VerifiedNot for new students at undergraduate level. Unisa’s BA Nursing Science is offered only until 2026 and only to students already registered for it. For newcomers, Unisa’s nursing qualifications now start at master’s level. To train as a nurse, you need a SANC-accredited nursing college or a contact university.
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Unisa’s nursing qualifications
| Qualification | Status | Who it is for |
|---|---|---|
| BA Nursing Science (health services management and education options) | Offered until 2026, previously registered students only | Registered general nurses (one option also needed midwife registration) |
| Master of Arts in Nursing Science (99502) | Open: applications 1 September to 20 November 2026 | Professional nurses with an appropriate honours degree, postgraduate diploma or four-year nursing degree and a 60% average |
| Doctor of Philosophy in Nursing (90029) | Listed | See the admission rules on Unisa’s qualification page |
The nearest Unisa postgraduate diploma is the Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health (90161).
How to become a nurse instead
| Qualification | Registers you as | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Higher Certificate in Auxiliary Nursing (one year) | Auxiliary nurse | Accredited public and private nursing colleges |
| Diploma in Nursing (three years) | General nurse | Public nursing colleges, such as the Limpopo College of Nursing |
| Bachelor’s degree in nursing and midwifery (four years) | Professional nurse and midwife | Universities such as UP, UJ and UWC, and some nursing colleges |
Check that any nursing programme is accredited by the South African Nursing Council (SANC) before you apply or pay.
Funding: nursing colleges with NSFAS.
Frequently asked questions
Can I study nursing at Unisa as a new student?
Not at undergraduate level. The BA Nursing Science is closed to new students, and Unisa’s open nursing qualifications start at master’s level.
Where can I train to become a nurse?
At a SANC-accredited public or private nursing college, or at a university offering the four-year nursing degree.