Universities and Online Degrees Guide

Stellenbosch University

Master of Medicine in Orthopaedics

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

Program Length: 4 YEARS.

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

This 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.

Programme content

Primary

Anatomical Pathology (25)
Anatomy (25)
Physiology (25)

 

Intermediate

Orthopaedic Surgery (Intermediate) (100)

 

Final examination

Orthopaedic Surgery (185)

 

Assignment

Research Assignment (120)

Assessment and examination
Primary

• One paper and an oral examination for each of the three modules.
• You must obtain a mark of at least 50% to pass a module and 75% to pass a module with distinction.
• You must pass all three primary modules within 24 months of commencement of service as a registrar in Orthopaedics.
• If you do not meet this requirement, you must vacate the registrar post and you will be excluded from the rest of the MMed (Orthop) programme.
• Only in exceptional cases, and with the submission of an appropriate motivation, will the postgraduate programme committee of the Division of Orthopaedics consider continuation of your service in a registrar post and further attendance of the programme.

Intermediate

• One paper and an oral examination for the Orthopaedic Surgery (Intermediate) module.
• You must obtain a mark of at least 50% to pass the module and 75% to pass the module with distinction.
• You must pass the intermediate module within 42 months of registration as a registrar in Orthopaedics.
• If you do not meet this requirement, you must vacate the registrar post and you will be excluded from the rest of the MMed (Orthop) programme.
• Only in exceptional cases, and with the submission of an appropriate motivation, will the postgraduate programme committee of the Division consider continuation of your service in a registrar post and further attendance of the programme.

Final examination

• The HPCSA requires that you successfully complete the national exit examination of the College of Orthopaedic Surgeons (CMSA) to register as a specialist.
• The Division accepts this examination as equivalent to and in place of the MMed (Orthop) final examination.
• It, however, remains the responsibility of the head of the Division to confirm the following:
  • successful completion of clinical training time;
  • completion of a comprehensive logbook;
  • successful completion of the research assignment according to the regulations of the University in this regard; and
  • successful completion of flexible assessment.
• For admission to the single national exit examination of the College of Orthopaedic Surgeons (CMSA), you must have successfully completed the following:
  • the primary modules for the MMed (Orthop) programme, or the primary examination of the College of Orthopaedic Surgeons (CMSA) and the Anatomical Pathology 874 module;
  • the intermediate examination of the MMed (Orthop) programme; and
  • the assignment.
• The minimum pass mark for the final examination is 50%, and you must obtain 75% to pass the examination with distinction.
• You must successfully complete the final examination within 60 months of registration as a registrar in Orthopaedics.
• If you do not meet this requirement, you must vacate the registrar post and you will be excluded from the rest of the MMed (Orthop) programme.
• Only in exceptional cases, and with the submission of an appropriate motivation, will the postgraduate programme committee of the Division consider continuation of your service in a registrar post and further attendance of the programme.

Research assignment

• You must complete an assignment as a study project that forms part of the final assessment for the MMed (Orthop) degree.
• The protocol for the assignment must be approved by the postgraduate programme committee of the Division and the relevant faculty structures not later than 18 months after commencement of service as a registrar.
• The assignment must be successfully completed not later than 48 months after commencement of service as a registrar.
• The assignment is assessed and approved by both internal and external examiners.
• You must obtain a mark of at least 50% to pass the assignment, and at least 75% to pass with distinction.

Exit criteria

• The final mark for the MMed (Orthop) programme is calculated as the average of the marks for the respective modules, the assignment and the final examination.
• You must achieve a final mark of at least 50% to obtain the MMed (Orthop) degree, and at least 75% to pass the degree with distinction.