Study costs
Compare published tuition and estimated study costs.
First-year tuition, lowest first
University of KwaZulu-Natal Lowest
R65 584 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery - MBChB (KN-M-MBC, Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine)
- Whole degree
- roughly R393 504over 6 years
- In pay
- 5 monthsof Medicine pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R48,896 per year for all degrees (2026 residence fee, self-catering, excludes meals; R6,800 residence registration deposit). The 2027 prospectus estimates about R85,000 for tuition, a bed in residence and food in 2027.
Whole degree = first-year fee × 6; later years can cost more or less.
University of the Free State
R79 950 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MB ChB), academic plan BC834100
- Whole degree
- roughly R399 750over 5 years
- In pay
- 5 monthsof Medicine pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R38,050-R59,435
Whole degree = first-year fee × 5; later years can cost more or less.
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg
R84 670 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBCh)
- Whole degree
- roughly R508 020over 6 years
- In pay
- 6 monthsof Medicine pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R55,685-R117,962
Whole degree = first-year fee × 6; later years can cost more or less.
University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg: entry requirements and dates
University of Pretoria
R89 000 to R98 000 2026 first year, estimated range- Programme
- Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBChB)
- Whole degree
- roughly R534 000 to R588 000over 6 years
- In pay
- 6 to 7 monthsof Medicine pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R65,700-R105,800 (room only), plus a R14,400 meals charge listed for every undergraduate residence, including self-catering ones; the full (100%) meal fee is R65,000
Whole degree = first-year fee × 6; later years can cost more or less. The university publishes only a faculty fee range, not a programme fee, so each end of the range is shown.
Stellenbosch University
R103 110 2026 first year- Programme
- MBChB
- Whole degree
- roughly R618 660over 6 years
- In pay
- 7 to 8 monthsof Medicine pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R49,482-R84,796
Whole degree = first-year fee × 6; later years can cost more or less.
University of Cape Town
R113 510 2026 first year- Programme
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB)
- Whole degree
- roughly R681 060over 6 years
- In pay
- 8 to 9 monthsof Medicine pay in South Africa, at its high and low estimate
- Residence, per year
- R61,300-R120,910 for the room alone; a typical first-tier catering single room is R89,520 and a compulsory meal option adds R25,520-R45,390
Whole degree = first-year fee × 6; later years can cost more or less.
Rough guide: whole degree = first-year tuition × years. Fees rise every year; add books, equipment, transport and living costs. Some health routes include service or internship stages with their own pay and expenses: confirm them for your route.