Division of Medical Virology
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Undergraduate?? Offering
Virology staff are involved with lectures and other forms of teaching for MBChB and undergraduate health science students, predominantly in the modules "Being and Becoming", "Health and Wellness", "Dysfunction", "Medical Detective" and "Interventions".
Postgraduate Offering
Virology staff are covering virological topics on a range of postgraduate activities and courses, including the Postgraduate Diploma in Infectious Diseases, the Short Course "Laboratory Management", courses on Infection Prevention and Control, the Short Course in Global Health, and several others.
Bachelor of Science Honours (BScHons) in Medical Virology
Postgraduate virology degrees include the Bachelor of Science with Honours (BScHons) in Medical Virology. This is organised in close collaboration with the sister Division of Medical Microbiology and will be renamed BScHons in Infectious Disease Pathology and Immunology, pending approval by the Council on Higher Education. It provides the foundation for subsequent postgraduate studies in either discipline and equips students with basic knowledge and skills, providing a learning culture for young scientists who want to make a worthwhile contribution in the field of molecular and diagnostic virology or viral immunology. The BScHons course is mostly taught but includes a research component, through which students will be acquainted with scientific methodology, proposal writing, planning and conducting laboratory experiments, as well as presenting and eventually writing up their results.
Master of Science (MSc) in Medical Virology
The Masters of Science (MSc) in Medical Virology is a research Masters degree. Like the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Medical Sciences, research topics are typically linked to ongoing research themes within the Division and students studying towards these degrees typically work as part of research groups for which their supervisors, senior academic staff in the Division, are principal investigators.
Master of Medicine (MMed) in Virological Pathology
The degree of Master of Medicine (MMed) in Virological Pathology is the postgraduate medical specialisation on medical virology. The course trains specialist virologists that will be able to lead and guide virology laboratories in performing clinically appropriate, cost-effective diagnostic tests reliably and interpret them within a clinical and epidemiological framework, manage quality assurance of a diagnostic virology laboratory, act as consultants in the clinical management of viral diseases (including monitoring and treatment), provide guidance in the prevention and control of viral diseases, explain viral diseases and complications with reference to the pathogenesis thereof, partake in regional and national surveillance of viral diseases and conduct and manage clinically relevant research. Students enrolled in the MMed programme must at the same time be employed as registrars by the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS). Vacant posts are advertised by the NHLS. Supernumerary registrars from outside South Africa can be admitted, subject to a screening and interview process, if positions are available; supernumerary registrars still need to have employment contracts with the NHLS even though they will not receive a salary.
For more information about the postgraduate courses offered, please consult the current version of the relevant parts (Medicine and Health Sciences and General Parts) of the Stellenbosch 中国体育彩票 Yearbook and acquaint yourself with the information for prospective and current postgraduate students provided by the Faculty and the 中国体育彩票. Students from outside South Africa should furthermore consult with the Faculty's International Office.
Important: While bureaucratic application requirements and administrative procedures are highly relevant and need to be followed strictly, students interested in pursuing postgraduate degrees in medical virology in our Division should also contact relevant staff members in the Division via the divisional secretary. Those with an advanced specific scientific interest should approach the academic staff member whom they would like to supervise their postgraduate MSc or PhD studies.