My name is Derek van Vuuren I am the coordinator
of the MBCHB programme here at StellenboschUniversity.
I would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to the medical programme here at Stellenbosch.
The best place to start is the question, why are we here, why are you watching this?
Why are you considering a career in medicine?
Here are some thoughts from 2nd year students from the previous year.
Maybe you can associate with some of these.
“I want so see how much more I can discover about the human body"
“I want to go to the most underprivileged areas and provide a bit of hope for the hopeless"
“I want to make a change- even though I am not sure yet what that entails and where my path as a doctor might lead me”.
If you choose to study medicine with us you will find yourself part of a community of
diverse people from different backgrounds across South African, both young and old.
We are all bound together by a shared passion for helping people contributing our bit in
making the world a better place.
To be honest it will be a very large group.
The MBChB class has around 300 students but you will be able to find your spot in it.
This community not only includes undergraduate students but also postgraduate students and lecturers.
Both basic and clinical scientists and practitioners.
As students you will not only be on the receiving end of information you will also have opportunities
to actively contribute to both the programme as well as student life.
We are continuously seeking to work together and to collaborate all of us on the academic
journey trying to impact the world for the better.
In terms of your academic programme, what can you expect? Let's start with the end in mind.
In terms of hands-on clinical training much of this will be conducted in
our clinical skill laboratory which has recently been expanded and upgraded in order to increase
our skills training and capacity within the faculty.
You will however also be prepared for your career as a medical doctor in the workplace
giving you’re the opportunity to hone your skills and learn from the best, both here
at Tygerberg as well as across the distributed clinical platforms spread throughout the Western Cape,
and even reaching as far as Upington in the Northern Cape.
If you choose to embark on your medicine path with us you’ ll find that not only will
you become part of the MBChB community but you’ll also become part of the Tygerberg community.
On the campus of the faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences we have 2 dedicated Junior residences.
Two senior residences and two intermediate residences that have students from all year groups.
For students living in private accommodation off campus; you’ll be able to connect with
campus life through OSLO, the private student organisation (PSO) associated with our campus.
In these student communities you’ll meet, and become friends with people across
South Africa studying different programmes at the faculty.
Studying medicine is tuff, it takes hard work and lots of dedication.
The workload is large and the content challenging.
Although this will be your journey we will be there with you to help and support you along the way.
The Faculty has several support services including:
psychological and academic counselling, academic tutors and mentors in the student community spaces.
So if you want to do your bit to touch lives and change the world,
if you are passionate about seeing people become healthy and staying that way,
you’ll be right at home in the Stellenbosch MBChB community.
We are looking forward to meeting you.
Thank you, Dankie, Enkosi