Selection guidelines - Stellenbosch University. What sets us apart?

has been dispatched and only if verified by the school principal, provided that theselection office receives the form not later than the end of June of the relevant year.1.3 The selection factor is calculated by adding up the academic and non-academic meritmarks, as well as the NBT average in a 45:30:25 ratio. All applicants are then rankedaccording to merit, which forms the basis for selection.1.4 The selection process takes place as follows:1.4.1 The top 20 applicants are selected in priority sequence according to the selectionfactor, irrespective of country of origin, race or any other considerations.1.4.2 Then all black, coloured and Asian applicants who qualify, will be selected until allthe available places have been filled.1.4.3 Coloured, Asian and black students with an average percentage of 60 – 64.9% areconsidered for admission to the extended degree programme (EDP). This group doesnot form part of the mainstream programme. Preference will be given to applicantswho passed at least 2 of the NBT tests on intermediate (or higher) level. There is alimited number of places available every year for admission to the EDP and places arefilled according to merit. Applicants who obtain an average percentage between 60and 64.9% may also be admitted to the mainstream programme, if they passed at least2 of the NBT tests on the proficient level.1.4.4 Qualifying foreign nationals are normally not considered.1.4.5 If there is still space available in the programme after all coloured, Asian and blackapplicants have been selected, applicants are then selected according to order ofpriority until all spaces have been filled.1.4.6 When all the available places are filled, approximately 30 of the remaining applicantswho qualify are put on the waiting list, as follows:The order is determined by the calculated selection factor.As soon as the final National Senior Certificate marks (or equivalent) becomeavailable, these are used instead of the final Grade 11 marks and the waitinglist order is adjusted accordingly.Cancellations are replaced from the waiting list according to merit based on theselection factor, provided that there is place in the programme.1.4.7 Initially unsuccessful applicants who earn significantly higher marks in the NationalSenior Certificate examination (or equivalent) and meet the minimum admissionrequirements, can apply for reconsideration within 7 working days after the resultshave been made available. These applications will then be considered together withthe applicants on the waiting list, if such a person obtains a new calculated selectionfactor that falls within the order of ranking on the waiting list.2. REGISTERED STUDENTS2.1 Approximately 10 of the places are filled from this group.3

2.8.2 In the case of students who complete the degree in the year concerned, preference willbe given to students who complete the degree in the prescribed time, no fail commentsappear on the record, and with a weighted average of at least 60% for the duration ofthe programme. In the case of first year students, preference will be given to studentswho pass all their subjects with a weighted average of at least 60%.2.8.3 In the case of post graduate students, undergraduate performance is also considered.2.8.4 Students who are selected for BSc in Physiotherapy I could be exempted fromcorresponding modules which they have passed, according to certain criteria, but allthe modules from which they are not exempted must be passed in order for them to bepromoted to Physiotherapy II the following year.2.9 Registered SU students’ applications are considered in early December, after thefinal results have become available. Students who do not make use of the firstexamination opportunity, cannot be considered.2.10 Applications for admission from students of other universities are considered inJanuary of the following year, after their final results have been received.2.11 Students are ranged in order of priority on the basis of the preceding considerations,and this serves as point of departure for the selection process. All registered students,both undergraduate and postgraduate, compete jointly for these places. Specialconsideration may be given to black, Asian and coloured students who meet theminimum requirements described in 2.8.2.2.12 When all the available places are filled, qualifying applicants are placed on a waitinglist according to academic merit. Cancellations are filled from the waiting listaccording to academic merit, provided that there is place in the programme.3. APPLICANTS WITH TERTIARY QUALIFICATIONS AND/OR WORKEXPERIENCE3.1 Selection of this group of applicants takes place at the first selection opportunityduring the second semester of the preceding year.3.2 Three places at the most will be reserved for persons with tertiary qualificationsand/or work experience.3.3 The selection process takes place as follows:3.3.1 Preference will be given to applicants who have already obtained a degree in thenormal time and with a weighted average of 60% or more and who have included amotivational letter with the application.3.3.2 Although these applicants are selected according to academic, as well as nonacademicmerit, they are not selected according to the same formula as that used forcurrent learners. A shortlist of meritorious applicants is then compiled after theconsideration of all applications within this category.5

3.3.3 A final selection of applicants on the shortlist will be made after a personal interviewwith the relevant division, including at least one member of the Selection Committeeappointed in collaboration with the convenor.3.3.4 Invitation to an interview is by no means a guarantee that an applicant will be selected.C. SELECTION OF ASIAN, COLOURED AND BLACKAPPLICANTS1. The Faculty strives to bring the ethnic profile of the student in the Physiotherapyprogramme in line with the population profile of the RSA during the selection ofstudents described in categories B1 – 3, special attention is thus given to the selectionof meritorious Asian, coloured and black applicants.2. In the case of current learners, the selection factor is calculated according to the sameformula described in B1. It is taken into account that selection will not be based solelyon the 45:30:25 formula, as some applicants may not have had all the opportunities fornon-academic achievements.3. Students who are initially selected for the mainstream programme, but whose progressis unsatisfactory, based on their first semester final marks are identified and invited toapply for joining the extended degree programme (EDP). However, in exceptionalcases the Selection Committee may select students directly for the EDP from theonset.4. Applicants with a Grade 11 average of 60 and 64.9% are normally admitted directly tothe EDP. Only a limited number of places is available and will be filled according tomerit.5. Black, Asian and coloured students who do not meet the minimum admissionrequirements may still be admitted to the programme on the basis of a goodperformance in the NBT and at the discretion of the Faculty Board.D. ADDITIONAL SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION1. Medical reportAll applicants must submit a medical form before they are admitted so that theprospective students can be advised in a non-discriminatory manner of the suitabilityof the specific profession and programme by 31 July.2. Clinical visitAll applicants must provide proof that they have visited at least one physiotherapydepartment at a general hospital where physiotherapists are employed by 31 July.It is recommended that you familiarise yourself with the questions on the form beforeyour visit.6

E. TAKING THE NATIONAL BENCHMARK TESTS (NBT)1. All current learners or applicants who have completed school (B1), who apply foradmission to BSc in Physiotherapy, irrespective of the percentage or total theyobtained in the Grade 11 or 12 examinations, must take the NBT. The averagepercentage of these tests counts toward 30% of the selection factor.2. The tests will be conducted countrywide at various centres.3. Prospective Health Sciences students must write the NBT before the closing datewhich is determined annually (see www.maties.com) by registering (at least 3 weeksbefore the test date) at www.nbt.ac.za to secure a place at the relevant venue.4. Prospective students must write all tests on the same day.5. If a student makes use of more than one opportunity to write the NBT during thesame year, only the results of the first test opportunity will be considered forselection purposes.6. Registered university students (B2) and applicants with tertiary qualifications and/orwork experience (B3) are exempted from this requirement.F. FOREIGN NATIONALSApplications from foreign nationals are normally not considered.G. PROCEDURES TO BE FOLLOWED FOR THE SELECTIONPROCESS1. APPLICATION FORMS1.1 Applicants can apply electronically at www.maties.com1.2 The closing date for submitting applications, including the non-academic meritquestionnaire, for consideration during the initial selection process, is 31 May of theyear that precedes registration.1.3 The medical report and clinical visitation form must reach the selection offices by nolater than 31 July.2. PROCESSING OF APPLICATIONS2.1 A complete database of each applicant is compiled based on the information capturedby the applicant on the online application form. At the same time, the current learners’or applicants who have completed schools’ (B1) marks are processed electronically.7

2.2 The questionnaires on non-academic merit are checked and the marks are calculated asindicated in B.1.2.3. The marks are also captured and, together with the school marks,as well as the average of the NBT marks, are processed on computer in order todetermine the final selection factor. (The selection factor is used to determine anapplicant’s position on the merit list).2.3 The academic records of registered students (B2) as well as those of graduates (B3),are processed by hand and an average percentage is calculated. These students are thenconsidered on the basis of academic performance, although non-academic merit mayalso be taken into consideration in the case of graduates (B3).2.4 It is expected of applicants to provide an undertaking that all information provided isaccurate. In the event that it should be discovered that a selected applicant hasprovided false information or has withheld information, he/she might forfeit theirselection.3. SELECTION OPPORTUNITIES3.1 The first selection takes place during the second semester of the previous year. On thisoccasion current learners and applicants who have completed school (B1), as well asapplicants with post-school experience and/or post-school qualifications (B3) areconsidered. The selection of the latter applicants (who are put on a short list) is onlyfinalised after interviews with the members of the Selection Committee (see B3.3.3and B3.3.4).3.2 The applications of registered students (B2) are only considered after their finaluniversity results have become available (in December in the case of SU students, orin January in the case of students from other universities).3.3 Scimathus students are considered in January in the same category as applicants whohave completed school (on the basis of their new selection factor).3.4 Further selection from the waiting list takes place continuously, depending oncancellations received and available places in the programme.3.5 Selection is finalised two weeks after the commencement of the first semester classesfor Physiotherapy I.4. SENDING OUT SELECTION LETTERS4.1 After the selection meetings, applicants are informed in writing of the selectionresults.4.2 Selected applicants must respond within 4 weeks from mailing the selection letters,stating whether or not they accept the offer.4.3 If they accept the selection offer, the prescribed selection deposit is due. The amountwill be to the student’s credit. Applicants who accept their selection offer, pay theprescribed selection deposit and afterwards cancel their selection of their own accord,will not be refunded their selection deposit.8

4.4 The places of applicants who do not respond to the offer and who cannot be reachedadministratively, will be cancelled.5. APPLICANTS WHO NO LONGER MEET THE ADMISSIONREQUIREMENTS AFTER THE FINAL NATIONAL SENIORCERTIFICATERESULTS HAVE BECOME AVAILABLE5.1 Applicants who obtained provisional acceptance during the first selection round andwho do not meet the minimum requirements with their final matric results, will forfeittheir selection and the selection deposit will be refunded.5.2 The applications of black, Asian and coloured applicants who forfeit their selectioncan be reconsidered at the discretion of the Faculty Board on condition thatsatisfactory results were obtained in the NBT.G. COMPOSITION OF THE SELECTION COMMITTEEThe Selection Committee comprises the following members:The Executive Head: Interdisciplinary Health Sciences (Chairperson)The Dean, Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesThe Deputy Dean (Education), Faculty of Medicine and Health SciencesThe Deputy Dean (Community Service and Interaction), Faculty of Medicineand Health SciencesThe Head of Division: Occupational TherapyThe Head of Division: Speech-Language and Hearing TherapyThe Head of Division: Human NutritionThe Head of Division: PhysiotherapyOne member of the MB,ChB Selection Committee, appointed by thiscommittee.25 March 20139