CHE Accredit NWU Medical Degree Ahead of 2028 Launch
Confirmed in correspondence dated 21 August 2026, the decision approves the university’s six-year, 940-credit medical degree, which will be offered in contact mode at the Potchefstroom Campus.
According to Prof. Binu Luke, inaugural chief director of the Desmond Tutu School of Medicine, the decision represents a major structural milestone and the culmination of extensive planning. The accreditation process required the university to submit detailed portfolios of evidence covering curriculum mapping, governance frameworks, clinical training platforms, human resources, financial sustainability, and infrastructure across five dedicated workstreams. Prof. Luke noted that with full CHE accreditation granted and all stipulated conditions satisfied, the school's vision has reached a point of viability, setting an irreversible target for launch.
| Timeline | Milestone / Objective |
| 2017 | Initial planning begins within the Faculty of Health Sciences |
| 21 August 2026 | CHE/HEQC grants formal accreditation for the MBChB programme |
| Current Phase | SAQA registration of the qualification on the NQF |
| February 2027 | Scheduled HPCSA professional accreditation site visit |
| Mid-2027 | Anticipated opening of student enrollment applications |
| January 2028 | Planned intake of the inaugural MBChB student cohort |
The development of South Africa’s 11th medical school aims to address national healthcare workforce deficits and strengthen healthcare delivery in underserved regions. Designed around values associated with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, the curriculum focuses on producing clinically competent and ethically grounded practitioners. According to Prof. Awie Kotzé, executive dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences, the establishment of what will be the faculty's sixth school follows initial groundwork begun in 2017 and paves the way for additional clinical qualifications at the institution.
Several regulatory and structural requirements remain before the first intake in 2028. The university is currently progressing with registration through the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The next primary milestone is securing professional accreditation from the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), targeted for February 2027 to enable student enrollment by mid-2027. Concurrently, NWU is moving to finalize key academic and operational partnerships with the University of the Witwatersrand and the National Health Laboratory Service to support clinical and laboratory training.
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