Overview

Key Features

The Health Systems Science (Honours) programme offered at University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg offers four streams: Health Analytics (Data Science), Health Entrepreneurship, Health Leadership, and Leading Health Systems Research (Managing research such as clinical trials within an organisation).

Health Systems Science (HSS) is a multidisciplinary field considered one of the pillars of health sciences, alongside biomedical and clinical sciences. HSS employs a systems-thinking approach to understanding healthcare delivery, collaboration among healthcare professionals, and strategies for improving the health system at various levels. This approach aims to enhance health outcomes, such as improved patient experience, while also reducing the cost of care. Systems thinkers are in demand in private, public, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to address inherent system challenges.

Our programme plays a pivotal role in training students in the principles, methods, and practices of healthcare delivery. We examine the health system through various lenses (figure 1), adding a South African perspective. Our goal is to foster a compassionate and considerate healthcare system, shifting away from a sole focus on efficiency-based, profit-driven quality improvement.

Programme Structure

Courses include:

The programme comprises 10 subjects made up of the core curriculum and 2 electives. The core curriculum is Contemporary Health; Systems Health; Responsible Health; Innovative Health; Learning in the Workplace; Developing Health Systems Competencies; Research Methodology and the Research project.
Each stream (Health Analytics, Health Entrepreneurship, Health Leadership and Leading Health Research) is unique for inclusion of a primary choice of elective (Health Analytics, Health Analyses and Quality Improvement, Health Entrepreneurship, Leading Health Research, and one additional elective; Managing Health Projects, Medical and Health Humanities, Health Ethics, or Health Analyses and Quality Improvement.

Key information

Duration

Full-time
- 12 months

Start dates & application deadlines

Starting 2027-02-10 00:00:00
- Apply before 2026-09-30 00:00:00

Language

English

TOEFL^® IBT

100

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Credits

140 alternative credits

Delivered

On Campus

Campus Location

Johannesburg, South Africa

Disciplines

Public Health Health Sciences Health Informatics View 20 other Bachelors in Public Health in South Africa

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Academic requirements

We are not aware of any specific GRE, GMAT or GPA grading score requirements for this programme.

English requirements

TOEFL^® IBT

100

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Other requirements

General requirements

This is an interdisciplinary programme that considers students from a variety of undergraduate programmes. These include Bachelor of Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, and Computer Science, Humanities and Law. Other qualifications at the NQF 7 level may also be considered.
For Health Analytics, students must have achieved an average of 65% in Mathematics during their matriculation. Additionally, a minimum average of 65% is needed for applicants to this Honours course.
Your curriculum vitae (CV)
Letter of motivation
Two references
A Problem statement
An added advantage is a link to your portfolio of learning.

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Tuition Fees

Tuition fees are shown in and the most likely applicable fee is shown based on your nationality.

International Applies to you

Applies to you

Non-residents

53320 ZAR / year

≈ 53320 ZAR / year
Domestic Applies to you

Applies to you

Citizens or residents

53320 ZAR / year

≈ 53320 ZAR / year

Additional Details

R53,320 – R56,910

Living costs

Johannesburg

South Africa

8434 - 12036 ZAR / month

The living costs include the total expenses per month, covering accommodation, public transportation, utilities (electricity, internet), books and groceries.

Funding

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Scholarships Information

Below you will find Bachelor's scholarship opportunities for Health Systems Science (Honours).

Available Scholarships

You are eligible to apply for these scholarships but a selection process will still be applied by the provider.

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