Undergraduate Education
Delivering undergraduate medical education through integrated, community-based courses across health centres, hospitals, and rural sites, building clinical, communication, and multilingual skills for patient-centred care
The Department of Family, Community and Emergency care (FaCE) plays a central role in undergraduate medical education at the University of Cape Town. Our teaching integrates clinical practice, community-based learning, and interdisciplinary training to prepare students for real-world healthcare systems.
Students are exposed to primary, secondary, and tertiary care, with a strong focus on community-oriented, patient-centred care and the bio-psycho-social model of health
Our Approach to Undergraduate Teaching
Integrated learning
- Courses combine family medicine, clinical skills, and language training
- Learning happens across disciplines, not in silos
Community-based education
- Training takes place in community health centres, hospitals, and rural settings
- Strong focus on real-world healthcare delivery
Patient-centred care
Emphasis on:
- Communication
- Empathy
- Ethical practice
- Reflective learning
Blended learning model
- Tutorials (small groups)
- Clinical exposure
- Online + in-person learning
Multilingual communication
- Training includes English, isiXhosa, and Afrikaans
- Prepares students for diverse patient populations
Our Undergraduate Courses
Becoming a doctor – part 1 (fce2000w)
Overview
An integrated course introducing students to:
- Clinical skills
- Family medicine
- Communication and languages
Credits & level
- 21 nqf credits (level 6)
Learning experience
- Tutorials and small group learning
- Site visits
- Clinical exposure across healthcare levels
What students learn
- Interviewing patients
- Doctor–patient relationships
- Health systems understanding
- Health promotion & disease prevention
Assessment
- Objective structured clinical examination (osce)
- Portfolio-based assessment
- Written and in-course assessments
Becoming a doctor – part 2 (fce3000f)
Overview
Builds on part 1 with deeper clinical engagement and integration.
Credits
- 10 nqf credits (level 7)
Focus areas:
- Advanced consultation skills
- Clinical reasoning
- Community-based care
Assessment:
- Osce
- Continuous assessments (100%)
Special study module (ssm) fce2003f/s
Overview
Students undertake a research or project-based module aligned with their interests.
Credits
- 16 nqf credits (level 6)
Purpose:
- Develop research skills
- Engage in interdisciplinary learning
Family medicine & palliative care (fce6000w)
Overview
A 4-week clinical rotation preparing students for internship.
Credits
- 21 nqf credits (level 8)
Clinical training structure:
- 2 weeks: Community health centres (Cape Town)
- 2 weeks: Rural rotation (e.g. Vredenburg)
Key competencies:
- Clinical: diagnose and manage common conditions, hiv care at primary level and chronic disease management
- Communication: breaking bad news and counselling patients and families
- Professional: ethics and medico-legal practice and multidisciplinary teamwork
Key competencies:
- Osce (60%)
- Patient study (25%)
- Clinical performance (15%)
Long elective (fce6001w)
- 4-week elective
- Research or clinical focus
- Written report required
Short elective (fce6005w)
- 2-week elective
- Pass/fail assessment
Clinical training environments
Students are trained across
- Community health centres
- District health systems
- Hospitals
- Rural healthcare settings
Impact-driven
- Community-based care
- Home visits and palliative care
- Exposure to public and private sectors
How students are assessed
Assessment methods:
- Osce (clinical exams)
- Written exams
- Continuous assessment
- Portfolios
- Clinical performance
Key principle
👉 students must pass each integrated component independently
DEVELOPING THE DOCTOR YOU WANT TO BE
Clinical reasoning
Patient communication
Multilingual consultation
Ethical decision-making
Community health understanding
Reflective practice
READY TO LEARN MORE?
Find out more about our undergraduate programmes and how to apply.