Call for SADC Applicants – 2019 Intake

South African Field Epidemiology Training Programme

Call for SADC applicants – 2019 intake

The South African Field Epidemiology Training Programme (SAFETP) is requesting applications for the incoming 2018 class from qualified health professionals with interest in public health and commitment to public service.

SAFETP is hosted by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) of the National Health Laboratory Services (NHLS) for the National Department of Health (NDOH).  The programme is a combination of didactic and practical training in which the resident is grounded in the academic basics of applied epidemiology and is assigned to field sites where s/he learns by doing while being mentored by supervisors in projects that address key public health priorities within the respective countries and within the regions.

This residency programme is two-year, full-time training, from which residents graduate with a Masters in Public Health (MPH) from the University of Pretoria OR a Masters in Epidemiology (MSc) in Field Epidemiology from the University of the Witwatersrand. The 2019 cohort will begin in January 2019 and end in December 2020 and applicants are required to apply to both universities.

The Course is conducted in English, and the international applicant must have the required visa and permissions to study in South Africa.  The applicants must ensure that all the costs related to participation in SAFETP are fully covered for the two years of training – salaries/stipends, university registration and tuition fees, accommodation, travel and accommodation to investigate outbreaks – by their respective governments.

Work experience requirements

  • Professional experience in a health field or other fields relevant to health
  • Experience of working in the public health system is desirable

Minimal Educational requirements (all degrees should be in health, laboratory or public health-related field from an accredited university):

  • A medical, veterinary or dentistry degree; OR
  • A doctorate in a medical/health related field; OR
  • A master’s degree in a medical or health-related field; OR
  • An honour’ s/bachelor’s degree with prior research experience

 

Please note that a B Tech degree does not fulfil the minimum educational requirements of the University of Pretoria, the University of the Witwatersrand and the SAFETP.

Key requirements:

Applicants must:

  • Be registered with their respective professional bodies
  • Be fluent in spoken and written English
  • Be computer literate and proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook for use in communication, word processing, analysis, presentation and report generation. Knowledge of a statistical package will be an advantage
  • Have a valid driver’s license and be willing to drive a hired car
  • Provide proof of current physical residential address for future purposes of Domicilium citandi et executandi.

How to apply

  1. If you meet all the requirements, download and complete the application and two reference forms that are available on our website: http://www.nicd.ac.za/?page=how_to_apply&id=120
  2. Additional forms/documents required are:
    1. Certified copies of qualification certificates
    2. Statement of Purpose: In 700 words or less describe your career goals and your interest in applying for this programme
    3. Curriculum Vitae (CV)
    4. Results of the National Bench Mark Test –please visit the website of National Bench Mark Test via the website: nbt.ac.za and Tel: +27 (0)21 650 3523 for more information on dates and venues of the test. Please note that this is a University of Pretoria requirement and NOT a University of the Witwatersrand requirement.
    5. Foreign students who are accepted must do the Test of English as Foreign Language (TOEFL) and have their original degrees accredited by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
    6. Proof of the online application from the University of Pretoria AND the University of the Witwatersrand as follows:

University of Pretoria: http://web.up.ac.za/default.asp?ipkCategoryID=34 follow the process for applying online.

University of the Witwatersrand: Evidence of application to study Field Epidemiology in the MSc Epidemiology Programme of the University of the Witwatersrand.  Wits postgraduate application forms can be accessed online at http://www.wits.ac.za/postgraduate/applications/ Also visit the following page for the discipline-specific requirements: http://www.wits.ac.za/publichealth/academic-programmes/postgraduate/master-of-science-in-epidemiology/

Applicants should note to apply for accommodation if they require it. The deadline for accommodation application is 30 October 2018.

All these completed forms should be submitted to SAFETP via e-mail safeltp@nicd.ac.za and carlr@nicd.ac.za or couriered to the SAFETP Administration Office, Room L6, PRF Reception Building, NICD, No 1 Modderfontein Road, Sandringham, Johannesburg.

For enquiries or more information, please contact:

SAFETP: Gloria Motshudi, telephone +27 11 386 6542 e-mail safeltp@nicd.ac.za or GloriaMo@nicd.ac.za or Carl Reddy at carlr@nicd.ac.za

University of Pretoria: Mrs René de Waal at rene.dewaal@up.ac.za   or Mr Reuben Semenya at reuben.semenya@up.ac.za

University of the Witwatersrand: Busi Mamabolo, telephone: +27 11 717 2605, email busi.mamabolo@wits.ac.za 

Closing dates:

University of Pretoria – 31 July 2018

University of the Witwatersrand – 31 July 2018

SAFETP – 31 July 2018

Correspondence will be made with shortlisted candidates only. If you have not heard from SAFETP within six weeks of the closing date, please consider your application to be unsuccessful. For further information, please visit the website: http://www.nicd.ac.za/?page=safeltp&id=74