UKZN Medical School Accepts Only 2% of its Applicants

UKZN Medical School Accepts Only 2% of its Applicants. The University of KwaZulu-Natal’s (UKZN) Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine faces the formidable task of selecting only 2% of its applicants for its prestigious MBChB program. With final matric results now available, the medical school must narrow down its choices to the final 250 first-year students from a pool of over 12,000 applicants.

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The Sheer Volume of Applications

In 2024, UKZN received a staggering 12,000 applications specifically for its medical school. This is just a fraction of the total 160,059 first-year applications the university received across all its programs. Despite the overwhelming demand, UKZN can only accommodate about 9,000 first-year students university-wide.

Quota System for Medical School Intake

Unlike other programs at UKZN, the MBChB program operates under a quota system to ensure a diverse and representative student body. The allocation of the 250 available spaces is as follows:

• Lesotho Students: 5 spaces
• No-Fee School Students: 83 spaces, with 40 specifically drawn from KwaZulu-Natal’s 12 districts
• Mature Students: 40 spaces
• Remaining 122 spaces: Distributed among different demographics:
• 69% to African students
• 19% to Indian students
• 9% to Coloured students
• 2% to White students
• 1% to students of other backgrounds

The Acceptance Process

Normah Zondo, UKZN’ Executive Director of Corporate Relations, has urged applicants to be patient as the university processes and issues firm offers. Each successful applicant will receive an SMS and an email with a link to formally accept their offer. It is crucial to note that registration is strictly online, and walk-in applications are not accepted.

Applicants must respond within 72 hours of receiving their offer, or their place will be reallocated to another student. Registration for the 2024 academic year will continue until February 24, 2024.

Staying Informed and Prepared

The university emphasizes the importance of following the online registration process to avoid any issues. Regular updates and reminders are communicated through UKZN’s official channels, ensuring that both new and returning students are well-informed.

Conclusion

The admission process at UKZN’s Nelson R. Mandela School of Medicine is highly competitive and rigorous, reflecting the high standards and limited availability of spaces in the program. Prospective students must navigate this process with diligence and promptness to secure their place in one of South Africa’s leading medical schools.