Cape Peninsula University of Technology


CPUT is the only university of Technology in the Western Cape, and the largest university in the province.

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Faculties and Short Courses Faculties Health and Wellness Sciences Departments and contacts

Nursing Science

Nursing is a science and an art, using the nursing process of assessing, planning, implementing nursing actions and evaluating outcomes of nursing care. Are you a nurturer at heart? If you are passionate about helping people and interested in working in the health sector, then become an innovative carer of the future. It requires determination and accountability for studying theory and working in the clinical fields. A qualification in Nursing will offer you endless possibilities, from working in the local health sector at units in hospitals and clinics, mines, laboratories, theatre, Intensive Care Units, emergency care nursing, oncology nursing, or in non-governmental organisations to taking up opportunities abroad. Nurses are dedicated and hardworking, which is why diligence is an important attribute they need to possess. Nurses are required to work long hours, including weekends and holidays.

The Department of Nursing Science strives to provide teaching and learning based on a person-centred approach, with the focus on improved outcomes in addressing the wellness of the community. We endeavour to educate our students to be innovative carers of the future. We aim towards excellence by offering a four- year Bachelor of Nursing programme, a five-year Bachelor of Nursing (Extended Curriculum) programme, postgraduate diplomas, and a growing Masters’ programme. We have experts in the field of Oncology and Palliative Nursing, Occupational Health Nursing , Primary Care Nursing, Midwifery, Health Services Management and Nursing Education. Staff members have been inaugurated as members of the Sigma Theta Tau International (STTI) Honor Society for nursing practitioners in nursing specialist groups.

We are proud of our students whose contributions to the community and to science have been awarded at national level.

Mission and Vision

Our vision is to be a renowned Department of Nursing Science, by applying innovative technologies in Research, Teaching and Learning to enhance the development of students with the aim of transforming and sustaining health and wellbeing in communities.

Our mission is to prepare the student with the required knowledge, skills, attitudes and values to manage evidence-based practice as a professional nurse specialist.

Career prospects

Completion of the Degree provides access to postgraduate qualifications currently offered, e.g., Health Services Management; Primary Care Nursing; Oncology and Palliative Nursing; Occupational Health Nursing. There are various career opportunities within the Private and Public Health Care sectors.

Vertical articulation possibilities are for Master’s programmes by a research thesis focusing on specific specialisations in nursing, also offered by the Department of Nursing Science

Completion of a Postgraduate Diploma (PG Dip) enables you to register with the South African Nursing Council (SANC) and practice as a specialist nurse.

Bachelor of Nursing

The aim of the four-year degree programme is to prepare and develop nurse practitioners (graduate nurse and midwife) and equip them with the knowledge, skills, attitudes, and professional values to meet the health care needs of people of all ages, thereby contributing to the transformation of health in society. The graduate nurse will reflect an understanding of the social, cultural, and economic context of our country, while conforming to standards of professional nursing practices.

The curriculum is designed to prepare graduate nurses and midwifery practitioners, who are equipped to meet the increasing health needs as well as health-related problems of multicultural populations in a wide variety of health care settings, while considering the current and future social, cultural, and economic contexts of the country.

Bachelor of Nursing (Extended)

The regular first year will be extended over two academic years. The Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) will run as follows: 4 mainstream subjects offered in year 0 and 4 mainstream subjects in year 1. A person-centred approach will enable the students to conceptualise and develop sound theoretical knowledge of applied biology, natural sciences and pharmacology which provides the foundation for understanding deviations in an individual’s health status.

To further support the ECP students over the extended first year; the programme will also feature additional, compulsory credit bearing developmental modules. The developmental modules will be timetabled and facilitated by qualified academic lecturers and are intended to improve academic performance of first year ECP students. Students will therefore have extra contact time with lecturers and their peers to consolidate threshold concepts through focused teaching and learning strategies.

Minimum Entrance Requirements

All learner nurses entering the nursing programme will require a pass with a D (Matriculation before 2008) or Level 4 (Matriculation from 2008) aggregate in line with the Western Cape Provincial Administration bursary requirements at the Grade 12 Level (FET certificate or Grade 12 (Matric) certificate with an APS score of minimum 30 and permission as indicated on the Grade 12 certificate to register for a Bachelor of nursing Science degree.

Specific subjects required and achievement are:

5-year extended augmented programme

National Senior Certificate

(Grade 12) with a Bachelors pass: