Student health and wellness

The University of Cape Town (UCT) works hard to create a safe and nurturing environment for all students. We offer a wide range of support services with the understanding that your wellness goes beyond physical health. Our services include health counselling, mental health services, and support for students with disabilities.

Student Wellness Service 

The Student Wellness Service (SWS) provides medical and counselling services to students at primary healthcare level. The service is there to help you make healthy lifestyle choices about nutrition, alcohol use, safe sex, relationships, and stress management, among others – all in support of academic success.

The SWS offers:

• Medical service: Make an appointment on the UCT App or SWS website for an online or face-to-face consultation with a clinical nurse practitioner. Services include HIV testing and counselling, treatment for sexually transmitted infections, and they provide basic contraceptives free of charge. The service offers advice on the prevention and support for acute and chronic conditions like asthma, anxiety, depression, diabetes, tuberculosis; and also helps with minor surgical procedures. Services are offered at clinics in the Steve Biko building (upper campus) and Ivan Toms building (lower campus).

• Pharmacy service: This service is available to students who have a valid prescription from an SWS clinician. Students can also walk in and get medication as they normally would at any other pharmacy, and essential medication is sold at a cost. Students can book to collect repeat medication online. UCT’s pharmacy is in the Ivan Toms Building.

• Mental health support: Counselling services are available via an appointment for a virtual or face-to-face consultation with a psychologist, social worker or registered counsellor. There is the Ivan Toms clinic as well as satellite offices around campus. Students need to confirm the consultation venue with the therapist after making a booking on the UCT App or SWS website. SWS provides mental health support and can make referrals for specialised support and care.

• • The UCT Student Careline is a telephonic service available 24/7 on 0800 24 25 26 (free from a Telkom line) or you can SMS 31393 for a call-back. They offer counselling, advice, referral facilities and general support if you are facing any mental health challenges or emotional distress.

• • Higher Health 24-hour Crisis helpline on 0800 36 36 36

SWS gives you easy access to a clinical nurse practitioner, psychologist, social worker, counsellors and peer educators via their online platform or UCT App.

Students can call and obtain nursing advice on the triage line on 021 650 5620 from 08:30 to 16:30.

In a medical emergency, call the Campus Protection Services Risk Operation Centre at 021 650 2222 to dispatch the UCT Medical Emergency Response Team.

Visit us at the Ivan Toms Building, 28 Rhodes Avenue, Mowbray 
021 650 1017/20

Hours of operation: Monday-Friday: 08:30 to 16:30. Closed on weekends and public holidays.

Queries may be sent to the SWS practice manager at SWS Practice Manager

For more information, visit the SWS website.