Cape Town Creative Academy: Courses, Fees & Admissions

University profile

About Cape Town Creative Academy

Cape Town Creative Academy (CTCA) is a private higher education institution in Cape Town that offers accredited Bachelor of Arts and Honours degrees in art and design. Teaching is transdisciplinary and studio-based, in small classes with close mentorship from experienced educators and design practitioners.

The central campus is in the V&A Waterfront district, next to the Zeitz Museum of Contemporary Art Africa (Zeitz MOCAA), in the Silo District. The campus is access-controlled with 24-hour security and has open-plan design studios with views of Table Mountain and the harbour, photography and audio recording studios, workshops, a library, a student lounge and a cafeteria.

Four undergraduate degrees are offered: BA Contemporary Art, BA Communication Design, BA Interaction Design and BA Motion Design. All share a foundation semester that exposes students to different areas of study and modes of making before they specialise, and students then shape their path through electives. Final-year students complete an internship or apprenticeship. Postgraduate study is available through two Honours programmes, BA Honours Contemporary Art and BA Honours Visual Communication, offered as one year full-time or two years part-time, running from February to November. Short courses and workshops are also offered.

The curriculum integrates Business Studies and Professional Practice, and programmes are designed with input from the South African creative industry. The institution describes an Afrocentric institutional culture and approach to teaching. The academic head and co-founder is Dr Francois Jonker.

International students are welcome; students from outside the SADC region pay an additional international levy. CTCA is accredited with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), which allows students to apply for study loans through major South African banks using the institution's accreditation reference. Open days are held several times a year, with the next on 17 October 2026.

University information

Grade 12 performance bursary (first year only)

Newly enrolled students who obtained distinctions in the final Grade 12 examinations receive a bursary of R5 000 per distinction (Life Orientation is not counted). The amount is deducted from the tuition account in October; accounts already settled are credited against the following academic year. Recipients of any other CTCA scholarship or bursary are not eligible. Final Grade 12 certificates must be submitted to CTCA Administration before the end of January.

Early registration and settlement discounts

A R2,000 discount applies when the registration fee is paid within 30 days of receiving the acceptance letter (valid until October 2026), and discounts apply for early settlement of annual tuition. International students outside the SADC region do not qualify for these discounts.

Study loans

CTCA is accredited with DHET, so students can apply for study loans through major South African banks using the institution's accreditation reference. Details: CTCA study fees.

CTCA Grade 12 Performance Bursary →

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Browse the scholarships listed for Cape Town Creative Academy and check each award’s eligibility.

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Undergraduate (BA) admission

Admission is selection-based and rests on academic record, artistic inclination and general aptitude for design, assessed through a portfolio, academic eligibility and a short motivation.

South African applicants: a National Senior Certificate (NSC) with an APS of at least 22, with Matriculation exemption for degree study.
English is the language of instruction: English (first or second language) in matric with a minimum of 50%.
Applicants over 23 without Matric exemption may be considered on mature or current competence and must apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
The most recent Grade 12 academic report must accompany the application so the APS can be calculated.

International applicants

Proficiency in English; a language proficiency certificate is required if secondary education was completed in a non-English-speaking country.
An APS of at least 22, calculated from school-leaving transcripts using the international APS table.
A SAQA certificate validating the qualification; foreign qualifications must be translated into English and submitted to SAQA for evaluation of the NQF level before registration.
Students from outside the SADC region pay an international levy at registration: Year 1 R20 000, Year 2 R10 000, Year 3 R6 000, Honours R20 000.

RPL and credit transfer

Applicants with prior academic qualifications or industry experience may apply for RPL. Credit Accumulation and Transfer (CAT) is awarded to students transferring from other institutions offering similar programmes, subject to RPL requirements.

How to apply

Explore the qualifications and electives.
Compile a portfolio of five art or design projects in any medium (PDF, JPG, PNG or mp4, up to 5MB each).
Write a motivation of 100 words or fewer.
Submit a certified copy of your ID, latest marks or transcripts, the portfolio and proof of payment of the non-refundable application fee of R1000.
A selection panel reviews each application and replies by email; successful applicants receive an acceptance letter and a registration link.

Applications for 2027 are open. Applicants who apply and register within 30 days of their application by 31 October qualify for the early-bird discount. A registration fee, deducted from tuition, secures the place. Tuition varies by programme and is paid either in full or in 10 interest-free monthly instalments from February to November. Full-credit (120 credits) and part-credit study plans are available.

V&A Waterfront, Cape Town (Silo 5, 2nd Floor, Silo Square, South Arm Road): central campus beside Zeitz MOCAA with design studios and lecture rooms, photography and audio studios, screen-printing, woodworking, 3D printing, laser and die-cutting workshops, library, student lounge and cafeteria, 24-hour security and high-speed internet.
Silo 2 and Silo 3, Silo District: studios and gallery spaces for Contemporary Art students, used for exhibitions and on the First Thursdays route.

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