Universities and Online Degrees Guide

Stellenbosch University

Master of Medicine in Neurosurgery

The Master of Medicine in Neurosurgery in Health Professions is offered by Stellenbosch University.

Program Length: 4 YEARS.

Master of Medicine in Neurosurgery offered by the Stellenbosch University at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

The Master of Medicine (MMed) programme is offered in all the recognised specialities of medicine in South Africa. This programme is structured to meet the Health Professions Council of South Africa's (HPSCA) requirements for specialisation. It extends over a period of four to five years. Candidates must be incumbents of registered training posts.

The programme is divided into the following modules:

Primary phase

Neuroanatomy and Applied Regional Anatomy (20)
Physiology (20)
Anatomical Pathology (20)

 

Intermediate phase

Neurosurgery (Intermediate) (30)

 

Final phase

Neurosurgery (270)
Research Assignment (120)

Assessment and examination
Primary phase

• Assessment takes place by means of a written examination, and where specified, an oral examination in the basic sciences (as set out under "Primary phase" in the section "Programme content" above) and/or the Primary Examination of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (FCS Surgery Part Ia).
• This examination must be completed successfully within 18 months of residency. The successful completion of the examination is an absolute requirement to continue with the programme.

Intermediate phase

• Assessment takes place by means of the surgical intermediate examination of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and/or the intermediate surgical examination (FCS Surgery Part Ib) of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa.
• This examination must be completed successfully within three and a half years of residency. The successful completion of the examination is an absolute requirement to continue with the programme.

Final phase

• Assessment takes place by means of the final Neurosurgery examination of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and/or the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa, to be completed in the fourth or fifth year of study.
• The final Neurosurgery examination of the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences consists of:
  • three written papers, including questions on the basic sciences related to neurosurgery, and
  • a clinical oral examination.
• You must submit an assignment to be assessed by both internal and external examiners. The assignment constitutes 25% of the final mark.
• The minimum pass mark for the examination as well as the assignment is 50%.
• If you fail the examination, you may take a re-examination, provided that it takes place in the period indicated above. In certain cases, an extension can be granted by the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, depending on the merits of the case.
• To register as a specialist, you must comply with the provisions of the Health Professions Council of South Africa, namely that you write the specialist examination of the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa as the exit examination.
• The compulsory research component is administered by the postgraduate programme committee of the Division of Neurosurgery.
• It remains the responsibility of the head of the Division to assess the following:
  • successful completion of clinical training time;
  • the candidate's portfolio of learning (including a surgical log-book);
  • completion of the research assignment according to the University's regulations; and
  • successful completion of flexible assessment.