Students do not get paid because they do not “work” during the course of their studies. They have to get practical experience and learn how to do certain clinical skills which can only be done in the surrounding hospitals and clinics. These practical hours that the students have to do are set (prescribed) by the South African Nursing Council.
 
Students that do not complete the prescribed number of clinical hours cannot be registered as qualified nurses with the South African Nursing Council on completion of their programmes and will therefore not be able to work as nurses in South Africa.