It acts as a teaching hospital in conjunction with the Stellenbosch University's Health Science Faculty.

To become a patient at Tygerberg, a person must be referred by a primary or secondary health care facility.

During the normal working day there are about 10,000 people on hospital grounds.

A full range of general specialist and sub specialist services include: These services provide for advanced health care to all patients, as well as training of large numbers of doctors (under- and post-graduate) and all other types of clinical staff.

The hospital registered a coat of arms at the Bureau of Heraldry in 1974 : Gules, on a mount Vert, a leopard statant erect Or, armed and langued Azure, supporting with the forepaws a Staff of Aesculapius erect Or; on a chief Argent, an antique lamp Azure enflamed Gules.