| Tired of Reading? Please listen to the blog  |
Blog Summary
Medical education has transitioned exponentially in the past decade. However, in many developing countries, the discrepancies and inadequacy in imparting affordable and quality healthcare education are leading to a mismatch in the demand-supply of qualified healthcare resources. The learning approaches need strengthening with a focus on comprehensive growth and developing patient-centric competencies. It’s essential to transform and make healthcare systems resilient with radical changes and digital health to meet healthcare needs and global academic standards.
Medical students need to pursue MBChB courses to prepare them for their roles as healthcare professionals, and there are several institutions worldwide offering exceptional medical training. Africa, the second biggest continent, has over 200 medical universities, churning out approximately 15000 doctors annually. The leading medical schools in Africa compete with the best medical schools worldwide, attracting students looking to pursue MBChB programs from wide and far.
Several leading universities offer Health Professionals Foundation Program (HPFP), a one-year full-time enhancement program for aspiring students to study medicine in Africa. The program lays a solid foundation in basic sciences, enhancing your proficiency and enabling you to start your medical career successfully. It helps students get systematically acquainted with various concepts in natural sciences, behavioural sciences, and medical terminologies, with a strong foundation in medical science.
HPFP is an essential course for students specializing in other disciplines to enter African medical schools, qualifying them to pursue MBChB, nursing, pharmacology, and other allied medical science courses.
Let’s look at some of the medical universities in Africa to study the best MBChB program.
1) University of Cape Town:
The University of Cape Town is one of the leading universities with a higher ranking in Africa with a multicultural community, including academic, professional, administrative, and support personnel, with 22500 students from more than 100 countries.
Founded in 1829, the university offers degree programs in commerce, engineering and built spaces, health sciences, humanities, law, and science. The faculty of health sciences, incepted in 1912, is the oldest medical school in sub-Saharan Africa, and around 7200 graduate from the University of Cape Town annually. The tuition fee for the MBChB program is between ZAR 200, 000 to ZAR 250 000 annually and varies depending on the study duration.
2) University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg:
The University of Witwatersrand, incepted in 1896, is referred to as Wits, with the faculty of health sciences established in 1922 and one of the best places to study medicine in Africa. The university offers a conducive learning environment with advanced facilities and is recognized for its consistency in maintaining excellent teaching standards and producing outstanding healthcare professionals.
The university has over 1200 healthcare professionals with the expertise to train students in research programs like anatomical science, public health, clinical medicine, oral health sciences, and pathology. Wits University ranked the second best in Africa, also offers specialized courses in therapeutic sciences and physiology. The tuition for the MBChB program at the university varies between R 70,350 to R 85,000 per year, depending on the duration of the program.
3) Cairo University (CU), Giza:
Cairo University is one of Egypt’s oldest universities, and the faculty of medicine incepted in 1827 is one of the long-standing and well-established medical institutions in the middle east. With an enrolment rate of over 257000 students and an acceptance rate of 95% is highly recognized and ranked for excellent teaching methodologies in Africa and Egypt.
The university offers 35 medical specialization programs with a comprehensive curriculum encompassing theoretical classes, hands-on training, and clinical rotations. English is the medium of instruction as the university has a multicultural student crowd of different nationalities. The annual tuition fee in CU varies from $ 6500 to $ 9000, depending on the duration of the program.
4) Ain Shams University, Egypt:
The College of Medicine, Ains Shams University, founded in 1947 and became part of Ains Shams University in 1950, is a long-established medical school in Egypt and highly ranked and accredited for its superior education standards in Egypt and Africa. The university has a student population of over 18,000 and an acceptance rate of 73% is ranked the fourth best in Africa, with English as the medium of instruction.
The school has ten academic departments and six central clinical departments with facilities for student accommodation, sports, and other recreational activities. The annual tuition fee for medical education varies from $ 6500 to $ 8000.
5) Stellenbosch University (SU), South Africa:
Stellenbosch University is the oldest university in Africa and the first university to sign the Berlin Declaration on open access to knowledge in the sciences and humanities. The university designed, produced, and launched Africa’s first microsatellite SUNSAT in 1999. The SU has over 150 departments and 40 research institutes, and five campuses, and the faculty of medicine and health sciences, is located on the Tygerberg campus.
The university has over 32000 student population, wherein 10% are international students of different countries, and has 3,300 full-time staff members and 352 postdoctoral fellows.
6) Mansoura University:
The Mansoura Universities College of Medicine, incepted in 1962, was initially affiliated with Cairo University and later renamed Mansoura University in 1973. The university campus, located in the city center, consists of 11 faculties, with a student population of 42000, and is well organized with student accommodation facilities, a student’s hospital, a restaurant, a dining hall, well-equipped sports facilities.
The university offers excellent medical education, has nine significant hospitals and medical centers, and is well-known for having Africa’s largest Urology and Nephrology center. The annual tuition fee varies between $ 6500 and $ 7500, depending on the study duration.
7) Pretoria University (UP), South Africa:
The University of Pretoria, established in 1943, is a long-standing medical school in Africa and has trained thousands of successful medical practitioners. The university has nine faculties and comprises a diverse student population of over 56,000 belonging to different nationalities.
The university has well-qualified medical and dental faculties and is ranked the fourth-best medical school in South Africa. The annual tuition fee for the MBChB program at the University of Pretoria varies between R 65000 to R 80000, depending on the study duration.
8) Texila American University, Zambia (TAU):
Texila American University Zambia, established in 2016, is at the forefront of transforming education systems and is ranked as a Tier 1 institution with a ZQF10 rating by Zambia Qualifications Authority offers the best medical program in Zambia. The university, with advanced infrastructure and lab facilities, offers various degree courses in management, and allied sciences, which are recognized and accredited worldwide. You experience a pleasant and vibrant campus environment with students of different nationalities.
The MBChB program at TAU is five years with a comprehensive curriculum focusing on theoretical sessions, hands-on learning, and clinical rotations at leading hospitals. The university also offers a one-year Health Professionals Foundation Program (HPFP) to prepare aspiring students for a career in healthcare or allied disciplines.
Why is Zambia the right choice to study medicine in Africa?
Zambia has a pleasant and serene atmosphere with peace-loving people and is home to some leading universities offering the best MBChB programs. Several medical schools in Zambia offer the Health Professionals Foundation Program (HPFP) for students looking to strengthen their foundation in natural sciences, behavioural sciences, and medical terminologies and for students from other streams who seek to pursue a career in medicine. The country also has several scenic locations enabling students to unwind during their holidays.
Key Takeaways:
Medicine offers endless career opportunities, with the field continuously evolving without losing its relevance. You will be meeting the demand for qualified doctors, and what’s more, your profession boosts your popularity, making people admire your skills and expertise. It’s an apt career choice if you love working with people and have a passion for assisting people who require medical support.
Before you take the plunge, you should note that a medical career takes time and commitment, with extended hours of dedicated preparation to excel in your roles. Take your time, and do a self-analysis before starting your unique and rewarding medical career. Health Professionals Foundation Program (HPFP) is a one-year foundation program most African universities offer. It equips students with the basics of natural sciences, behavioural sciences, and medical terminologies, preparing them physically and mentally for the challenging journey ahead!
