University of Cape Town
Universiteit van Kaapstad / iYunivesithi yaseKapa
South Africa's oldest university, on the slopes of Devil's Peak, where admission is by points score, NBTs and a published banding system.
- Students
- 29,427
- 17,518 undergraduates
- International
- 14%
- of students
- Tuition
- ZAR 62,340
- From · 2026
- Founded
- 1829
About UCT
The University of Cape Town grew out of the South African College, founded in 1829, which makes it South Africa's oldest university. Most of the campus moved to the Groote Schuur Estate in 1928, and today the Upper Campus sits on the slopes of Devil's Peak, with satellite campuses in Observatory (Health Sciences), Gardens (the Hiddingh campus for fine art, film, media and drama) and on the Atlantic Seaboard (the Graduate School of Business). In 2025, 29,427 students were registered, including 17,518 undergraduates.
Teaching is organised into six faculties: Commerce, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law and Science, supported by the Centre for Higher Education Development. UCT is a research powerhouse by African standards. In 2024 it approved R4 billion in external research contracts, and 35 of South Africa's NRF A-rated scholars are at or affiliated with the university.
Admission is competitive and formula-driven. South African applicants are ranked on an Admission Points Score (the sum of six school subject percentages) together with National Benchmark Test results, and UCT publishes its selection bands and target scores for each programme. International applicants are assessed on equivalent school-leaving results such as A levels and the IB. UCT suits ambitious students who want a large research university in a spectacular city setting.
Spes Bona
“Good Hope” — university motto
Why students choose UCT
UCT is joint 164th in the THE World University Rankings 2026 and 184th in QS 2027, and describes itself as Africa's top-ranked university.
It publishes its selection rules for each programme, such as guaranteed Band A admission to most BCom/BBusSc streams with a Faculty Points Score of 435+ and NBT scores of Upper Intermediate.
More than 100 student societies and almost 40 sporting codes, from jiu jitsu and fencing to rowing and rugby.
About 8,300 students live in UCT's 39 catered and self-catering residences (2024).
Admissions
2028 academic year (dates not yet announced; the 2027 intake closed on 31 July 2026)
Selectivity
UCT does not publish an overall acceptance rate. Places are limited, and meeting minimum requirements does not guarantee admission. Offers are made in bands: Band A by unweighted Faculty Points Score, Band B by a Weighted Points Score that allows for school and family disadvantage, and Band C from redress categories to build a diverse class.
Typical entry requirements
| South African NSC | Bachelor's pass with at least four 20-credit subjects at 50%+; ranked by APS/FPS plus NBTs, e.g. FPS 435+ for guaranteed Band A entry to most BCom/BBusSc streams (Mathematics 60%, English HL 50% or FAL 60%) |
|---|---|
| A levels | Programme-specific, e.g. Electrical, Electrical and Computer, and Mechatronics Engineering need at least B in A-level Mathematics and Physics and C in IGCSE English; Physiotherapy needs A in two A-level sciences or maths |
| IB Diploma | Full Diploma (not certificates) with three HL and three SL subjects; e.g. Engineering needs Grade 5 HL or Grade 6 SL in Mathematics and Physics; most Commerce streams need Grade 5 HL or 6 SL Mathematics (Mathematical Studies not accepted) |
| Other non-South African school-leaving certificates | Must qualify for a matriculation exemption certificate from South Africa's Matriculation Board; faculties assess equivalence |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 88 Accepted proofs include the NBT Academic Literacy test (Upper Intermediate or above), TOEFL iBT 88 (at least 19 Listening, 19 Writing, 20 Reading, 22 Speaking), IELTS Academic 6.5 (6.0 in each component) or PTE Academic 67 (59 in each skill); scores must be no more than two years old. For the 2027 intake, proof of English was due by 30 September 2026. |
Deadlines
- Undergraduate applications for the 2027 academic year (closed) Non-binding Passed31 July 2026
Applications opened 1 April 2026; UCT does not consider late applications. The same date was the undergraduate housing application deadline.
- International applicants: supporting documents and English proof (2027 intake) Non-binding Passed30 September 2026
Incomplete applications are cancelled by 15 November 2026.
- Final NBT sitting accepted (2027 intake) Non-binding Passed3 October 2026
UCT's academic year starts in February. On 29 September 2026, UCT's key-dates page listed only the 2027 admission cycle (applications opened 1 April 2026 and closed 31 July 2026). UCT had not announced any dates for 2028 entry. Based only on past years, applications might open around 1 April 2027 and close around 31 July 2027, but this is an expectation, not a published deadline: confirm on the key-dates page before planning around it.
How to apply
Apply online at applyonline.uct.ac.za and pay the application fee (R100 for South African and SADC applicants, R300 for other international applicants). Write the NBTs if required, and submit Grade 11 and Grade 12 results, predicted grades for non-NSC curricula, and certified documents to admissions@uct.ac.za. Some applicants receive early conditional offers during the year; international applicants need an offer by 15 November to allow time for a study visa.
What admissions looks for
- A strong Admission Points Score (or Faculty Points Score) based on your school results, including required subjects such as Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
- National Benchmark Test results in Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy and, where required, Mathematics, at the level set for your programme.
- For South African applicants in Band B, a Weighted Points Score that takes account of school and family disadvantage.
- For international applicants, results at the specified grades in A levels, the IB or equivalent, plus proof of English proficiency.
Tips for applying to UCT
- 1 Apply early: applications for 2027 opened on 1 April and closed on 31 July 2026, and UCT does not consider late applications.
- 2 Book your NBTs early, especially if you are applying for Health Sciences or the LLB, where they are compulsory even for applicants outside South Africa.
- 3 Work out your APS yourself (six best relevant subjects, excluding Life Orientation) and compare it with the Band A and Band B scores in the prospectus for your programme.
- 4 IB applicants need the full Diploma, and Mathematical Studies is not accepted for maths-based programmes such as Engineering and Commerce.
- 5 International applicants should get documents and English proof in early (the deadline was 30 September in the 2027 cycle); an offer is needed by 15 November to leave time for a study visa, which can take 8–12 weeks.
Costs & financial aid
2026 · figures in ZAR
South African students can apply for NSFAS funding and for UCT-administered bursaries, entrance scholarships and sports scholarships. UCT notes that a single year, including personal expenses, accommodation and travel, can cost over R150,000. International students from outside SADC pay course fees plus an International Term Fee and an administrative fee. SADC citizens pay no International Term Fee.
- R127,400 (not the full cost; balance due 31 July 2027)
- First payment before registration, non-SADC international undergraduates (2027)
- R41,800 (R36,000 tuition + R5,800 administrative fee)
- First payment before registration, SADC students (2027)
- R100 (South Africa and SADC); R300 (other international)
- Application fee
- Over R150,000 including accommodation, travel and personal expenses
- Estimated total cost of a year at UCT
Academics
Academic calendar: Two semesters (February–June and July–November)
MBChB (Medicine)
A six-year programme in the Faculty of Health Sciences at Observatory; NBTs are compulsory for all applicants, and the 2026 first-year fee was R113,510.
BBusSc Actuarial Science
Has its own, higher entry requirements than other Commerce streams (for example 40 points for A-level applicants, with a strong mathematics grade); the 2026 first-year fee was R110,580.
BSc (Eng) Electrical and Computer Engineering
ECSA-accredited and recognised under the Washington Accord; international applicants need at least B in A-level Mathematics and Physics.
Bachelor of Architectural Studies
Taught in the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment; the 2026 first-year fee was R75,610.
LLB (Law)
All applicants must write the NBTs, wherever they live; the 2026 first-year fee was R80,410.
BA Fine Art
Taught at the Hiddingh campus in Gardens, UCT's base for fine art, film, media and drama.
Research
- R4 billion in external research contracts approved in 2024, with 44 patent applications filed and 26 patents granted.
- 442 of South Africa's NRF-rated scholars, and 35 of its A-rated scholars, are at or affiliated with UCT.
- UCT holds 22 of the country's South African Research Chairs, and 40 spin-off companies have grown out of UCT research.
- Christiaan Barnard, a UCT medical graduate, performed the first successful human-to-human heart transplant.
Schools & faculties
- Faculty of Commerce
- Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment
- Faculty of Health Sciences
- Faculty of Humanities
- Faculty of Law
- Faculty of Science
- Graduate School of Business
- Centre for Higher Education Development
Student life
UCT's Upper Campus, with its colonnaded central hall and long flights of steps, sits on the slopes of Devil's Peak, and UCT runs shuttle buses between its campuses. About 8,300 students lived in 39 catered or self-catering residences in 2024. More than 100 societies span academic, national and cultural, faith, special-interest and political groups. Students can choose from almost 40 sporting codes, and an active student representative council is part of university governance.
- More than 100 student societies in five categories.
- Almost 40 sporting codes, including jiu jitsu, fencing, soccer, rowing and rugby.
- 39 catered and self-catering residences housing about 8,300 students (2024).
- UCT's Development and Alumni Department is in contact with more than 200,000 alumni in 164 countries.
Housing. Undergraduate housing applications close with the main application deadline (31 July for the 2027 intake); in 2026 an average first-tier single room cost R89,520, or R127,460 with three meals a day.
Location
The main campus is in Rondebosch, on the lower slopes of Devil's Peak. Health Sciences is in Observatory, the arts are at the Hiddingh campus in Gardens, and the Graduate School of Business is at the Breakwater campus on the Atlantic Seaboard. Cape Town combines mountains, beaches and a large, diverse city; students should plan carefully for costs and campus safety.
Nearest airport: Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
Notable alumni
- CB Christiaan BarnardCardiac surgeon who performed the first successful human-to-human heart transplant; UCT medical graduate
- AM Allan McLeod CormackNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1979) for computed tomography; UCT alumnus
- MT Max TheilerNobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine (1951) for the yellow fever vaccine; studied at UCT
- AK Aaron KlugNobel Prize in Chemistry (1982) for crystallographic electron microscopy; MSc from UCT
- MS Mark ShuttleworthFounder of Thawte and Canonical (Ubuntu) and the first African in space; BBusSc from UCT
- TN Tim NoakesSports scientist and exercise physiologist; UCT graduate and long-time UCT professor
Frequently asked questions
When is the UCT application closing date?
For the 2027 academic year, undergraduate applications closed on 31 July 2026. UCT had not announced dates for 2028 entry by late September 2026. Past years suggest applications will open around 1 April 2027 and close around 31 July 2027, but treat this as an expectation until UCT publishes the dates.
How is the UCT APS calculated?
It is the sum of your percentages in six NSC subjects, including English and any required subjects but excluding Life Orientation (maximum 600); results below 40% score zero. Some faculties adapt it into a Faculty Points Score.
Do I need to write the NBTs for UCT?
Most applicants who live or finished school in South Africa must. All Health Sciences and LLB applicants must write them wherever they live.
What IELTS score does UCT require?
IELTS Academic 6.5 overall with at least 6.0 in each component, or TOEFL iBT 88, PTE Academic 67, or an NBT Academic Literacy score of Upper Intermediate.
How much are UCT fees?
In 2026, typical first-year fees for South African students ranged from about R62,340 (BCom) to R113,510 (MBChB). Non-SADC international students also pay an International Term Fee; their 2027 first payment before registration is R127,400.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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