Introduction

• The MMed Curriculum is similar in content to the Fellowship Syllabuses of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.
• The overall objective is to produce skilled Medical Specialists in clinical disciplines with the capability to pursue academic career.
• The disciplines accredited to date by HPSCA for the award of the Colleges of Medicine Fellowships are:
  • Anaesthesiology
  • Anatomical Pathology
  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Critical Care
  • Dermatology
  • Diagnostic Radiology
  • Family Medicine
  • Internal Medicine
  • Neurosurgery
  • Obstetrics and Gynaecology
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopaedic Surgery
  • Otorhinolaryngology
  • Paediatric Surgery
  • Paediatrics
  • Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
  • Psychiatry
  • Radiation Oncology
  • Urology.
• However, Paediatrics Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Radiation Oncology, Critical Care and Anaesthesia have not yet been approved by the University for the award of MMed and Registrars are registered either in related disciplines of Medicine or Surgery.
• MMed Family Medicine has been approved by the University and recently approved by HPCSA as a specialist qualification.
• HPSCA did not approve automatic recognition of MMed degree only for specialist registration.
• Therefore, prior to the award of MMed, postgraduate students must pass the Fellowship examinations of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa. Admission
  A person may be admitted as a candidate for a Master degree in Medicine (MMed) if he or she:
• Meets the admission requirements as a postgraduate student of Walter Sisulu University.
• Fulfils the registration requirements of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a Medical Practitioner (full/independent registration categories) or
• Has passed MBChB or equivalent and at least 3 years of post-graduation or
• Has passed Part 1 examination of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa or Part 1 MMed examination of another University in South Africa or
• Has passed Part II examination of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa or
• Part II MMed examination of another University in South Africa.

Registration

• A person who has been offered admission to the M Med programme and for training for the fellowship examinations of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa must register every year at the beginning of the Session or at any other time of the year by special permission of the Registrar.

Content

• Each department has a structured programme relevant to the discipline and obtainable in the Postgraduate Office at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha Campus.

Content

• Each department has a structured programme relevant to the discipline and obtainable in the Postgraduate Office at the Faculty of Health Sciences at Walter Sisulu University, Mthatha Campus.

Examinations

• The candidate must pass the relevant fellowship examination of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa for that discipline.
• In the case of Master of Medicine in Psychiatry (MMed Psych), the candidate can write the Walter Sisulu University MMed Part l examinations which have equivalence with FC Psych Part l examinations of the College of Psychiatrists.
• The candidate will still be expected to pass the FC Psych Part ll examinations and complete a mini-dissertation to be eligible to register as a specialist and complete the MMed Psych degree.
• The candidate should obtain at least 50% for the mini-dissertation from at least one external examiner.

Award of MMed

• A person who wishes to be considered for award of the MMed degree must submit a written application on a prescribed form to the Registrar having fulfilled the admission requirement.