Application to the Graduate Entry Medical Program (GEMP) at the University of Witwaterstrand opened in the first week of April 2021.
The GEMP allows qualifying and selected applicants to enter MBBCH program at Year 3 of study. This is an excellent program that would allow one to complete their medical degree in 4 years instead of 6 years. Wits is the only university in the country that offers this program.
Applicants are required to meet certain minimum requirements and those that do may then be invited to write the Wits Additional Placement Test (WAPT). Information on the application requirements and the WAPT can all be found on the Wits Websitehttps://www.wits.ac.za/health/gemp/. This website offers comprehensive information on the program and it’s requirements. If you have additional queries about the program you can also contact Ms Tabea Lephuthing (tabea.lephuthing@wits.ac.za) who is the Senior Faculty Officer. I have contacted Ms Tabea a number of times for queries I had in previous years and I have always been surprised and impressed by how fast she replies to emails. If you are student, you should know of painfully long the turn around time of university administration can take.
I have completed my application but I am currently having technical difficulties with submission. I have contacted the university for assistance and hope it will be resolved soon. While the applications close on 30 June 2021, previous applicants have advised that it is best apply as soon possible as early applicants tend to know if they are invited to write the WAPT much sooner than those who apply towards the closing date. This can be an advantage as you can design your study timetable well in advanced.
I have not been invited to write the WAPT yet but I have already started studying for the exam. The volume of the material that you would need to cover is large and it is best to start preparing as soon as possible more so if you currently have other academic responsibilities, a job or have not been previously exposed to Anatomy, Physiology and Molecular Medicine. The exam structure and recommended study material is available on the university website.
As mentioned above, Wits is the only medical school in the country that offers this program so the competition is naturally very high and the spot are limited. I have known about the GEMP since 2014 so I am really curious as to why other universities have not been able to design similar programs. In 2017 it was estimated that South Africa’s doctor to patient ratio per 1000 people was less than 1 https://data.worldbank.org/indicator/SH.MED.PHYS.ZS?locations=ZA. This highlights that there is strong need for South Africa to increase the number of doctors it produces. I truly hope other medical schools will increase their postgraduate selection capacity and expedited the learning process by allowing access to year 3 of study.
If you’re also applying to the GEMP or have previously applied I would love to hear your experience.
Sunny
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