By Charmaine Ndlela
The University of South Africa (Unisa) has opened applications for 10 South African students to study towards a fully funded six-year Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) degree at the University of Namibia (UNAM) in Windhoek.
The programme, offered in partnership with UNAM, is aimed at developing a new generation of veterinarians who will contribute to South Africa’s veterinary sector and help lay the foundation for Unisa’s planned School of Veterinary Science.
The selected students will complete their veterinary studies at UNAM before returning to South Africa to contribute to veterinary education, research and animal health.
Unisa will cover the students’ registration, tuition, accommodation, travel and living expenses for the duration of the programme.
In a press release, the university said the opportunity was more than a scholarship, as it would offer successful applicants the chance to become part of the founding generation of veterinarians who will contribute to the development of the future school.
The six-year programme will be completed at UNAM’s School of Veterinary Medicine at its Neudamm Campus in Namibia.
The BVM qualification is accredited by the Namibian Veterinary Council and follows guidelines set by the World Organisation for Animal Health.
Students who graduate from the programme will also be able to return to South Africa and register as veterinarians without sitting the South African Veterinary Council’s additional registration examination, due to the existing reciprocity agreement between the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) and the Namibian Veterinary Council.
The partnership follows a major development in veterinary education in the region, with the SAVC and Namibian Veterinary Council entering into a Mutual Recognition Agreement.
The agreement was formalised in Pretoria on 14 July 2025 after an accreditation audit of UNAM’s BVM programme conducted in November 2024.
The opportunity is open to South African citizens who meet the required admission criteria.
The university said it will prioritise current Unisa students who meet the admission requirements, followed by Unisa graduates and alumni. Grade 12 learners who have completed or are completing the National Senior Certificate (NSC) and are not enrolled in further education or training may also apply.
Applicants following the NSC or Independent Examination Board route must have a Bachelor’s degree endorsement and meet the required subject levels.
These include at least Level 5 in English, Mathematics, Physical Science or Chemistry and Life Science, with an overall APS of 35. Life Orientation is excluded when calculating the APS.
These are Unisa’s minimum requirements for initial screening, while final admission to UNAM will be determined according to UNAM’s own points system and subject requirements.
There are also alternative admission routes for applicants with relevant qualifications.
Those with an NQF Level 7 science degree from Unisa in fields such as Animal Science, Zoology, Biochemistry or Microbiology may qualify if they achieved a final-year average of at least 75%, with no module below 65%, and meet the specified school-level Mathematics, Physical Science or Chemistry and Life Science requirements.
Applicants holding a three-year Unisa Diploma in Animal Health may also qualify if they meet the required academic standards.
Unisa said the final group will also seek to reflect South Africa’s demographic profile and geographic distribution.
Applicants must submit a single PDF containing a motivation letter of no more than two pages, a comprehensive CV, a certified copy of their South African ID and certified academic records. Certified documents must not be older than three months.
Grade 12 learners completing the NSC in 2026 must submit their latest available results, while current university students and graduates must provide their full academic transcripts and qualification certificates where applicable.
Applications close on 15 August 2026 and must be emailed to daahapplications@unisa.ac.za.
