Bachelor of Clinical Medical Practice (BCMP)

A clinical associate is a professional member of the healthcare team who has the necessary knowledge and skills to make a substantial contribution to the South African district health system. Clinical associates are supervised by doctors in the performance of all practice-related activities, including the requisition of diagnostic, therapeutic and other medical services, based on their education, training and experience. Clinical associates can work as members of the healthcare team in district healthcare services.

To register as a clinical associate with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), a student has to obtain a Bachelor of Clinical Medical Practice degree. 

The Bachelor of Clinical Medical Practice (BCMP) programme requires 3 years full time study. It involves practical, patient-oriented learning in the health service in four South African provinces.

The ideal candidate is a self-directed learner with a passion for helping people from underserviced populations. Disciplined, hard-working students excel.

BCMP is a unique programme due to early patient contact, and the practical training it provides in the health service. BCMP is accredited by the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)

For more information, please consult the Faculty webpage.

Clinical associates, academics and researchers

Important information for all prospective students for 2023

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

University of Pretoria website click here

For advice on a second-choice programme, please consult a Student Advisor. To make an appointment, send an email to [email protected].

Applicants with qualifications other than the abovementioned should refer to the Brochure: Undergraduate Programme Information 2023: Qualifications other than the NSC and IEB, available at click here.

International Students: Click here 

Important faculty-specific information on undergraduate programmes for 2023

The closing date for all selection programmes is 30 June 2022.  Applicants are strongly advised and encouraged to submit their applications as soon as possible after 1 April 2022 and to check the application site (UP Student Portal) regularly.

• The following persons will be considered for admission: a candidate who is in possession of a certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate (NSC) with university endorsement; a candidate who is a graduate from another tertiary institution or has been granted the status of a graduate of such an institution; a candidate who is a graduate of another Faculty at the University of Pretoria; and a candidate who is currently studying at a university.
• Admission to Health Sciences programmes is subject to a selection process.
• Grade 11 final examination results will be used for the conditional selection of prospective students.
• For selection purposes, the sum of the results in six subjects, including English, Mathematics and Physical Sciences or Life Sciences, is calculated.
• Life Orientation is excluded in the calculation of the Admission Point Score (APS).
• All modules will be presented in English, as English is the language of tuition, communication and correspondence.
• Places are reserved in specific categories to ensure an equitable representation of demographically defined designated groups. Selection thus takes place in different categories.
• For purposes of selection in the Faculty of Health Sciences, the “Designated Group” category includes South African Black African or South African Coloured African candidates. The “Open” category refers to all applicants including applicants from the Designated Group who compete first in the Open category and then in the Designated Group category if unsuccessful in the Open category.
• Target numbers are specified for all categories as applicable to each programme. Where insufficient applications are received from qualifying applicants in a certain category, the selection committee may decide not to fill all places or to fill the places from qualifying applicants in another category.
• 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. Permanent residents of RSA are not categorised as foreign students. Applications from citizens from countries other than South Africa  (applicants who are not South African citizens) may also be considered if they are
  • citizens or permanent residents of countries which have relevant government to government agreements with South Africa
  • asylum seekers or refugees
• Citizens from countries other than South Africa (applicants who are not South African citizens) who do not comply with the conditions above may be considered if space is available.
• If an applicant has multiple citizenships, which includes South African citizenship, he/she will be considered as a South African applicant.
• The final number of places allocated to new applicants will be determined on an annual basis taking into account the teaching facilities and resources available and, where necessary, the number of places allocated to students repeating modules in the first year of study of each degree programme.
• Only applicants who comply with the requirements set out in this document will be considered for selection. However, the achievement of the minimum requirements does not guarantee admission as only a limited number of students can be accommodated.
• Selection is based on merit. The faculty does not determine specific selection cut-off values for the different categories. Such values are generated by the competing students within a particular category in relation to the number of places available.
• A Merit Point Score (MPS) is used for ranking applicants for selection purposes in all programmes. In certain programmes other criteria such as rural residence may be used as part of the selection process.
• Only first-choice applicants will be considered, except where otherwise specified, in which case second-choice candidates may be considered if there are places available.
• The top candidates will be selected provisionally up to or surpassing the allocated number, based on experience of the expected number of acceptances. A waiting list is created from the group of candidates with the next highest scores. The length of the waiting list is determined by experience of the number of places likely to become available and to prevent creating unrealistic expectations.
• All offers are provisional until the final exam results have been received. For applicants in the School leaver categories a provisional place will be confirmed as long as the NSC or equivalent scores do not fall by more than two points from the Grade 11 APS score.
• After the final NSC or equivalent qualification results are received, provisional offers will be confirmed if the applicant still meets the required criteria. The MPS of those on the waiting list will be recalculated using the NSC or equivalent qualification results and if places become available they will be made offers.
• Places becoming available in any category after selection due to cancellation or forfeiture will be filled from the waiting list for the specific category.
• This waiting list will remain active until the end of the second week after the start of lectures.
• All successful candidates are admitted to the first year of study only. Registered students in the University Experienced categories may apply for credit for equivalent modules which they have completed.
• Incomplete applications will not be considered and any false information provided by an applicant in his/her application may result in immediate cancellation of the application, admission or registration.
• Candidates should note that their conditional admission will be revoked if their APS drops by more than two points in their final school examination results.
• PLEASE NOTE that compliance with the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to any programme in this Faculty.
• Selection queries may be directed to click here.
• A student who is made an offer but does not accept it cannot defer the offer and must reapply to be considered in the following year.

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.

• Students who have been excluded/dismissed from a faculty due to poor academic performance may be considered for admission to another programme at UP, as per faculty-specific requirements.
• Only ONE transfer between UP faculties and TWO transfers within a faculty will be allowed.
• Admission of returning students will always depend on the faculty concerned and the availability of space in the programmes for which they apply.

Closing date for applications from returning students is the same as the above

Selection criteria are available on the faculty's webpage at: click here.

• Eighty (80) first-year students are selected annually.
• First- and second-choice applicants are considered.
• Preference is given to students nominated by Provincial Health Departments in various SA provinces, who must also comply with the minimum admission requirements for this programme.

Selection is based on a candidate's final Grade 11 examination results and the Biographical Information Form. Candidates must also comply with the minimum admission requirements.

The Faculty of Health Sciences continues to exemplify and build on the University of Pretoria’s vision of being a leading research-intensive university in Africa: it is recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, as well as for creating knowledge, developing people and making a difference locally and globally. 

The Faculty is home to 5 500 undergraduate and 1 500 postgraduate students, including medical and dental fellowship training in more than 40 disciplines. 

The Faculty’s research output has grown, in response to the need for research that is relevant to the improvement of health and health care and advancing medicine in South Africa, Africa and globally. 

The Faculty of Health Sciences continues to exemplify and build on the University of Pretoria’s vision of being a leading research-intensive university in Africa: it is recognised internationally for its quality, relevance and impact, as well as for creating knowledge, developing people and making a difference locally and globally. 

The Faculty is home to 5 500 undergraduate and 1 500 postgraduate students, including medical and dental fellowship training in more than 40 disciplines. 

The Faculty’s research output has grown, in response to the need for research that is relevant to the improvement of health and health care and advancing medicine in South Africa, Africa and globally. 

Disclaimer: This publication contains information about regulations and programmes of the University of Pretoria. Amendments to or updating of the information may be effected from time to time without prior notification. The accuracy, correctness or validity of the information contained here is therefore not guaranteed by the University at any given time and is always subject to verification. The user is kindly requested to verify the correctness of the information with the University at all times. Failure to do so will not give rise to any claim or action of any nature against the University by any party whatsoever.