• 5,275 courses at 302 South African institutions

List of Nursing Colleges in South Africa 2026

All 166 nursing colleges, nursing schools and nursing education institutions on this site, grouped by province: public provincial colleges, private colleges and hospital-based schools. Every programme a nursing college runs has to be accredited by the South African Nursing Council, so check the accreditation before you apply for 2027.

Course data last updated 22 September 2026
166Nursing colleges listed
578Nursing programmes
1Campuses listed
9Provinces covered

166 nursing colleges shown

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List of Nursing Colleges in Gauteng

28 nursing colleges and nursing schools in Gauteng, listed with the most programmes first. Open one for its 2027 entry requirements, selection tests and application dates. See nursing courses in Gauteng.

List of Nursing Colleges in Western Cape

12 nursing colleges and nursing schools in Western Cape, listed with the most programmes first. Open one for its 2027 entry requirements, selection tests and application dates. See nursing courses in Western Cape.

List of Nursing Colleges in KwaZulu-Natal

38 nursing colleges and nursing schools in KwaZulu-Natal, listed with the most programmes first. Open one for its 2027 entry requirements, selection tests and application dates. See nursing courses in KwaZulu-Natal.

List of Nursing Colleges in Eastern Cape

29 nursing colleges and nursing schools in Eastern Cape, listed with the most programmes first. Open one for its 2027 entry requirements, selection tests and application dates. See nursing courses in Eastern Cape.

List of Nursing Colleges in Free State

10 nursing colleges and nursing schools in Free State, listed with the most programmes first. Open one for its 2027 entry requirements, selection tests and application dates. See nursing courses in Free State.

List of Nursing Colleges in Limpopo

18 nursing colleges and nursing schools in Limpopo, listed with the most programmes first. Open one for its 2027 entry requirements, selection tests and application dates. See nursing courses in Limpopo.

List of Nursing Colleges in Mpumalanga

19 nursing colleges and nursing schools in Mpumalanga, listed with the most programmes first. Open one for its 2027 entry requirements, selection tests and application dates. See nursing courses in Mpumalanga.

List of Nursing Colleges in North West

10 nursing colleges and nursing schools in North West, listed with the most programmes first. Open one for its 2027 entry requirements, selection tests and application dates. See nursing courses in North West.

List of Nursing Colleges in Northern Cape

2 nursing colleges and nursing schools in Northern Cape, listed with the most programmes first. Open one for its 2027 entry requirements, selection tests and application dates. See nursing courses in Northern Cape.

Nursing College Courses by Qualification Type

Every qualification level on offer, with the number of courses listed on this site right now.

Higher Certificate 80Diploma 70Advanced Diploma 38Bachelor's Degree 2Postgraduate Diploma 388

Nursing College Courses by Field of Study

Choose the field you want to work in to see the careers it leads to and the courses that get you there.

Health & Medicine 578

Nursing Qualifications You Can Study in South Africa

The South African Nursing Council sets the programmes and the category you register in once you qualify. Start where your marks allow: you can move up later, because each level articulates into the next.

Higher Certificate in Nursing (R.169)

One year, NQF level 5. You register with SANC as an auxiliary nurse and give basic nursing care under supervision. It is the usual entry point and it articulates into the diploma.

Diploma in Nursing (R.171)

Three years, NQF level 6, with a large clinical component. You register as a general nurse and can then go on to midwifery, a postgraduate diploma or a degree.

Bachelor of Nursing

Four years at a university or an accredited college, covering general nursing, community nursing, psychiatric nursing and midwifery, and leading to registration as a professional nurse.

Specialty and postgraduate programmes

After registering you can specialise in areas such as midwifery, critical care, theatre, primary healthcare, oncology or nursing education and management, through SANC-accredited specialty programmes.

How to Check a Nursing College is Accredited

Nursing is one of the fields where fake colleges do the most damage: if the programme is not accredited you cannot register with SANC, and without SANC registration you cannot work as a nurse. Three checks protect you.

1. SANC accreditation for that programme

Ask for the SANC accreditation reference for the exact programme and intake year, not just a general claim that the college is "SANC approved". Accreditation is per programme and can lapse.

2. DHET registration for private colleges

A private nursing college must also be registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training, with a certificate number in the form 2018/HE07/006. Provisional registration is valid but has an end date.

3. Clinical placement

A nursing programme needs accredited clinical facilities. Ask which hospitals or clinics you will train at and whether the placement is guaranteed for the whole programme.

Apply at public colleges too

Every province runs its own nursing college with intakes advertised by the provincial health department. Those places are limited and usually funded, so apply as soon as the intake opens.

Other Places You Can Study in South Africa

Compare your options before you apply. Every institution on this site lists its courses, entry requirements and how to apply.

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Nursing Colleges in South Africa: Frequently Asked Questions

What qualifications do nursing colleges offer in South Africa?

The main SANC-accredited programmes are the Higher Certificate in Nursing (R.169), which registers you as an auxiliary nurse, the three-year Diploma in Nursing (R.171), which registers you as a general nurse, and the Bachelor of Nursing degree. Specialty and postgraduate programmes, including midwifery, follow after that.

What subjects do I need to study nursing?

Most nursing colleges ask for a National Senior Certificate with English, Life Sciences and either Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy, at the level set by the programme. A diploma or degree needs a stronger pass than a higher certificate, and many colleges also use a selection test and an interview.

How long does it take to become a registered nurse?

The Higher Certificate in Nursing takes one year and registers you as an auxiliary nurse. The Diploma in Nursing takes three years and registers you as a general nurse. The Bachelor of Nursing takes four years and includes midwifery.

Is the college accredited by SANC?

Every nursing education institution must be accredited by the South African Nursing Council for the specific programme it offers, and private colleges must also be registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training. Ask for the accreditation number for the exact programme before you pay anything.

Can I study nursing without Life Sciences?

Usually not for a diploma or degree, because the programme builds on biology. Some colleges accept an auxiliary nursing higher certificate or a bridging route with other subjects, then let you continue to the diploma later, so ask the college directly.

Do nursing students get paid or funded?

Students at public nursing colleges are often funded by the provincial health department and may receive a stipend in exchange for working back in the public service. At private nursing colleges you pay fees, sometimes with an employer or bursary covering them.