Are you looking to apply to a university that values the opinions and well-being of its students and will leave you rich in knowledge that will set you far ahead in your field of choice? Consider South Africa’s globally recognized University of Cape Town to fulfil your dreams of a successful career and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Ranked as the leading university in Africa by four of five major university rankings, UCT is a prestigious and highly-acclaimed post-secondary institution offering programs in Commerce, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, and Science. The diverse learning experience, coupled with a community made up of the most distinguished professors and well-endowed students, should make the University of Cape Town high on your list of possible universities.
In this article, you will learn about how you can be one of the 28,703 students attending UCT in the upcoming academic year. To apply, simply follow these steps and guidelines to have you become registered with UCT in no time.
How to Apply to UCT
Applications for prospecting undergraduate students can be made online through the university website’s online application portal or via paper copy sent to the UCT Admissions Office. For postgraduates, applications can only be made online at this time. Keep in mind that you will be subjected to an application fee for both online and hardcopy admissions.
To apply online, be prepared to use a working email address, preferably one you check often, and your South African identity number. International applicants, on the other hand, will need to apply using their passport number.
For those looking to submit a hardcopy application, you will need to print off the forms indicated on the UCT website and send them to the address below:
Admissions Office
University of Cape Town c/o Bremner Building Lower Campus Rondebosch
7701
South Africa
On your application form, you have the opportunity to indicate whether or not you would like student accommodation. Currently, UCT offers three tiers of student accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, on and off-campus. The minimum criteria you need to fill in order to be considered for student housing is your submission of the application form and an offer for admission.
UCT Application Dates
While undergraduate applications have now closed for the 2022 academic year, you may still apply for attendance in the following year by 1 May 2022. Applications for the 2024 academic year-end on 31 August 2022. Ensure that you send in your application by this deadline since late submissions are not accepted.
Once you have completed the application process, you are free to check the status of your application online.
UCT Requirements
At the University of Cape Town, the undergraduate admission requirements are different for each faculty, and these requirements are apt to change every year. These include the type of documents and samples of work you need to submit with your application. Therefore, it is important that you study up on the specific requirements of your faculty of choice in the year that you intend to attend UCT to ensure that you meet all of them before you apply. If you have any concerns or inquiries, contact the relevant faculty for more information.
All applicants, however, must pass the minimum requirements indicated for each level of study: Undergraduate Certificate, Undergraduate Diploma, and Bachelor’s Degree. For the certificate, either the Admissions Office or the faculty you wish to apply for must be consulted in order to determine your eligibility for admission. Applicants for the diploma program are required to hold a certified National Senior Certificate (NSC) with an achievement rating of 3.
For those looking to be eligible for degree study, you will need to meet at least one of the following requirements:
- Successful completion of a minimum of 4 subjects at a rating of 4 or better in any four 20-credit NSC subjects (for bearers of a South African National Senior Certificate).
- Matriculation endorsement (for bearers of a South African Senior Certificate).
- Qualification for a matriculation exemption certificate (for bearers of a non-South African school-leaving certificate).
English Language Proficiency
All eligible applicants must also be proficient in the English language. To ensure that this standard is held, South African applicants must submit one of the following:
- A successful passing grade in English Home Language or First Additional Language for bearers of the National Senior Certificate (NSC), or
- A grade of at least 40% in English on the Higher Grade (first or second language) for bearers of the Senior Certificate.
As for international applicants, you must also provide proof of English language proficiency if
English is not your first language, or you have not passed English at NSC Grade 12, AS-level, IGCSE, NSSC level or equivalent. According to the university’s website, proof can be given by submitting one of the following:
- A valid (no more than 2 years old) TOEFL iBT Score Report with an overall score of 88 or above, with at least 19 in Listening, 19 in Writing, 20 in Reading and 22 in Speaking.
- IELTS Academic Test Report Form with an overall score of band 6.5 or above, with at least 6.0 in each component.
- A valid (no more than 2 years old) PTE Academic Score Report with an overall score of 67 or above, with at least 59 in each communicative skills component.
- A valid (no more than 3 years old) NBT Academic Literacy Plus score report with an overall score in the Intermediate Upper range or above.
Also Read: UCT Application Status and Prospectus
UCT Registration
After your application is sent in, you have met all requirements, and you have received your letter of acceptance, you should be ready to register yourself for attendance at UCT. Luckily, you can do this all online through the Student Self Service Online Registration. Here, you will be able to enrol for all of your courses and build your own schedule. For more information on registration at UCT, contact UCT’s helpdesk by phone (650 5227 or 650 4720) or email sss-helpdesk@uct.ac.za.
It is important to note that the University of Cape Town does not charge any registration fee. However, you are still required to make an initial payment at registration that will go toward the total cost of your tuition fee and student accommodation. Students who are on financial aid are not required to make this initial payment.
The University of Cape Town provides its students with a wide array of programs and support options that strive for keeping your best interest as priority. As long as you meet all the requirements for your desired faculty, applying to UCT should be a breeze. If you plan on doing so, mark your calendar to make sure you hand in your application on time. The earlier you submit your application, the better.
For any further concerns or inquiries on applying to undergraduate study, call 27 (0)21 650 2128 or send an email to admissions-ug@uct.ac.za. For postgraduates, email admissions-pg@uct.ac.za.
