Education
The Division of Radiation Oncology at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Campus, is one of six existing, fully academic divisions/departments that train Clinical Oncologists in South Africa. Our training program for specialist registrars has been fully accredited by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa’s College of Radiation Oncologists and the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) as a 4-year full-time training program. Many members of specialist consultants serve as College examiners. We offer a structured program of theoretical and clinical teaching to guide the trainees through their program. We welcome both local and international trainees from the African continent and train a cohort of around 14 registrars at any given time.
The training program runs over 4 years and requires students to pass 2 examinations that are conducted by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA). The Part I examination includes written papers on Applied Anatomy, Radiobiology and cancer biology, and Medical Physics. This examination must be passed after 6 and before 18 months of training. The Part II or final examination can be attempted after completing 3 years of training, and includes all clinical aspects of the speciality. The examination consists of 3 written papers and an OSPE/Oral examination. Further details of the examination process can be found on the CMSA website at:
https://www.cmsa.co.za/view_college.aspx?collegeid=22
A research project is undertaken during the 4 years of training to ensure adequate exposure to both basic and advanced aspects of clinical research. Research dissertations are examined by both internal and external examiners who are experts in the field. Obtaining a pass mark for the research dissertation as well as the Part II examination will lead to the awarding of an MMed (Radiation Therapy) degree by the University as well as an FC Rad Onc qualification by the CMSA after 4 years of full-time training has been completed.
