Nelson R Mandela School of Medicine – Sessional Dates 2025
1 | Mon, 02 – Fri, 06 Jan | Tue, 03 Jan | University opens |
2 | Mon, 09 – Fri, 13 Jan | Mon, 09 Jan | MBChB 6th Yr – Registration |
MBChB 2nd Yr – Registration | |||
Self-help registration system opens | |||
Tue, 10 Jan | MBChB 6th Yr – Block 1 commences | ||
MBChB 2nd Yr – Lectures commence | |||
MBChB 3rd Yr – Registration | |||
Deadline for applications for re-marks | |||
Deadline for submission of Exclusion Appeals | |||
Wed, 11 Jan | MBChB 3rd Yr – Lectures commence | ||
3 | Mon, 16 – Fri, 20 Jan | Thu, 19 Jan | MBChB 4th Yr – Registration & Orientation |
Fri, 20 Jan | MBChB 5th Yr – Registration & Orientation (in PMB only) | ||
4 | Mon, 23 – Sat, 28 Jan | Mon, 23 Jan | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Block 1 commences |
Fri, 27 Jan | MBChB 1st Yr – On-campus registration | ||
Sat, 28 Jan | Parents’ Day | ||
5 | Mon, 30 Jan– Sat, 04 Feb | Mon, 30 Jan– Fri, 03 Feb | MBChB 1st Yr – Orientation |
6 | Mon, 06 – Fri, 10 Feb | Mon, 06 Feb | MBChB 1st Yr – Lectures commence |
Deadline for all transfer applications | |||
7 | Mon, 13 – Fri, 17 Feb | ||
8 | Mon, 20 – Fri, 24 Feb | Mon, 20 – Fri, 24 Feb | MBChB 6th Yr – Block 1 Exam Week |
9 | Mon, 27 Feb – Fri, 03 Mar | Mon, 27 Feb – Fri, 03 Mar | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Block 1 Exam Week |
Mon, 27 Feb | MBChB 6th Yr – Block 2 commences | ||
Fri, 03 Mar | Final date for minimum fee payment required for student registration | ||
Final date for 1st Semester registration | |||
Final date for requests for extended DPs | |||
10 | Mon, 06– Fri, 10 Mar | Mon, 06 Mar | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Block 2 commences |
Fri, 10 Mar | Final date for submitting curriculum changes | ||
Final registration date for returning Masters (by research) and Doctoral students. | |||
Final day for capturing graduation decisions onto ITS for the students who had outstanding requirements. (Honours, Bachelors, Diplomas and Certificates) |
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11 | Mon, 13 – Fri, 17 Mar | Fri, 17 Mar | Final day for capturing graduation decisions onto ITS (Doctoral and Masters Studies) |
12 | Mon, 20 – Fri, 24 Mar | Tues, 21 Mar | Human Rights Day (Public Holiday) |
13 | Mon, 27 Mar – Sat, 01 April | Sat, 01 (till Mon, 10 Apr) | Graduation Ceremonies (WVL) |
14 | Mon, 03 – Fri, 07 Apr | ||
15 | Mon, 10 – Fri, 14 Apr | Mon, 10 – Fri, 14 Apr | MBChB 4th, 5th & 6th Yr – Block 2 Exam Week |
Tue, 11 – Wed, 12 Apr | Graduation Ceremonies (PMB) | ||
Fri, 14 Apr | Good Friday (Public Holiday) | ||
16 | Mon, 17 – Fri, 21 Apr | Mon, 17 Apr | Family Day (Public Holiday) |
Tue, 18 Apr | MBChB 4th, 5th & 6th Yr – Block 3 commences | ||
Fri, 21 Apr | Final date for withdrawal from a module | ||
Final date for withdrawal from the University (Semester 1) | |||
Final timetable for main & supplementary exams released | |||
17 | Mon, 24 – Sun, 30 Apr | Thu, 27 Apr | Freedom Day (Public Holiday) |
Sun, 30 Apr | Final date for payment of 60% of fees for year registrations or 100% for semester 1 registrations | ||
18 | Mon, 01 – Fri, 05 May | Mon, 01 May | Workers’ Day (Public Holiday) |
19 | Mon, 08 – Fri, 12 May | Mon, 08 – Fri, 12 May | |
20 | Mon, 15 – Fri, 19 May | Wed, 17 May | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – DP refusals published |
Thu, 18 May | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Lectures end | ||
Fri, 19 – Tue, 23 May | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Study period | ||
21 | Mon, 22 – Fri, 26 May | Mon, 22 – Fri, 26 May | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Block 3 Exam Week |
MMed Semester 1 – Assessment Week 1 | |||
Mon, 22 May | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Years – Final date for submission of DP Appeals to School Offices | ||
Wed, 24 May | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – First Semester Exams commence | ||
22 | Mon, 29 May – Fri, 02 Jun | Mon, 29 May – Fri, 02 Jun | MMed Semester 1 – Assessment Week 2 |
MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Semester 1 Study Week | |||
MBChB 6th Yr – Block 3 Exam Week | |||
MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Exam Week. Exams end Friday, 02 June for MBCHB 2nd & 3rd year students | |||
23 | Mon, 05 – Fri, 09 Jun | Mon, 05 – Fri, 09 Jun | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Semester 1 Supplementary Exams Week 1 |
MBChB 6th Yr – Semester 1 Study Week | |||
MBCHB 2nd & 3rd years study break between exams | |||
24 | Mon, 12 – Fri, 16 Jun | Mon, 12 – Thu, 15 Jun | MBChB 4th & 5th Yr – Semester 1 Supplementary Exams Week 2 |
MBChB 6th Yr – Semester 1 Supplementary Exams Week | |||
Mon, 12 Jun | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Supplementary Exams commence | ||
Fri, 16 Jun | Youth Day (Public Holiday) (no exams) | ||
25 | Mon 19 – Sun, 25 Jun | Mon 19 – Fri, 23 Jun | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Selectives Week 1 |
MBChB 4th Yr – CEBP 3 Week 1 | |||
Mon, 19 Jun | MBChB 5th & 6th Yr – Vacation commences | ||
Ton, 19 Jun | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Supplementary Exams end | ||
Sun, 25 Jun | Eid-Al-Fitr (condoned absence) | ||
26 | Mon, 26 – Fri, 30 Jun | Mon, 26 – Fri, 30 Jun | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – Selectives Week 2 |
MBChB 4th Yr – CEBP 3 Week 2 | |||
Mon, 26 Jun | MBChB 6th Yr – Block 4 commences | ||
Fri, 30 Jun | MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yrs – First Semester Ends | ||
27 | Mon, 03 – Fri, 07 Jul | Mon, 03 Jul | MBChB 4th Yr – Vacation commences |
MBChB 5th Yr – Block 4 commences | |||
Supplementary Exam marks to be captured on SMS by 12h00 | |||
28 | Mon, 10 – Fri, 14 Jul | Mon, 10 Jul | MBChB 4th Yr – Block 4 commences |
MBChB 2nd & 3rd Yr Semester 2 Lectures commence | |||
Release of 1st semester results after Exam Boards at 00:01 am | |||
Second semester registration commences | |||
29 | Mon, 17 – Fri, 21 Jul | Mon, 17 Jul | MBChB 1st years – Semester 2 Lectures commence |
Final date for requests for extended DPs | |||
Wed, 19 Jul | Deadline for all transfers | ||
Thu, 20 Jul | Deadline for submission of Exclusion Appeals | ||
Fri, 21 Jul | Deadline for applications for re-marks | ||
30 | Mon, 24 – Fri, 28 Jul | Mon, 24 Jul | CEACOM meetings (College Exclusion Appeals Comm.) |
On or before Thu, 27 Jul | AEACOM meeting | ||
Fri, 28 Jul | Final date for payment of all fees required for student registration (2nd semester) | ||
Final date for registration – 2nd Semester | |||
Final date for submitting curriculum changes | |||
31 | Mon, 31 Jul – Fri, 04 Aug | ||
32 | Mon, 07 – Fri, 11 Aug | Mon, 07 – Fri, 11 Aug | MBChB 5th & 6th Yr – Block 4 Exam Week |
Wed, 09 Aug | National Women’s Day (Public Holiday) | ||
33 | Mon, 14 – Fri, 18 Aug | Mon, 14 – Fri, 18 Aug | MBChB 4th Yr – Block 4 Exam Week |
Mon, 14 Aug | MBChB 5th & 6th Yr – Block 5 commences | ||
34 | Mon, 21 – Fri, 25 Aug | Mon, 21 Aug | MBChB 4th Yr – Block 5 commences |
35 | Mon, 28 Aug – Fri, 01 Sep | Thu, 31 Aug – Fri, 01 Sep | Eid-Al-Adhah (condoned absence) |
Thu, 31 Aug | Final date for payjment of all fees | ||
36 | Mon, 04 – Fri, 08 Sep | ||
37 | Mon, 11 – Fri, 15 Sep | Fri, 15 Sep | Final date for withdrawal from the University (Sem. 2) |
Final date for withdrawal from a module | |||
Final timetable for main and supplementary examinations released | |||
38 | Mon, 18 – Fri, 22 Sep | Mon, 18 – Fri, 22 Sep | MBChB 5th Yr – Block 5 Exam Week |
Thu, 21 – Fri, 22 Sep | Rosh Hashanah (condoned absence) | ||
39 | Mon, 25 – Sat, 30 Sep | Mon, 25 Sep | Heritage Day (Public Holiday observed) |
Tue, 26 – Fri, 29 Sep | MBChB 4th & 6th Yr – Block 5 Exam Week | ||
Tue, 26 Sep | MBChB 5th Yr – Block 6 commences | ||
Sat, 30 Sep | Yom Kippur (condoned absence) | ||
40 | Mon, 02 – Fri, 06 Oct | Mon, 02 Oct | MBChB 4th & 6th Yr – Block 6 commences |
Wed, 04 Oct | MBChB 3rd Yr – DP refusals published | ||
Fri, 06 Oct | MBChB 3rd Yr – Semester 2 Lectures end | ||
MBChB 3rd Yr – DP appeals to be submitted to school office | |||
41 | Mon, 09 – Fri, 13 Oct | Wed, 11 Oct | MBChB 3rd Yr – Second Semester Exams commence |
42 | Mon, 16 – Fri, 20 Oct | Thu, 19 Oct | Diwali/Deepavali (Condoned absence) |
43 | Mon, 23 – Sun, 29 Oct | Mon, 23 Oct | MBChB 3rd Yr – Theme 3.6 commences |
MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – DP refusals published | |||
Tue, 24 Oct | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Semester 2 Lectures end | ||
Wed, 25 – Sun, 29 Oct | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Study Period | ||
Thu, 26 Oct | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – DP appeals to be submitted to school office | ||
44 | Mon, 30 Oct – Fri, 03 Nov | Mon, 30 Oct – Fri, 03 Nov | MBChB 5th Yr – Block 6 exam week |
Mon, 30 Oct | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Second Semester Exams commence | ||
Final date for submission of College handbooks for 2025 | |||
45 | Mon, 06 – Fri, 10 Nov | Mon, 06 – Fri, 10 Nov | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Exam Week |
MBChB 4th Yr – Block 6 Exam Week | |||
MBChB 5th Yr – Study Week | |||
46 | Mon, 13 – Sun, 19 Nov | Mon, 13 – Fri, 17 Nov | MBChB 4th Yr – Study Week |
MBChB 5th Yr – Semester 2 Supplementary Exam Week 1 | |||
MBChB 6th Yr – Block 6 Exam Week | |||
Tue, 14 Nov | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Second Semester Exams end | ||
Wed, 15 – Sun, 19 Nov | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Break between Exams | ||
Fri, 17 Nov | MBChB 3rd Yr – Theme 3.6 ends | ||
47 . |
Mon, 20 – Sat, 25 Nov | Mon, 20 – Fri, 24 Nov | MBChB 4th Yr – Semester 2 Supplementary Exam Week 1 |
MBChB 5th Yr – Semester 2 Supplementary Exam Week 2 | |||
MBChB 6th Yr – Semester 2 Study Week | |||
MMed Semester 1 – Assessment Week 1 | |||
Mon, 20 Nov | MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Second Semester Supplementary Exams commence | ||
48 | Mon, 27 Nov– Fri, 01 Dec | Mon, 27 Nov– Fri, 01 Dec | MBChB 4th Yr – Semester 2 Supplementary Exam Week 2 |
MBChB 6th Yr – Semester 2 Supplementary Exams Week | |||
MMed Semester 1 – Assessment Week 2 | |||
Mon, 27 Nov | MBChB 5th Yr – Vacation commences | ||
MBChB 1st & 2nd Yrs – Second Semester Supplementary Exams end | |||
Fri, 01 Dec | Last day for submission of theses/dissertations to the Post-Graduate Administrative Offices for possible April 2025 Graduation | ||
49 | Mon, 04 – Fri, 08 Dec | Mon, 04 Dec | MBChB 4th & 6th Yr – Vacation commences |
Fri, 08 Dec | Supplementary marks to be captured on SMS by 12h00 | ||
50 | Mon, 11 – Fri, 15 Dec | Fri, 15 Dec | Release of 2nd semester results after Exam Boards (00:01 am) |
Sat, 16 Dec | Day of Reconciliation (Public Holiday) | ||
51 | Mon, 18 – Fri, 22 Dec | Fri, 22 Dec | University Offices close |
52 | Mon, 26 – Fri, 29 Dec | Mon, 25 Dec | Christmas Day |
Tue, 26 Dec | Day of Goodwill |
Please note: The University of KwaZulu-Natal reserves the right to change any of the said Sessional Dates, solely in its discretion, and without any liability for inconvenience and/or loss occasioned thereby.
Overview of Public Universities in South Africa
Here's an overview of some public universities in South Africa, including general admissions requirements and estimated application periods. Keep in mind, specific program requirements and dates can vary significantly, so it's important to check each university's official website for the most current information.
University of Pretoria
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with minimum scores in specific subjects related to the chosen program; for international students, equivalent qualifications.
- Application Period: Usually opens in March and closes at the end of July for most programs.
University of Cape Town
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with pass levels required for degree study; subject-specific requirements depending on the program.
- Application Period: Application opens in April and closes at the end of July.
Stellenbosch University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required marks; some programs have additional testing.
- Application Period: Opens in March and typically closes at the end of June.
University of the Witwatersrand
- Admissions Requirements: Matriculation certificate with university exemption; required scores vary by faculty.
- Application Period: Begins in March and ends on the 30th of September.
University of Johannesburg
- Admissions Requirements: Matric exemption with a minimum APS score; specific subject requirements based on the faculty.
- Application Period: Opens in April and generally closes by the 30th of September.
University of the Free State
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific marks for the program applied to; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Typically opens in April and closes at the end of August.
University of Venda
- Admissions Requirements: Completion of the National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for diploma or degree studies; specific APS scores needed.
- Application Period: Usually from May to September.
University of Fort Hare
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; certain programs may have specific requirements.
- Application Period: Opens around May and closes at the end of September.
University of the Western Cape
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific performance levels; additional requirements for certain programs.
- Application Period: Generally from May to September.
North-West University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with university exemption; program-specific requirements may apply.
- Application Period: Opens in March and usually closes by the end of August.
Rhodes University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate or equivalent; minimum academic performance in certain subjects.
- Application Period: Applications open in April and close at the end of September.
Nelson Mandela University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; portfolio or additional tests for some faculties.
- Application Period: Opens in April, with a deadline at the end of August for most programs.
Cape Peninsula University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores; additional requirements for certain courses.
- Application Period: Opens in May and typically closes by the end of September.
University of Limpopo
- Admissions Requirements: Senior Certificate with endorsement for diploma or degree courses; specific APS scores for different programs.
- Application Period: From April to September.
University of Zululand
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with an endorsement for bachelor’s degree studies; specific score requirements for various programs.
- Application Period: Usually between April and November.
Central University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with specific scores for the chosen field of study; additional criteria for certain programs.
- Application Period: Application period generally starts in May and ends in October.
Vaal University of Technology
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with a pass that qualifies for admission to bachelor’s degree, diploma, or higher certificate programs.
- Application Period: Typically from May to September.
Walter Sisulu University
- Admissions Requirements: National Senior Certificate with required scores for chosen programs; additional criteria for certain faculties.
- Application Period: From April to September.
This list provides a starting point for understanding the admissions landscape across South Africa's diverse higher education institutions. Given the variability in programs and requirements, it's crucial to consult each university's website for the most accurate and up-to-date information.