fundamental Nursing Science, General Nursing Science, Psychiatric Nursing Science, Community Nursing Science and Midwifery.
The BNurs degree is conferred with distinction on a student who has obtained an average of at least 75% (not rounded) in the final-year modules.
Minimum credits: 122
Module content:
Find, evaluate, process, manage and present information resources for academic purposes using appropriate technology.
Module content:
Apply effective search strategies in different technological environments. Demonstrate the ethical and fair use of information resources. Integrate 21st-century communications into the management of academic information.
Module content:
A systematic approach to Anatomy, including general terminology, embryology and osteology, with the use of wet specimens. Introductory histology includes cytology, the nucleus and cell division, epithelial tissue, general connective tissue, cartilage and bone.
Module content:
Anatomy of the appendicular skeleton
A systematic approach to the Anatomy of the muscles, blood vessels, nerve supply, lymph drainage and joints of the upper and lower limbs, as well as surface anatomy, with the use of wet specimens. Introductory histology includes muscle tissue, nerve tissue, and blood and haemopoietic tissue.
Module content:
A systematic approach to the anatomy of the thorax and its contents, the abdomen and its contents and the pelvis and its contents (organs, vascular systems, nerve supply, lymph drainage, muscles and joints), as well as surface anatomy, with the use of wet specimens. Introductory histology includes the histology of the lungs, liver and kidneys.
Module content:
Anatomy of the head and neck, and neuroanatomy
A systematic approach to the anatomy of the head and neck regions, the senses and the central and peripheral nervous system (cranial nerves, autonomic nervous system), as well as surface anatomy, with the use of wet specimens.
Module content:
Academic reading as well as academic writing and presentation skills, based on the approach followed in the healthcare sciences. *Presented to students in Health Sciences only.
Module content:
Study of specific language skills required in the Health Care Sciences, including interviewing and report-writing skills. *Presented to students in Health Sciences only. (BCur, BDietetics, BOH, BOT, Brad, BPhysT)*
Module content:
Introduction to physiological principles; neurophysiology, and muscle physiology.
Module content:
Body fluids; haematology; cardiovascular physiology, lymphatic system, and body defence mechanisms.
Module content:
The acquisition of a basic medical orientated vocabulary compiled from Latin and Greek stem forms combined with prefixes and suffixes derived from those languages. The manner in which the meanings of medical terms can be determined by analysing the terms into their recognisable meaningful constituent parts, is taught and exercised. The functional use of medical terms in context as practical outcome of terminological application is continually attended to.
Module content:
*For absolute beginners only.
* Students from the School of Healthcare Sciences, who already possess the language skills taught in this module, may write an exemption examination.
The acquisition of basic Sepedi communicative skills with emphasis on everyday expressions and suitable high frequency vocabulary, within specific social situations.
Module content:
*For absolute beginners only
* Students from the School of Healthcare Sciences, who already possess the language skills taught in this module, may write an exemption examination.
The acquisition of basic isiZulu communicative skills with emphasis on everyday expressions and suitable high frequency vocabulary, within specific situations.
Module content:
Introduction to integrated healthcare leadership with the focus on the introduction to the nursing profession, history of nursing, introduction to ethical legal practice and an introduction to concepts of quality nursing.
Module content:
Leadership and multidisciplinary team work. Healthcare systems and legislation. Determinants of health. Introduction to healthcare models (e.g. community-based care, family-centred care, etc.). Professionalism, Ethical principles. Management of diversity. NB: Only for School of Healthcare Sciences and Department of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology students.
Module content:
Introduction to nursing practice as it is related to foundations of clinical nursing, health promotion and disease prevention practice, basic human needs in practice and family assessment.
1 hour of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Application of promotion of wellness in the hospital setting: record keeping, comprehensive assessment and basic care in the hospital setting.
1 hour of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Introduction to nursing theory, including theoretical foundations of nursing practice, health promotion and disease prevention, as well as basic human needs.
Module content:
Fundamental principles of health promotion in the hospital setting with inclusion of the nursing process, therapeutic environment and daily living activities and principles of medication management.
Minimum credits: 124
Module content:
Structure, gas exchange and secretory functions of the lungs; structure, excretory and non-urinary functions of the kidneys, acid-base balance, and skin and body temperature control. Practical work to complement the theory.
Module content:
Nutrition, digestion and metabolism, hormonal control of body functions, and the reproductive systems. Practical work to complement the theory.
Module content:
Infection, immunity and basic bacteriology.
Introduction and basic principles of infection, sterilisation and the immune system. Bacterial cells and the classification of disease-causing bacteria.
Module content:
Systemic bacteriology.
Commonly occurring bacterial infections and the bacteria that cause them.
Module content:
Fungi, parasitology and virology.
Commonly occurring fungal, viral and parasite infections and infestations, and the organisms that cause them.
Module content:
This module is a general orientation to Psychology. An introduction is given to various theoretical approaches in Psychology, and the development of Psychology as a science is discussed. Selected themes from everyday life are explored and integrated with psychological principles. This module focuses on major personality theories. An introduction is given to various paradigmatic approaches in Psychology.
Module content:
This module introduces the student to a basic knowledge and understanding of the biological basis of human behaviour. The module addresses the key concepts and terminology related to the biological subsystem, the rules and principles guiding biological psychology, and identification of the interrelatedness of different biological systems and subsystems. In this module various cognitive processes are studied, including perception, memory, thinking, intelligence and creativity. Illustrations are given of various thinking processes, such as problem solving, critical, analytic and integrative thinking.
Module content:
Principles of project management. Communication principles. Leadership. Health promotion and education, advocacy and literacy. Counselling for health behaviour change. NB: Only for School of Healthcare Sciences and Speech- Language Pathology and Audiology students.
Module content:
Aspects of the nursing profession, including an introduction to integrative healthcare principles, an introduction to nursing management, the principles of quality improvement, and guided engagement in professional activities (national/international).
1 hour of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Nursing skills in medical and surgical nursing care, including basic resuscitation, suctioning and medication administration, skills related to medical and palliative nursing care, and skills related to pre- and post-operative nursing care.
1 hour of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Nursing skills related to care of patients with conditions of the respiratory-, cardiovascular-, neurological-, musculoskeletal- and gastrointestinal systems.
1 hour of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Theory related to homeostasis, immunology, haematology and principles of medical, palliative and surgical nursing care.
Module content:
Theory related to communicable and non-communicable conditions of the respiratory-, cardiovascular-, neurological-, musculoskeletal- and gastrointestinal systems, across the lifespan.
Minimum credits: 148
Module content:
The undergraduate pharmacology module introduces students to general pharmacological principles, routes of administration, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Furthermore, disease treatment with relation to disorders of the cardiovascular, inflammatory and autonomic nervous system is discussed, as well as anaesthesia, asthma, diabetes, diuresis, obesity and pain.
Module content:
Hormones, drugs that act on the histaminergic, serotonergic, and dopaminergic receptors. Pharmacotherapy of diabetes mellitus, schizophrenia, depression, obesity, anxiety, insomnia, gastro-intestinal diseases. Anticoagulants, antimicrobial drugs.
Module content:
Community needs assessment. Leadership in community development. Planning and implementation of collaborative community-based interventions. Application of principles of monitoring and evaluation. NB: Only for School of Healthcare Sciences and Department of Speech - Language Pathology and Audiology students.
Module content:
Introduction to nursing management with reference to mentoring and coaching of junior students in professional activities, ethical-legal framework governing and disciplinary hearings at SANC, application of knowledge of integrative healthcare, monitoring and evaluation of the quality improvement process, and principles of personnel management.
Module content:
Theory of midwifery on pre-conception care, health education and genetic counselling, normal pregnancy, foetal development and common conditions in pregnancy.
Module content:
Midwifery skills in practise in pre-conception care, health education and genetic counselling, normal pregnancy, with common conditions in pregnancy, and related to foetal development.
1 hour of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Theory of midwifery of normal and high risk intrapartum, postpartum and neonatal care.
Module content:
Midwifery skills related to normal and high risk intrapartum, postpartum and neonatal care.
1 hour of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Nursing skills related care of patients with conditions of the renal-, endocrine-, reproductive-, and integumentary systems and special senses (eyes and ears).
Module content:
Nursing skills in mental health, including mental health assessment, screening for violence, trauma counselling skills and management of the violent patient.
Module content:
Theory related to communicable and non-communicable conditions of the renal-, endocrine-, reproductive-, and integumentary systems and special senses (eyes and ears) across the lifespan.
Module content:
Theory of mental health nursing regarding childhood physical and mental disabilities, emergency psychiatric conditions, personal and social dynamics in violence, and personal and social dynamics in substance abuse.
Module content:
Concepts of research; research process; research studies appraisal; planning and developing literature review; developing research idea and research question; research principles in designing research proposal; research proposal writing.
Minimum credits: 144
Module content:
Aspects of nursing management related to development of ambassador skills in professional interactive activities (local/national/international), ethical-legal practice for special groups and addressing ethical challenges in healthcare, risk and asset management, incorporation of integrative healthcare in practice and strategic and systematic management of a healthcare unit.
Module content:
Professional development with the focus on engagement in professional activities; professional leadership, management and evaluation of best practice; national/international guidelines/strategies; policy development and principles of clinical governance; and evaluation of health facilities for compliance with SANC requirements.
Module content:
Theory related to comprehensive maternal and neonatal healthcare with a focus on gender-based violence during pregnancy, immunisation principles, application of IMCI principles in management of minor ailments for sick young infant, complications during abnormal pregnancy, antenatal care, labour, and the postpartum period.
Module content:
Practical related to comprehensive maternal and neonatal healthcare with a focus on gender-based violence during pregnancy, immunisation principles, application of IMCI principles in management of minor ailments for sick young infant, complications during abnormal pregnancy, antenatal care, labour, and the postpartum period.
2 hours of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Theory of community maternal and child healthcare and complications during the neonatal period.
Module content:
Practical of community maternal and child healthcare and complications during the neonatal period.
2 hours of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Nursing skills related to comprehensive general nursing with inclusion of resuscitation and management of haemodynamic status, management of medical emergencies, management of surgical emergencies, and management of dying and death and care of significant others.
1 hour of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Comprehensive self-care for vulnerable populations in the community and practica of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI).
1 hour of the contact time will consist of clinical accompaniment by a lecturer/facilitator.
Module content:
Theory related to comprehensive general nursing with a focus on haemodynamic monitoring, assessment and interpretation, medical emergencies, surgical emergencies and shock.
Module content:
Comprehensive nursing care to protect vulnerable populations, and Integrated Management of Childhood Illness (IMCI).
Module content:
Conducting process of obtaining ethics clearance, data collection, data analysis, research report writing.
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