About the Department
The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is the provincial government body that runs public healthcare in the Western Cape. It is responsible for public hospitals, clinics and emergency medical services across the province. Millions of residents rely on these services each year.
Like every provincial health department in South Africa, it needs enough doctors, nurses and allied health professionals to keep services running. Funding the training of future staff is one way to meet that need. For that reason, the Department runs a health sciences bursary programme.
How the bursary supports students
The bursary is for students who study, or plan to study, full time towards an eligible health sciences qualification at an accredited higher education institution. The list of approved qualifications is published with each call, so check it carefully before you apply. Applicants must be South African citizens who live in the Western Cape. They must be unemployed, hold a matric certificate, and have no criminal record.
Recipients sign a bursary contract. They also agree to complete any required clinical hours as part of their studies. In return, the Department pays towards their training instead of competing for graduates after they qualify.
The work-back obligation
This is the most important condition to understand. After graduation, recipients must complete community service where it applies. That year counts towards the first year of the obligation. Next, they must apply for a post with the Department and work back the remaining years set out in their contract.
If a recipient does not work back the contracted time, they must repay the Department for the bursary expenses. As a result, you should read the agreement closely and be sure you are happy to build a career in the Western Cape public service. Other provincial health departments use similar arrangements, so this is a normal feature of health bursaries in South Africa.
Application dates, fields of study and the number of awards differ from year to year. Applicants usually apply through the provincial application system, and the Western Cape Government publishes the details. Watch the official Western Cape Government channels for the current call, and never pay anyone to submit an application for you.
The programme suits students who already want to work in public healthcare. Public clinics and hospitals in the province serve many people who cannot afford private care, and the work can be demanding but rewarding. Before you sign, think about where you want to live and work in the years after graduation. Ask the Department or your university funding office if anything in the contract is unclear. Keep copies of everything you sign, and keep your contact details up to date so the Department can reach you. Lastly, remember that the bursary is a serious, legally binding commitment.
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