Selection Policy: School of Clinical Medicine 2020

Selection for the 2021 student intake MBChB

General information

Please note: Admission to the MBChB programme is subject to selection. More information
will be provided in this policy document.

 Any candidate can apply for admission to the first year of the MBChB programme if he/she
complies with the minimum criteria as stipulated in this policy document:
o It is acknowledged that students and doctors are national assets, but students from certain
areas in South Africa are regarded as the main responsibility of the UFS for possible
selection (see paragraph 6.4.2 below for more detail)
o A concerted effort is made to accommodate candidates from a disadvantaged academic
background who demonstrate the necessary potential and a reasonable ability to attain
success in their course and to address the provincial demographic distribution of the
population
o The selection process of candidates who are already studying medicine at another South
African university will be done according to an agreement reached by the South African
Committee of Medical Deans [SACOMD] (2015). Approval must be obtained from the Dean
of the Faculty where the student is currently registered before an application will be
considered. Thereafter, the progress of candidates from another university / programme will
determine at which stage (year) of the UFS’s MBChB programme the student will be allowed.
Only in exceptional cases and with the recommendation of the Selection Committee of the
Schools of Medicine and of the EXCO: Three (3) Schools of Medicine and approval of the
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, will such a student be admitted to selection in
another programme in this Faculty
o Students will be informed via sms and email by no later than 1 September 2020 of the
outcome of the first round of conditional selection
o Up to 20 pre-provisional selection offers can be made to top achievers

 A holistic approach is important in the selection process, which is based on a points system that
includes academic achievement, National Benchmark Tests (NBT), international, national and
provincial non-academic achievements (including cultural activities and sports):
o Selection of students for the MBChB (Medicine) programme in the Faculty of Health Sciences
will be done using specific selection criteria as stipulated in this policy document
o NBT scores will be used as part of the formal selection process and the submission of the
NBT scores of applicants with their applications is compulsory for school leavers to qualify
to be considered for selection

 It is the applicant’s responsibility to provide the university with a full set of completed application
and selection forms, additional documentation as stipulated as well as the official academic
results as required. No applications will be processed while the fully completed forms,
documentation and results are outstanding:
o Students are required to produce a medical report completed by a registered general medical
practitioner in private practice or at a state facility, as well as a completed health
questionnaire, as part of the formal application process
 o The medical reports of applicants who have been selected for the MBChB programme will
be provided to the Selection Committee to determine whether there are students with such
disabilities that would make them unfit for medical studies
o At its own discretion, the Faculty reserves the right to require immunisation against diseases
from time to time before admitting students to any further academic year or semester during
their studies. As far as the MBChB programme is concerned, immunisation against Hepatitis
B is required beforehand and written proof needs to be provided at first admission and
registration
o The Faculty follows the guidelines for immunisation as contained in the latest approved
official policy document. The full policy document is available at Undergraduate Student
Administration, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Free State
o All students with pre-existing health conditions must be aware before taking up the selected
places that they will be exposed to patients with infective diseases during compulsory clinical
rotations, which might affect their health. In these cases, it will be the student’s responsibility
to take the necessary precautions to prevent illness. All students will be expected to fulfil all
the rotation requirements of the programme. Refer to policy

General principles

 Mainly South African students are selected for studies in the MBChB (Medicine) programme due
to the high costs involved in the training of such students:
o Regarding the SADC countries*, candidates will be selected in compliance with the policy
agreement between the National Department of Health and medical schools. (*Currently 5
places will be reserved for applicants from Lesotho)
o Students from Namibia and Botswana are not part of the above agreement, but will be
considered for selection in exceptional cases if they have proof of permanent residence or
are South African citizens. Only a limited number will be accommodated as per Selection
Committee decision

 There will be a strict enforcement of the closing date for applications (31 May of the preceding
year) for conditional selection for all applicants.

 A maximum target of up to 180 candidates (including 5 students from SADC countries - currently
Lesotho, students repeating the first academic year and students who have interrupted Semester
1 in the MBChB programme) will be selected proportionally in two groups (male/female), with a
minimum representation of 40% for either gender. The selection process will continue on dates
as determined by the Selection Committee if there are any cancellations of the candidates
already selected with the view to register the allowed 180 students.

Minimum selection criteria: School-leaving applicants (Matriculants)

Applications who do not adhere to the minimum requirements will not be considered for
selection. Applicants should ensure that they meet the following minimum criteria before
submitting their applications:

 A minimum Admission Point (AP) of 36.

o The Admission Point (AP) is calculated according to the four (4) compulsory subjects in the
National Senior Certificate (NSC) assessment, (i) English or Afrikaans, (ii) Mathematics, (iii)
Physical Sciences and (iv) Life Sciences, as well as the best of two (2) subjects on the
designated list of school subjects passed. The subject Life Orientation with an achievement
level of 5 or higher receives only one (1) point.

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 NSC; Achievement level UFS Admission Point
7 (90% - 100%) 8
7 (80% - 89%) 7
6 (70% - 79%) 6
5 (60% - 69%) 5
4 (50% - 59%) 4
3 (40% - 49%) 3
2 (30% - 39%) 2

 Compulsory subjects and minimum average mark: A minimum average mark at achievement
level 5 (60%) is required for each of the following compulsory subjects:
o Language of Instruction
o Mathematics
o Physical Sciences
o Life Sciences

 NBTs are compulsory for all school-leaving applicants. To be considered for selection, an
applicant must:
o Achieve a minimum of 50% for each of the individual components of the NBT. Applicants will
only be considered for selection under special exceptional circumstances if they failed only
one component of the NBT (excluding the Academic Literacy). In the latter case the overall
average NBT mark should be equal to or more than 55%
o Achieve an average of 50% or more for the overall NBT and as stipulated in paragraph 3.3.1
above
o Register for the tests before applying for selection. The last date to write the NBT is the last
weekend in June or the first weekend in July as stipulated by NBT. Dates available on the
NBT website. If no NBT results are available/submitted, applications for selection will not be
considered
o Take note that the NBT scores submitted are valid for three years. However, applicants will
be allowed to re-write the NBT. Applicants must take note that only a maximum of two sets
of NBT scores will be accepted. Any updated NBT scores must be submitted by applicants.
The Division of Student Administration will update the NBT scores on the system of the
Faculty and will ensure that the applicable NBT scores are used during the selection process
o Take note that the best overall result of components written in one session will be used for
selection purposes
o Senior applicants are not required to submit NBT scores because it is not used in the
calculation of the merit list for senior applicants

Minimum selection criteria: University experienced applicants (Senior applicants)

Applicants with relevant university experience gained at a registered Higher Education

Institution after completing their matric examinations (National Senior Certificate) should ensure
that they meet the following minimum criteria before submitting their applications. Applications
that do not adhere to the minimum requirements will not be considered for selection.

 General information
o The Grade 12 marks attained by students who have already passed Grade 12 can be taken
into account in addition to their post-school achievements at higher education institutions
o Only a limited number of applicants (as per set annual targets) will be selected for the MBChB
programme from this category

 Applicants without a completed degree (any degree not yet obtained)

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 For the selection of candidates who have completed one or more years of a programme/degree
at an accredited university that does not fall within the Health Sciences, the applicant must
ensure that he/she complies with the following in order to qualify for selection:

o A senior student can apply for selection while studying for his/her 1 st degree in the year of
study. The applicant will be conditionally selected on his/her 1 st semester results during the
course of the selection process. However, the applicant must have completed at least one
year of a mainstream programme/course for a registered qualification. Therefore, candidates
who are conditionally selected based on their 1 st semester results, must submit their final
marks for their 1st year completed in order to receive confirmed selection. If applicants who
are conditionally selected, do not comply with the conditions and do not maintain their
academic level as during conditional selection, they will forfeit their selection position and the
Selection Committee will use the procedures as described in this policy document to select
additional applications in those places.
o Students who are in extended programmes or bridging programmes will not be considered
for selection.
o The applicant must obtain a minimum average mark of at least 70% (75% if applicant
studied at a University of Technology or other Higher Education Institution) for all the
completed year(s) of the current programme/course/degree for which he/she is registered.
o A candidate must be registered for at least the minimum credits (full curriculum as set out
in the regulations of the programme) required to pass a year of any programme.

 Applicants with a first degree already obtained

Students who have already obtained a first degree but are not yet enrolled for another
degree/programme must comply with the following:

o The last programme should have been completed by the applicant in no longer than the
allowed minimum period plus one year.
o The applicant must obtain a minimum average mark of at least 70% (75% if applicant
studied at a University of Technology or other Higher Education Institution) for all the
modules/subjects he/she was registered for the mentioned degree.
o A candidate must have been registered for at least the minimum credits (full curriculum as
set out in the regulations of the programme).

 Applicants with a first degree already obtained and currently enrolled for a following / another
degree

Students who have already obtained a degree and are currently enrolled for a following / another
degree must comply with the following:

o The last programme should have been completed by the applicant in no longer than the
allowed minimum period plus one year
o The applicant must obtain a minimum average mark of at least 70% (75% if applicant
studied at a University of Technology or other Higher Education Institution) for all the current
modules/subjects he/she is registered for excluding those modules completed in the previous
degree(s) obtained
o If marks for the current modules/subjects are not yet available, the candidate will be selected
based on paragraph 4.3 above (“Applicants with the first degree already obtained”)
o A candidate must be registered for at least the minimum credits (full curriculum as set out
in the regulations of the programme) required to pass a year of any programme

The selection criteria

 Target - The following targets are set for the selection of 180 students annually:

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 o Selected proportionally in two groups (male/female), with a minimum representation of 40%
for either gender.: 40%/60% (72/108 students)
o Race population excluding white will be: 70% (126 students) taking the demographic
composition of the target region into account
o White: 30% (54 students)
o SADC Allocation – Lesotho: 5 students
o School-leaving students: 80% (144 students)
o Senior students – 20% (36 students)

 Selection of school-leaving and senior applicants – A selection listing system (called the
merit list) will be used to capture and organise the applicants’ information for the selection
process. Placement of applicants on the merit list will be based on the overall selection point
(OSP) as calculated by applying the selection criteria as stipulated below:
o Selection will be done separately for school-leaving and senior applicants according to the
predetermined targets

 Overall selection point (OSP) – Specific selection criteria will be used to calculate the overall
selection point. Thereafter, the OSP will be used to rate the applicants on the merit list:
o The maximum OSP points that can be attained by an applicant is 118. The calculations are
based on the academic achievement (100 points), and non-academic achievements in
Grade 11 and 12 or achievements after obtaining the NSC (18 points)
o Students will be selected by making use of the relevant merit list as described

School-leaving students overall selection point (OSP)

 The OSP (maximum of 118) is calculated as follows:

o A maximum of 100 points is allocated for academic achievement with a weighting as
follows: NSC marks:NBT scores = 70:30 (see paragraph 6.2 and 6.3 below for more
detail)
o A maximum of 8 points is allocated for non-academic achievements on an international
and national, provincial, regional and school level (see paragraph 6.4.1 below for more
detail)
o A maximum of 8 points is allocated for region of origin and attendance of a rural school
(see paragraph 6.4.2 below for more detail)
o A maximum of 2 points for children of alumni or children of University staff (see
paragraph 6.4.3 below for more detail)

 The 70% allocated points for the NSC marks (as part of the maximum of 100 points allocated
for academic achievement) is calculated as follows:
o The average of the four (4) compulsory subjects namely (i) English or Afrikaans, (ii)
Mathematics, (iii) Physical Sciences and (iv) Life Sciences will contribute 80%. The
marks in November Grade 11 and June Grade 12 will be used for conditional selection
o The average of the marks obtained in the other best two (2) subjects and Life
Orientation in the NSC will contribute 20%

 The 30% allocated points for the NBT marks (as part of the maximum of 100 points allocated
for academic achievement) is calculated as follows:
o The average of the scores of the three (3) components namely (i) Academic literacy
score, (ii) Quantitative literacy score, and (iii) Mathematics score will be used

 As far as the additional 18 points of the OSP (marks outside the 100 academic marks of the
total of 118 marks) in the Overall Selection Point (OSP) are concerned, the following holds:
o A point is allocated for non-academic achievements, to a maximum allocation of eight
(8) points (in Grade 11 and 12). This point is based on achievements in the following
categories:

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  Culture (1-4) (differentiated between an international and national, provincial,
regional and school level)
 Extracurricular activities (1-4) (differentiated between participation at an
international and national, provincial, regional and school level).
 Points are allocated as follows:
o 1 = School
o 2 = Regional level
o 3 = Provincial level
o 4 = National and International level
o An additional point allocation in respect of region of origin and attendance of a rural
school is done as follows (maximum allocation of 8 points):
 Free State: 6 points
 Northern Cape: 3 points
 Rest of regions in South Africa and outside South Africa: no points
 Applicants from rural schools anywhere in South Africa earn an additional 2 points
o An additional maximum point allocation of 2 points for children of alumni or current
University of the Free State staff members

Senior applicants without a completed degree (any degree not yet obtained)

Specific selection criteria of the senior applicants without a completed degree (any degree not
yet obtained) will be used to calculate the overall selection point in order to place candidates on
the merit list for selection purposes. A total of 107 Overall Selection Points can be achieved with a
maximum of 100 points for academic achievements and a maximum of 5 points for region of origin.
An additional 2 points will be awarded to children of alumni or current University of the Free State
staff members:
 The average mark of all enrolled modules.
 An additional non-academic point allocation in respect of regions of origin (based on region of
current Higher Education Institution) is done as follows (maximum allocation of 5 points):
o From the Free State - additional 5 points
o From the Northern Cape - additional 3 points
o Other regions in South Africa and outside South Africa: no additional points
o An additional maximum point allocation of 2 points be awarded to children of alumni or
current University of the Free State staff member.

Specific selection criteria for senior applicants with a completed degree (any degree already
obtained) will be used to calculate the overall selection point in order to place candidates on the
merit list for selection purposes. A total of 107 Overall Selection Points can be achieved with a
maximum of 100 points for academic achievements and a maximum of 5 points for region of origin.
An additional 2 points will be awarded to children of alumni or current University of the Free State
staff members.
 The average mark of all enrolled modules of current qualification.
 The average mark of all enrolled modules passed in the previous tertiary degree obtained can
be considered.
 An additional non-academic point allocation in respect of regions of origin (based on region of
current Higher Education Institution) is done as follows (maximum allocation of 5 points):
o From the Free State - additional 5 points
o From the Northern Cape - additional 3 points
o Other regions in South Africa and outside South Africa: no additional points
o An additional maximum point allocation of 2 points will be awarded to children of alumni or
current University of the Free State staff members

The point system will be reviewed on an annual basis based on the previous year’s selection process,
outcomes and experienced impact.

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Additional marks that will be used during the selection process if a deadlock on the merit list is
reached:
 Academic Mark (AM) is the average of the four (4) compulsory subjects, English or Afrikaans,
Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences, and the best of two (2) subjects on the
designated list of school subjects passed. The subject Life Orientation is not used in the
calculation.
 Science Mark (SM) is calculated by the average of the following:
A minimum average mark on achievement level 5 (60%) is required for each of the following and is
a compulsory prerequisite:
o Mathematics
o Physical Sciences
o Life Sciences

The selection committee

 The Selection Committee for the MBChB programme will consist of the following members:
o Dean (1): Faculty of Health Sciences
o Heads (3): Schools of Clinical Medicine, Pathology and Biomedical Sciences
o Programme Director (1): Undergraduate Medical Programme
o Additional members selected by Heads of Departments from the three Schools and
appointed by Faculty Board (at least 1 pre-clinical, 1 x each school and 1 clinical and 1 from
primary healthcare sciences) for a 3-year term.
o Deputy Director: Faculty of Health Sciences; and
o Co-opted members for the Undergraduate Student Administration Office (non-voting
members)
o MSA Student representative (non-voting members).

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