University in South Africa
Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
University profile
The University of Cape Town (UCT) is a public university in Cape Town and describes itself as South Africa's oldest university, established in 1829. Its Vision 2030 rests on three pillars: excellence, transformation and sustainability. The university states that it offers contact and digitally mediated education, continuing education and micro-credentials, and has offered 23 MOOCs that it says have attracted more than 680,000 people from over 180 countries.
Teaching is organised in six faculties, Commerce, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law and Science, together with the Graduate School of Business (GSB) and the Centre for Higher Education Development (CHED), which has a status similar to a faculty. UCT lists Humanities as its second-largest faculty, with 19 departments in three clusters (the Arts, the Social Sciences, and the Performing and Creative Arts), and Science as having 12 departments. The Faculty of Health Sciences houses what UCT calls the oldest medical school in southern Africa. The GSB holds three international business school accreditations.
UCT states that its campuses, including satellite facilities in Gardens, Observatory, Philippi and the Atlantic Seaboard, cover 25 km2. Its welcome page describes six campuses: the Upper, Middle and Lower campuses on the Groote Schuur slopes of Devil's Peak, the Health Sciences Campus in Observatory, the Hiddingh Campus in the city centre and the Breakwater Campus (GSB) near the V&A Waterfront. The Chancellor Oppenheimer Library and eight branch libraries serve the faculties.
In 2023 UCT reported almost 30,000 students (figures not yet audited), of whom 17,862 were undergraduates, 11,638 postgraduates and 465 occasional students, with more than 100 countries represented on campus. Student life includes more than 100 student-run societies and about 40 sporting codes, with a gym on lower campus and the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Newlands. Residences are organised in three tiers: first-tier for younger undergraduates with catering of up to three meals a day, second-tier for senior undergraduates and postgraduates, and self-catering third-tier for senior postgraduates, plus JP Duminy for students with spouses and dependants.
International students are supported by the International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO), which advises on study visas, fees, housing and pre-registration. UCT offers semester study abroad, exchange and global learning programmes. Applicants whose school qualification is not the South African NSC must establish matriculation exemption through the Matriculation Board and show English proficiency where required.
UCT allocates over R8 million a year to first-time school-leavers, with awards from R20,000 to R100,000, based on NSC results and, for redress, the applicant's disadvantage factor. There is no application. Examples for 2027: Commerce R40,000, Engineering and the Built Environment R60,000, Humanities R40,000, Law R20,000, and Science R40,000 (Final Point Score of 740 or above, with at least 85% in Maths) or R20,000 (720 to 739). Eligibility is generally limited to South African citizens and permanent residents; Engineering also considers international applicants writing the SA NSC. Recipients who cancel before the mid-year exams lose the award; after the exams they keep half. Entrance scholarships.
Offered to second- and third-year undergraduates registered for a full curriculum who have not failed a course in the programme. No application is required.
UCT GAP funding (a bursary and loan component) supports students declined by NSFAS under its 70/30 STEM/non-STEM criteria. The Sibling Rebate Bursary gives 20% of tuition to the second sibling where both are full-time South African undergraduates, gross family income is R600,000 to R750,000 a year, and neither qualifies for NSFAS or GAP; forms are available after registration. Contact: [email protected], +27 21 650 3545. Student Financial Aid.
UCT keeps a Bursary and Loan Noticeboard of sponsor bursaries and a Handbook 13 of undergraduate bursaries and loans. NSFAS applications are made directly to NSFAS (nsfas.org.za), normally opening in October. The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program lists 30 September 2026 (undergraduate) and 31 October 2026 (postgraduate) as deadlines.
The Postgraduate Funding Office ([email protected]) administers NRF/MRC funding, UCT merit awards (a final-year average of over 60% is the merit criterion), December scholarships for exceptional graduating students, departmental PG research scholarships, travel awards for doctoral students, and postdoctoral fellowships. UCT states the 2026 call for international and refugee scholarships will not open because of funding constraints. See postgraduate funding.
UCT Entrance Scholarships and Faculty Scholarships →
UCT Vice-Chancellor's Scholarships →
Browse the scholarships listed for University of Cape Town and check each award’s eligibility.
View scholarships for University of Cape Town →For a bachelor's degree with the National Senior Certificate (NSC), UCT states you must pass at least four subjects at rating 4 (50-59%) or better from any four 20-credit NSC subjects. For diploma study, the NSC needs rating 3 (40-49%) or better in four recognised 20-credit subjects. Senior Certificate degree applicants need matriculation endorsement. These are minimums; each programme sets additional requirements in the Undergraduate Prospectus.
UCT uses six subjects excluding Life Orientation, which must include English and any subjects required for the programme, the rest being your next best subjects. Each subject percentage is its score and subjects below 40% earn no score. No general minimum APS is published on the eligibility page; faculties set programme cut-offs.
All undergraduate applicants normally resident or at school in South Africa must write the NBTs, and all applicants to Commerce and Health Sciences must write them wherever they live. International applicants to the undergraduate LLB must write the Academic Literacy part. Applicants pay for the tests and register at nbt.ac.za before applying. The final sitting for 2027 admission is 3 October 2026 (Health Sciences conditional offers require writing by 31 July 2026). Results go directly to UCT, may be attempted at most twice per cycle and are valid for two years.
NSC applicants need rating 2 (30-40%) in English Home Language or First Additional Language. Non-South African applicants whose first language is not English and who have not passed English at NSC, AS-level, IGCSE, NSSC or equivalent in an English-medium school must submit one of: NBT AL Plus (no older than 3 years, Upper Intermediate or above); TOEFL iBT 88 overall with at least 19 Listening, 19 Writing, 20 Reading and 22 Speaking; IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component; PTE Academic 67 with at least 59 in each skill (tests no older than 2 years). Results must reach the Admissions Office by 1 October 2026. Completing the UCT Academic English course is also accepted. Graduate applicants using the NBT need 71% on AL and 70% on QL unless otherwise stipulated.
UCT may consider holders of conditional matriculation exemption, including South Africans admitted on mature-age grounds subject to Matriculation Board minimums, and holders of certain post-school qualifications. Recognition of Prior Learning is assessed by the faculty and you must also apply centrally; UCT suggests starting 4 to 6 months ahead. Transferring applicants should submit all transcripts and academic records early; Fine Art transfers also need a motivation letter and portfolio.
Holders of foreign school-leaving certificates must consult the Matriculation Board for exemption eligibility. Applicants outside South Africa who are not citizens or permanent residents need a study visa endorsed for study at UCT; UCT states processing can take 8 to 12 weeks or longer and that an offer does not bind the Department of Home Affairs. Valid medical aid cover is required and the International Academic Programmes Office ([email protected], +27 21 650 2822) verifies documents at pre-registration. International supporting documents and English proof were due 30 September 2026, and the deadline to receive an offer is 15 November 2026.
Postgraduate requirements vary by programme and are set by each faculty; UCT links separate pages for Commerce, EBE, GSB, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law and Science. Applications for 2027 closed on 30 September 2026.
Applications opened 1 April 2026 and undergraduate applications closed 31 July 2026; late applications are not considered. Interim NSC results are due 31 October 2026 and final records 31 December 2026. Non-refundable application fees: R100 for South African and SADC applicants, R300 for applicants from outside SADC, R1,000 for GSB applicants from South Africa and Africa, and USD 100 for GSB applicants from outside Africa. Apply online at applyonline.uct.ac.za; pay by EFT or card; certified electronic documents go to [email protected] (+27 21 650 2128).
Facilities: the Chancellor Oppenheimer Library with eight branch libraries (more than 1.2 million print volumes and 87,350 electronic journals), a Knowledge Commons and Research Commons; astro-turf hockey fields, tennis and squash courts, an indoor sports facility, soccer, rugby and cricket facilities; the Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Newlands; and the Student Wellness Service. UCT also operates a shuttle service between sites.
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