SMU Fees 2027: Health Science Tuition & Registration

SMU is a specialised public health sciences university in Pretoria, Gauteng. 

It focuses on health‑related undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, nursing and allied health sciences. 

Because SMU training includes clinical components and professional accreditation requirements, tuition and related fees are structured differently from general universities. 

Official admissions and application details are on the SMU online application portal.

SMU Application Fee 2027 (Non‑refundable)

SMU requires all prospective students to pay a non‑refundable application fee when submitting an application for study. 

Although the official 2027 application fees have not yet been published by SMU, previous years’ official notifications indicate that:

1. South African applicants generally pay between R200 and R300 for undergraduate applications.
2. International applicants may pay a different amount, often higher.
3. Application payments must be made before the university will process your application.

Include your South African ID number or passport number (for international applicants) as the reference on the payment. 

Always check the current application fee when you start your application at the SMU official portal.

SMU Registration Fee 2027 (Initial Payment)

Before you can register for your courses at SMU, there is an initial registration requirement that must be met:

1. Self‑funded students: You must pay a minimum initial fee of approximately R4 500 before you will be allowed to complete registration for the academic year.
2. Funded students: If you have confirmed funding (for example NSFAS), you must provide official proof of funding to SMU before you register; no initial payment is required for students whose funding is confirmed.

This initial payment is credited against your tuition account. 

If you do not pay the initial fee by the registration deadline, you will not be permitted to register for your modules. 

Visit SMU “Registration Guidelines and Notices” for details on requirements and timelines.

SMU Tuition Fee Structure per Faculty

SMU tuition fees for 2027 have not yet been published in full. 

However, official documentation from previous years and the SMU fee office indicates that health science tuition costs are generally based on your programme level, year of study and modules chosen, with clinical and professional accreditation costs included.

Below are typical tuition fee ranges from the most recent official figures and SMU fee guides (subject to annual increase by SMU):

1. Undergraduate Health Science Programmes

For health science courses such as medicine, pharmacy, physiotherapy, dietetics and nursing, the undergraduate fees (tuition, admin and student levy) in recent official SMU fee documentation have been structured broadly as follows:

• Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB): approx. R39 000 – R79 000 per year, increasing each year of study once clinical training begins.
• Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy: approx. R44 000 – R57 000 per year.
• Bachelor of Science in Dietetics: approx. R43 000 – R58 000 per year.
• Bachelor of Nursing Science: approx. R49 000 – R64 000 per year.
• Bachelor of Dental Surgery: approx. R41 000 – R70 000 per year.

These figures are based on official undergraduate fee documents previously published by SMU and are subject to increase for 2027. 

The total amount for each programme includes the tuition portion, administrative fees and student representative council (SRC) levy.

2. Postgraduate Health Sciences

For postgraduate programmes such as master’s degrees in health sciences, SMU previous official fee schedules suggest specialised research or coursework programmes may have set annual fees. 

Details for specific 2027 postgraduate tuition will be available in the SMU student fees yearbook or fee schedules once published.

Note: Professional statutory body fees (such as registration with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) or South African Nursing Council (SANC) where required for clinical programmes) may be additional costs not included in the standard tuition figures.

How to Pay Your SMU Fees (Bank Details)

SMU provides official banking details for student fee payments on its Fees Details page. 

All fee payments must include your student number as the reference to ensure correct allocation to your account.

Official SMU Bank Account Details:

• Bank:  Standard Bank
• Account Name: Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
• Account Number: 071 244 395
• Branch Code: 020909
• Reference: Your SMU student number/ ID/Passport 

Payments can be made via electronic funds transfer (EFT) or via the SMU online payment system where available. 

Always check the current banking details from the official SMU fees webpage to avoid incorrect payments.

SMU Fees for NSFAS Funded Students

Students who qualify for funding from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) should ensure that:

• Their NSFAS application is successfully submitted and approved via the official portal before registration begins; NSFAS will then pay your tuition and related fees directly to SMU.
• You submit proof of NSFAS funding to the SMU Finance Office before registration to avoid paying the initial payment yourself.

NSFAS funding covers tuition, registration, accommodation and study material allowances, depending on the type of award and eligibility. 

Always confirm with both NSFAS and SMU’s financial aid office to ensure all requirements are complete in time for registration.