Health Science Careers

The Medical Field

The Health Sciences Faculty generally offers degrees in Medicine and the Allied Health Sciences (e.g. Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy, etc.) Different universities may or may not offer specific degrees. All in all there are a wide variety of health science careers.

A typical day of a health sciences student would start at 8am if one were going to lectures or 7am if doing practical work at a clinic or hospital. After finishing with lectures/practical work, students are generally still required to complete tutorials, laboratory practicals, assignments and/or research for their thesis (if applicable).

Some universities offer the degrees as Bachelors of Science or as a Bachelor of (insert title here, eg, Occupational Therapy). Just double check with the university you are applying at, it could differ from university to university.

To make your pick of choosing the right health science career for you – read through the table below.

FYI:

• Subject requirements may differ slightly at each university.
• Associated salary depends on which route you choose to take with your degree, the given associated salary is not completely accurate and is just to give you an idea of what to expect.

BSc in Dietetics

Average starting salary of R16,716.42 a month

Possible Careers:

• Dietitian
• Food Service Manager
• Sports Nutrition

What you need to do to study this:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s by the end of June
• NSC aggregate of 50% minimum
• Mathematics 50%
• Physical Sciences 50%
• Life Sciences 50%
• Strong recommendation: Afrikaans as a school subject

BSc in Physiotherapy

Average salary of R17,094.92 a month

Possible Careers:

•  Physiotherapist

What you need to do to study this:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s by the end of June
• NSC aggregate of 60% minimum
• Mathematics 50%
• Physical Sciences 50%
• Life Sciences 50%
• Strong recommendation: Afrikaans as a school subject

BSc of Speech-Language and Hearing Therapy

An average salary of R15,000 a month

Possible Careers:

• Speech-Language Therapist

What you need to do to study this:

• Write AQL NBT by the end of June
• NSC aggregate of 60% minimum
• At least TWO of the THREE languages(Home Language or First Additional Language)60%:
• English and/or Afrikaans and/or a third language
• Physical Sciences 50%
• Life Sciences 50%

BSc of Occupational Therapy

Average starting salary of R15,000 a month

Possible Careers:

• Occupational Therapist

What you need to do to study this:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s by the end of June
• NSC aggregate of 50% minimum
• Mathematics 40%
• Life Sciences 50%
• Strong recommendation: Afrikaans as a school subject

MB, ChB

Average starting salary of R40,000 a month (intern)

Possible Careers:

• Independent Medical Practitioner

What you need to do to study this:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s by the end of June 
• NSC aggregate of 70% minimum
• Mathematics 50%
• Physical Sciences 50%
• Life Sciences 50%
• Strong recommendation: Afrikaans and English as school subjects

General Dentistry

Average starting salary of R19,385.42 a month

Possible Careers:

• Dentist

What you need to do to study this:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• English Home Language or First Additional Language 50%
• Afrikaans or another Home Language or First Additional Language 40%
• Mathematics 50%
• Life Sciences 50%
• Physical Science 50%

Oral Hygiene

Average starting salary of R7,584.17 a month

Possible Careers:

• Oral hygienist, dentist assistant

What you need to do to study this:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• English Home Language or First Additional Language 50%
• Afrikaans or another Home Language or First Additional Language 40%
• Mathematics 40% OR Mathematical Literacy 50%
• Life Sciences 50%

Nursing

Average starting salary of R9,939.00 a month

Possible Careers:

• Nurse

What you need to do to study this:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s by the end of June
• English Home Language 50% or English First Additional Language 50%
• Any other language as a first additional language 40%
• Mathematics 50% OR Mathematics Literacy 70%
• Life Sciences 50%

Radiographer

Average starting salary of R13,502 a month

Possible Careers:

• Radiographer
• Radiographer Technologist
• Radiographer Assistant

What you need to do to study this:

• Write AQL and MAT NBT’s
• Mathematics 50%
• Physical Science 50% OR Life Sciences 50%

*Note, the above starting salaries were correct at the time of writing this article. Make sure to vet the above information.