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Supernumerary Registrar - Formal Degree Studies

  1. What classifies a foreign postgraduate applicant as a Formal Studies Supernumerary Registrar?
    1. These are duly qualified medical professionals who are applying to enrol for a Masters or Doctorate level degree at the University of the Witwatersrand.
    2. They are required to fulfil all entry requirements for study of a Masters / Doctorate degree and they have to comply with all regulations regarding progression, deadlines and examinations towards qualification.
    3. These students will work in the Wits-affiliated Academic Hospitals, under supervision of the relevant Head of the Department or his/her designate as a Registrar, but the Supernumerary Registrars will receive no remuneration from the University, the department, the hospital or the Gauteng Department of Health.
  2. Minimum entry requirements
    1. Master’s degree studies
      1. A completed undergraduate medical degree
      2. Completed internship period
      3. Active registration in good standing with the medical council of the applicant’s home country.
      4. There may be further minimum requirements applicable to specific disciplines
    2. Subspecialty training
      1. A completed Masters degree in the relevant specialty field
      2. All other requirements as per Master’s degree studies
    3. Examples of Clinical Departments that provide training to foreign postgraduate students
      1. Anaesthesia
      2. Surgery
      3. Dermatology
      4. Radiology
      5. Emergency Medicine
      6. Internal Medicine
      7. Neurology
      8. Nuclear Medicine
      9. Obstetrics & Gynaecology
      10. Ophthalmology
      11. Otorhinolaryngology
      12. Paediatrics
      13. Radiation & Oncology
      14. Urology
    4. Formal Degree Supernumerary Registrar application process
      1. Detailed description of entire application process
        1. The applicant downloads and completes the SNR Application Form, completes it and submits it with all the required supporting documents to the responsible Faculty Officer. The applicant also downloads and completes the FWMP Application Form, completes it and submits it with all the required supporting documents to the responsible Faculty Officer.
        2. At the same time the candidate downloads and completes the ECFMG Application Form, completes it and submits it with all the required supporting documents to the ECFMG so they can commence with the verification of the applicant’s credentials. This is a requirement of registration with the HPCSA and the ECFMG process can take several months to complete.
        3. The Faculty Officer will then open a file for the candidate and forward the application to the Head of the relevant clinical department for consideration. This consideration will include, but is not limited to, the candidate’s existing qualifications, the operational needs of the department, the number of available positions in the department that may be filled by supernumerary registrars and the skills need in the applicant’s home country.
        4. If the Head of Department approves the application, then the Faculty Officer applies on behalf of the candidate to the CEO of the relevant teaching hospital for his/her approval.
        5. If the hospital CEO approves the appointment the Faculty Officer will prepare and submit the application for endorsement to the Department of Health Foreign Workforce Management Programme (FWMP). At this time the Faculty Officer will also request the applicant to submit the HPCSA application forms with its supporting documents.
        6. On receipt of the FWMP endorsement and the HPCSA documents the Faculty Officer will prepare and submit the application for registration to the HPCSA.
        7. The HPCSA has several processes to follow before they can complete a registration. Included in this process is that they will wait for the verification of credentials report from the ECFMG. No registration will be processed until this report is received by the HPCSA. They will notify both the candidate and the University once a registration is completed. Only then can the applicant commence their training.
        8. Once the candidate is fully registered with the HPCSA and they arrive at the University the Faculty Officer will assist them with their enrolment with the University after which they can start attending the Department.
      2. Time-frame and deadline for applications
        1. For commencement of study in January, the deadline for applications is 30 March of the preceding year.
        2. For commencement of study in July, the deadline for applications is 30 September of the preceding year.
        3. Due to unforeseen delays from the ECFMG and the HPCSA, an applicant’s starting date may be postponed to allow for all processes to finish. A candidate is NOT allowed to commence their studies until they are fully registered with the HPCSA.
    5. Application Forms and Staff Contacts
      1. The application forms may be downloaded from the Forms and Contacts page, where you will also find details of the staff members in the Faculty Postgraduate Administration Office to contact for more information.
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