What backgrounds do HPFP students at TAU-Z come from?

HPFP students come from diverse fields such as medicine, nursing, and social work, making for an enriching learning environment.

Who are the HPFP faculty at TAU-Z?

The faculty comprises experienced professionals and researchers dedicated to solving real-world health challenges.

How accessible are the faculty to students?

Faculty are available to guide and support students throughout the program. You can easily interact with them through the Learning Management System (LMS).

What are the requirements to join the HPFP (Pre Med) program at TAU-Z?

Applicants need a Grade 12 School Certificate or equivalent with credits in core subjects like English, Mathematics, Biology, and Science.

Are special classes available for students who need extra help?

Yes, special sessions and interactive feedback are provided to support students’ learning needs.

Health Professions Foundation Programme (HPFP) – Pre-Med Courses in Zambia

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Author: Nyasha Chamonyonga

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Health Professions Foundation Programme

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MBChB Program

Why Choose the HPFP at Texila American University?

Our Health Professions Foundation Programme serves as the definitive foundation programme in medicine, built specifically to bridge high school qualifications into our elite MBChB degree. It is highly recognized across the region as one of the foremost pre med courses for international students.

Pre-Med Courses for Zambia & SADC: Tailored pathways for students seeking pre med courses in Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Direct MBChB Feeder: Transition seamlessly into full medical training upon successful completion of the 1-year program.

Health Professions Foundation Programme (HPFP) – Pre-Med Courses in Zambia

The Health Professions Foundation Programme (HPFP) at Texila American University (TAU) is a intensive, one-year pre-medical pathway. It is designed for students who want to study medicine but need to strengthen their academic grounding first.

As one of the most accessible and respected pre med courses in Zambia, the HPFP bridges the academic gap between secondary school and our premier Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) degree.

The curriculum systematically builds the core biology, chemistry, physics and advanced mathematics foundation that a rigorous medical school environment demands. It is the leading fully recognised medicine-with-foundation-year route.

This program serves as a critical academic launchpad for both school leavers and international SADC students from Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa who do not yet meet the criteria for direct MBChB entry.

What Is a Foundation Programme in Medicine?

A foundation programme in medicine is a structured, comprehensive pre-med year that prepares students for immediate entry into a full medical degree. It is specifically engineered for candidates whose high school results, subject combinations, or gap years mean they are not yet eligible to begin the MBChB directly.

The HPFP delivers the advanced core sciences, critical academic writing skills, and intense study discipline that first-year medical students are expected to possess on day one. By completing this program, you can progress into the five-year MBChB with absolute confidence.

In short, it is a premium foundation course for health professions that transforms motivated high school graduates into highly competitive, medical-school-ready applicants.

Who Should Take the HPFP Pre-Med Course?

The HPFP is built for:

School Leavers:
High school graduates with Grade 12/GCE certificates seeking a supported route into medicine.

Grade Improvers:
Aspiring doctors whose science grades or subject configurations fell just short of direct entry.

SADC Applicants:
International students seeking a trusted, English-medium foundation programme in medicine within Southern Africa.

Career Changers:
Mature students re-entering the academic sciences who need a comprehensive refresher on foundational physics and biology.

HPFP Entry Requirements

To secure your seat in the Health Professions Foundation Programme, you must present:

A validated Grade 12 / GCE certificate (or regional equivalent)
A minimum of five credits
Compulsory passing marks in English, Mathematics, Biology, and Science

HPFP Duration & Progression to MBChB

The HPFP duration is one (1) year (For 2 semesters). On successful completion, students’ progress directly into TAU’s five-year MBChB (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), making the full medicine program pathway six years from Grade 12.

This foundation-plus-degree structure means you can begin medicine even without A-levels the HPFP replaces the pre-med qualification that direct entrants would otherwise need.

Pre-Med Courses for SADC Students – Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe & South Africa

Across Southern Africa, competition for medical-school places is intense, and local seats are limited. TAU’s HPFP provides an alternative for students researching pre-med courses in Namibia and pre-med courses in South Africa, where entry thresholds are exceptionally high, as well as pre-med courses in Botswana and pre-med courses in Zimbabwe, where local programme options are limited.

Texila American University Zambia offers an English-medium, HPCZ-recognised pathway towards the MBChB programme, subject to students meeting the applicable admission requirements.

Studying the pre-med course in neighbouring Zambia allows students to pursue their medical education within the SADC region while keeping tuition and living costs competitive.

Why Study the Foundation Programme at TAU

Choosing where to study medicine is a major life decision. At TAU, we eliminate institutional risk by providing a single, highly accredited ecosystem for your entire medical journey.

Government Accreditation:
Fully registered and accredited by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) under the Ministry of Education, Zambia.

Medical Council Approval:
Curricula are strictly reviewed and approved by the Health Professions Council of Zambia (HPCZ).

Real-World Clinical
Infrastructure: Our senior medical degree features intensive clinical rotations at premier healthcare institutions, including the University Teaching Hospital, Levy Mwanawasa University Teaching Hospital, Chainama Hills College Hospital (CHCH), Lusaka

Advanced Campus Infrastructure:
Students learn inside modern anatomy laboratories, digital classrooms, and simulation-based clinical skills labs from day one.

Structure of the programme

Semester 1	60 Credits
Biology – I	12
General Chemistry – I	12
Organic Chemistry – I	12
Physics – I	12
Mathematics – I	8
Professional Development – I	4

Semester 2	60 Credits
Biology – II	12
General Chemistry – II	12
Organic Chemistry – II	12
Physics – II	12
Mathematics – II	8
Professional Development – II	4

Plan Your HPFP Fees and Scholarship Options

Before applying, students and families can review the current tuition structure and request guidance on available scholarship support. TAU Zambia provides programme-wise fee information to help students compare study options and plan their education budget clearly.

Year	For Zambian Students – ZMW	For International Students – USD
Year 1	34500	7000

March 2027 Intake – Apply for the HPFP

Applications for the March 2027 intake into the Health Professions Foundation Programme are open. Apply online and our admissions team will confirm your eligibility and explain how the HPFP leads into the MBChB.

Apply for the HPFP – March 2027 Intake Talk to an Admissions Advisor

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Please provide details below and we will mail you the details for Tuition Fees and Scholarships.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A foundation programme in medicine is a one-year pre-med pathway that prepares students for entry into a medical degree. At TAU Zambia it is the Health Professions Foundation Programme (HPFP), which builds the science grounding needed to progress into the five-year MBChB.

Pre med courses in Zambia are foundation-year programmes that ready students for the MBChB. TAU’s HPFP is a leading example a one-year, HPCZ-recognized pre-medical course open to Zambian and SADC students.

Yes. The HPFP is TAU’s medicine-with-foundation-year route: complete the one-year foundation and progress directly into the five-year MBChB, making the full pathway six years.

Yes. TAU welcomes SADC students comparing pre med courses in Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and South Africa into the English-medium HPFP, which leads straight into the MBChB.

Typically, a Grade 12 / GCE certificate with five credits including English, Mathematics, Biology and Science. Confirm the exact requirements with the TAU admissions team.

Testimonials

My name is Tadiwanashe Dapi. I have been enrolled with Texila American University for MBCHB Program.I really like the fact that the virtual classes enable us to have the golden opportunity to learn safely at the comfort of our homes during this pandemic. The virtual classes are of great convience, when you miss a lesson or have internet problems you can always watch the videos uploaded on LMS, go through notes on LMS and we can always contact our teachers when needed.

Tadiwanashe Dapi

Student

My name is Nyasha Chamonyonga and I’ve recently been enrolled at Texila. I am doing the HPFP course. Online lectures are really amazing and pose to be very flexible and understandable. We use an application called ZOOM and it allows us to have video conferences. It allows you to see the teacher, his presentation as well as communicate with the teacher and students either by voice or by messaging. All you need is a good connection system. The lecturers are very good at explaining concepts and if you happen to have questions, you have the opportunity to ask and they will help you through. In case of any technical problems, the technical staff members are there to help you through. The Learner’s Management System (LMS) has notes that are available for each subject you will be taking and this makes it easier for students to plan for their lessons and helps us understand better. I have been enjoying the online lessons and I hope you will enjoy them too.

Nyasha Chamonyonga

Student

Hear From Our Student

Glossary

Health Professions Foundation Programme (HPFP):
An intensive, one-year preparatory curriculum designed to bridge the academic gap between secondary school and undergraduate medical school. It equips students with the specialized scientific competencies required to successfully enter an MBChB track.

Pre-Med Course / Pre-Medical Pathway:
An educational track that students must complete prior to entering a full-scale medical program. These courses establish fundamental knowledge in clinical biology, chemistry, and organic physics.

MBChB Degree:
An acronym derived from the Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae, representing the Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. It is the primary undergraduate medical degree required to practice as a licensed medical doctor in SADC regions and Commonwealth countries.

SADC Region:
The Southern African Development Community. In medical admissions, this refers to member nations-including Zambia, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, and South Africa-that share recognized educational frameworks and professional reciprocity.

Medicine with Foundation Year:
An integrated medical university structure that combines a preliminary bridging or foundation year with a subsequent five-year medical degree, extending the total path to qualification to six years without requiring advanced A-Level certificates.

HPCZ (Health Professions Council of Zambia):
The statutory regulatory body established to oversee medical education, clinical standards, and professional licensing for all healthcare providers and training institutions operating within Zambia.