Wikipedia

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
Former names
Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA) (1976-2005)
MEDUNSA Campus of the University of Limpopo (2005-2015)
MottoKnowledge for Quality Health Services
TypePublic University
Established1 January 2015
ChancellorDr Penny Moumakwa
Vice-ChancellorProf. Tandi Matsha-Erasmus
Studentsapprox. 7000
Location
Ga-Rankuwa (next to Dr George Mukhari Academic Hospital) Tshwane
,
Gauteng Province
,
South Africa

25°37′8″S 28°1′22″E / 25.61889°S 28.02278°E / -25.61889; 28.02278
ColoursOrange, Blue, White
     
Websitehttp://www.smu.ac.za/
Map

Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU; Afrikaans: Sefatho Makgatho Universiteit vir Gesondheidswetenskappe), formerly known as Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA), is a public medical university in Ga-Rankuwa, Gauteng Province, South Africa.[1] Its current incarnation was formed on 1 January 2015.[2] It is named after South African ANC leader Sefako Makgatho.[3]

History

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The Medical University of South Africa (MEDUNSA) was established in 1976 to provide medical education to black students, who were restricted from attending most medical schools in South Africa by the Apartheid government,[4] with a few exceptions at segregated non-white-only medical schools.[5][6]

The seat of the university is located at Ga-Rankuwa.[7] The name change from MEDUNSA to Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) was one of the causes of the riots in August 2014.[8] From 2005 to 2015, the university was a campus of the University of Limpopo, but it was separated following a review of the merger.[9] The launch on 14 April 2015 was attended by President Jacob Zuma and Minister of Higher Education Blade Nzimande, with the president delivering the keynote address.

Ranking and Reputation

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SMU has shown an upward trend in various national and global university rankings from 2020 to 2025, consistently improving its position.[10]

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings

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Source:[11]

The Times Higher Education (THE) ranking is an annual publication that provides a global ranking of universities based on performance metrics across five areas: teaching, research environment, research quality, industry income, and international outlook.[12]

SMU Times Higher Education Impact Ranking [13]
Year World Impact Ranking
2026 1001-1500
2025 1001-1500
2024 n/a
SMU Times Higher Education World Ranking
Year World Rank National Rank Overall Teaching Research Environment Research Quality Industry International Outlook
2026 1201-1500 11th 27.3-32.0 26.0 11.1 42.7 19.2 50.0
2025 1201-1500 11th 25.2–30.6 25.4 10.6 48.1 18.3 47.5
2024 n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a

URAP - University Ranking by Academic Academic Performance

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URAP, or the University Ranking by Academic Performance, is a global university ranking system developed by the Informatics Institute of Middle East Technical University that ranks higher education institutions based on the quality and quantity of their scholarly publications and research output. It uses data from sources like Web of Science to assess performance in terms of scientific productivity, research impact, research quality, and international collaboration. The system aims to help universities identify areas for improvement and is updated annually. The key indicators is based on a set of weighting scores assigned through the Delphi system. Each indicator receives a percentage of the total score, with weights assigned as follows: Article (21%), Total Document (10%), Citation (21%), Article Impact Total (AIT) (18%), Citation Impact Total (CIT) (15%), and International Collaboration (15%). Since 2020, SMU has consistently improved, demonstrating significant progress each year.[14]

SMU URAP Global Ranking [15]
Year World Rank Article Citation Total Document AIT CIT International Collaboration Total
2024/2025 2166 26.95 43.68 19.44 31.59 27.41 34.52 183.59
2023/2024 2229 26.98 33.92 17.48 24.91 30.43 24.25 157.97
2022/2023 2306 27.1 35.91 16.2 29.75 16.82 27.51 163.29
2021/2022 2445 13.99 32.03 10.29 29.28 32.41 19.15 137.15
2020/2021 2591 8.25 30.93 6.49 21.48 25.44 16.71 109.19

Organization

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Organizational

Council

  • Judge NM Mavundla - Former Chairperson
  • Ms MM Rambauli - Chairperson
  • Prof Peter Mbati - Vice-Chancellor
  • Dr J Mabelebele - Registrar
  • Linda Rojie - President of Convocation
  • Ernest Sambo - Convocation

Convocation

  • Linda Rojie - President
  • Mogomotsi Poppy Mmamolefe- Vice-President
  • Sixishe Camagwini Khanya - Secretary
  • Ernest Sambo
  • Sepirwa Edward Kgabo
  • Dr Mbhodi Langanani

Degree programmes

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The following degree programmes are offered:[16]

School of Medicine

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  • Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) (incl. ECP)
  • Master of Medicine – MMed (in various specialisations)
  • Master of Science in Clinical Psychology (MSc Clinical Psychology)
  • Doctor of Medicine (MD in General Surgery)
  • PhD (in various specialisations)
  • Bachelor of Diagnostic Radiography (BRad Diag)
  • Diploma in Emergency medical care (Paramedic)
  • Higher certificate in Emergency medical care (ECA)

School of Oral Health

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  • Bachelor of Dental Sciences (BDS)
  • Master of Dentistry (MDent) (various specialisations)
  • PhD in Dentistry
  • Bachelor of Dental Therapy (BDT)
  • Bachelor of Oral Hygiene (BOH)
  • School of Pharmacy
  • Bachelor of Pharmacy (BPharm)
  • Master of Pharmacy (MPharm)
  • PhD in Pharmacy (PharmD)
  • Postgraduate Diploma (Hospital Pharmacy Management)

School of Health Care Sciences

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Department of Nursing Sciences

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  • Baccalaureus Curationis (BCur) (I et A)
  • Bachelor of Nursing Science Honours (in various specialisations)
  • Master of Nursing Science (in various specialisations)
  • PhD in Nursing Sciences
  • Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing
  • Advanced Diploma in Occupational Health Nursing

Department of Human Nutrition and Dietetics

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  • Bachelor of Science in Dietetics
  • Masters of Science in Dietetics
  • PhD in Dietetics

Department of Occupational Therapy

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  • Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
  • Masters of Occupational Therapy
  • PhD in Occupational Therapy

Department of Physiotherapy

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  • Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy
  • Master of Science in Physiotherapy (in various specialization)
  • Master of Science in Physiotherapy (in various specialization)
  • PhD in Physiotherapy

Department of Speech Language Pathology and Audiology

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  • Bachelor of Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology

School of Science and Technology

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  • Bachelor of Science, majoring in:
  • Chemistry, Computer Science, Physiology, Psychology, Biology, Biochemistry, Physics, Mathematics and Applied Mathematics, Statistics
  • Extended Curriculum Programme (ECP) 4 years
  • Bachelor of Science Honours
  • Masters of Science
  • PhD.

References

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  1. ^ "Medunsa to be split from University of Limpopo". Business Day Live. Archived from the original on 2020-07-11. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  2. ^ "SA: Sefako University to incorporate Medunsa Campus". africanbrains.net. Archived from the original on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  3. ^ "allAfrica.com: South Africa: Minister Blade Nzimande Launches Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, 14 Apr". allAfrica.com. Archived from the original on 2015-04-14. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  4. ^ "University of Limpopo". Ul.ac.za. Archived from the original on 2021-02-14. Retrieved 2021-02-17.
  5. ^ Digby, Anne (2013). "Black Doctors and Discrimination under South Africa's Apartheid Regime". Medical History. 57 (2): 269–290. doi:10.1017/mdh.2012.106. PMC 3867842. PMID 24070349.
  6. ^ Bhana, Surendra; Vahed, Goolam (January 2011). "'Colours Do Not Mix': Segregated Classes at the University of Natal, 1936–1959". Journal of Natal and Zulu History. 29 (1): 66–100. doi:10.1080/02590123.2011.11964165. hdl:10413/8121. S2CID 142593969.
  7. ^ SAPA. "SABC News - Gauteng to open new university in 201517 May 2014". sabc.co.za. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  8. ^ "Medunsa students receive death threats". The Citizen. Archived from the original on 2015-04-16. Retrieved 2015-04-10.
  9. ^ "New Gauteng university to open in 2015 | News24". Archived from the original on 2018-12-04. Retrieved 2018-05-31.
  10. ^ "SMU climbs up the ladder in Global Rankings". SMU. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  11. ^ "World University Rankings 2026". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  12. ^ "World University Rankings 2024". Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  13. ^ "Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University". Times Higher Education (THE). 2025-01-18. Retrieved 2025-11-03.
  14. ^ "SMU climbs up the ladder in Global Rankings". SMU. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  15. ^ "URAP - University Ranking by Academic Academic Performance". urapcenter.org. Retrieved 2025-11-06.
  16. ^ "Smu/001/2021 | Smu". Archived from the original (PDF) on 2017-01-10. Retrieved 2016-11-24.
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