SMU Fees

Fees at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) depend on your programme and year of study. SMU's 2026 undergraduate fee schedule lists the tuition, an admin fee and an SRC levy for every year of each programme, and it notes that all fees are subject to annual increase.

Estimated first-year fees in 2026

These totals include tuition, the R2,057 admin fee and the R1,046 SRC levy:

• MBChB I: R90,138
• BSc in Physiotherapy I: R104,580
• BSc in Dietetics I: R101,005
• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy I: R98,860
• Bachelor of Radiography in Diagnostics I: R88,079
• BSc in Life Sciences, Physical Sciences or Mathematical Sciences I: about R88,100 to R88,600
• Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology I and Bachelor of Audiology I: R71,847
• Bachelor of Nursing Science I: R70,923

Fees change from year to year within a programme. For example, MBChB II was R76,152 and MBChB IV was R105,888 in 2026.

The registration fee

Every student granted a place for the first time must pay an initial minimum registration fee of R4,500 in 2026. Students with confirmation letters from NSFAS, public sector sponsors or verified sponsors do not usually pay it, and are unblocked automatically. If you applied for a bursary but are still waiting for the outcome, you must pay the full registration fee.

Self-funded students

Self-funded students pay the registration fee and sign an acknowledgement of debt, followed by an agreed payment plan. SMU prefers that you attach a loan agreement with a registered financial institution to support the plan.

International students

International students must settle their fees in full when they register, including any outstanding fees from earlier years.

Students with debt

If you owe R10,000 or less, you must clear the whole balance before you register. If you owe R10,001 to R40,000, you pay the first R10,000 and half of the rest, plus the registration fee. If you owe R40,001 to R130,000, you pay at least R20,000 plus the registration fee, and sign an acknowledgement of debt for the balance.

Larger debts and appeals

Debts of R150,000 or more go to SMU's Student Debt Appeals Committee. It considers your academic progress and evidence that you cannot afford to pay, and it expects you to have applied for a loan, for example from Fundi or a bank. Students who owe more than R50,000 cannot register for postgraduate studies.

Returning students

Returning students who owe nothing and have a credit of R4,500 or more on their account are unblocked for registration automatically. Bursary holders need a letter from their sponsor confirming funding for the new year.

Funding your studies

Qualifying students can apply for NSFAS, and SMU also recognises funding from public sector and other verified sponsors. Browse our bursaries, or read the SMU overview.