University of Cape Town-UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB)

The UCT GSB is uniquely placed to lead some of the most important critical conversations about the future of business that are going on in Africa and around the world.

University of Cape Town-UCT Graduate School of Business (GSB) Programmes

MBA

Executive MBA

PhD in Business Administration

PGDIP in Management Practice

CEMS Master of International Management

MPhil in Inclusive Innovation

MCom in Development Finance

PGDip in Development Finance

MBA

MBA Requirements

Attributes and qualifications needed for this degree

The UCT GSB MBA programme is geared toward talented, mature adults with proven academic ability and business experience who are highly motivated to succeed. Students are selected based on their capacity for personal and professional development.

PROSPECTIVE UCT GSB MBA CANDIDATES NEED TO:

Be 25 years or older.
Have a minimum of three years managerial work experience.
Be fluent in English. Applicants whose mother tongue is not English will be required to produce a TOEFL certificate to verify fluency in English. Some applicants may additionally be asked to complete the National Benchmark Test (NBT).
Have a minimum GMAT score of 550
- The UCT GSB offers a five-day GMAT Preparation Course to help students prepare for the GMAT.
Have a NQF level 8 qualification (a Bachelor Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma).
- Candidates with a non-South African qualification need to verify the equivalence to a South African degree. This can be done by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority
- Candidates not meeting the NQF level 8 requirement can apply through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route and submit the Portfolio of Learning (POL) assessment form. Prospective MBA students who will be considered under the RPL policy should have:
  - At least an NQF 4 qualification.
  - A GMAT score > 550.
  - Relevant work experience of 7 years or more depending on the NQF level qualification above (i.e. prospective students with a lower NQF level need higher levels of work experience). Three or more years of work experience should have been in a management or a relevant professional position.
  - Candidates not meeting the NQF level 8 requirement should be able to demonstrate learning and academic ability that corresponds to the NQF 8 level, including critical thinking, problem solving and research skills.
Submit a CV, two referee reports and personal motivations in the form of three essays that will be used for selection purposes.
Selected applicants will be required to take part in an interview.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE MBA

Ready to start your MBA application? Follow the step-by-step process

Once you have enquired on our website, you will receive an email containing your unique Pre-application Portal Link. This sets you up with UCT GSB’s admissions team, your support along the application process. Each step of the process will be clearly indicated on the portal, with specific instructions for what to submit.

NB: Before you proceed please ensure you meet the entrance criteria for the programme.

EMBA ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Attributes and qualifications needed for this degree

Admission to the Executive MBA programme is highly selective and enrolment is limited.

To be considered for the GSB EMBA candidates need to:

have a minimum of 8 years’ work experience and a proven management track record in the public or private sector.
be fluent in English. Applicants whose mother tongue is not English will be required to produce a TOEFL certificate to verify fluency in English. For more information on UCT’s English Language Requirement.
have completed either a Bachelor Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma at NQF level 8. Candidates not meeting the degree requirement can apply through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route and submit the Portfolio of Learning (POL) assessment form. Verification of whether the qualification is equivalent to a South African degree is also required. This can be done by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority.
write the Management Career Path Appreciation Assessment (MCPA), or an equivalent assessment, which provides an indication of the candidate’s current and future capabilities.

Applicants who have met the admission requirements will be contacted to attend a selection interview.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE EMBA

Ready to start your EMBA application? Follow the step-by-step process.

NB: Before you proceed please ensure you meet the entrance criteria for the programme.

PGDIP IN MANAGEMENT PRACTICE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Attributes and qualifications needed for this qualification

Due to the intensity of this programme, applicants need to demonstrate a high level of personal motivation, stamina and initiative. In addition, applicants must show a willingness to work in a group situation and an ability to tolerate and manage pressure and conflict. You will be assessed with this in mind.

Successful applicants need to:

be 25 years or older
be fluent in English;for more information on UCT’s English Language Requirements
- have a minimum of 3 years’ relevant work experience
- hold a graduate level qualification or NQF level 7 equivalent; verification of whether the qualification corresponds to a South African degree is also required and can be done by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority
attend an interview if required.

Applicants without a degree may be considered through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) route.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE PGDIP IN MANAGEMENT PRACTICE

Ready to start your PGDip application? Follow the step-by-step process.

NB: Before you proceed please ensure you meet the entrance criteria for the programme.

CEMS MIM ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

ATTRIBUTES AND QUALIFICATIONS NEEDED FOR THIS QUALIFICATION

QUALIFICATIONS AND PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE

Prospective candidates must:

Have no more than two years’ work experience
Hold a qualification that allows the student to enter into a Master’s-level study in the country where it was obtained, which in South Africa is an NQF Level 8 qualification. All equivalent qualifications are subject to approval by the South African Qualifications Authority.
Provide proof of academic preparation: Have completed a bachelor’s degree in management or economics or a related field; or have successfully passed 120 credits/60 ECTS of studies in business education at the postgraduate level in any of these areas. This could be from a one-year honours or PGDip in economics/management or business following any other Bachelor’s degree. Take the GMAT. All MIM applicants are required to write the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) and obtain a GMAT score of 600 or an equivalent GRE result

LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS

Students will have to show proficiency in at least two languages, one of which is English (one language must be at mother tongue-level, i.e. able to speak, read, write at a business level and be able to fluently communicate with a native speaker). This can be the mother tongue or another language. The additional language can be at intermediate proficiency level but the speaker must be fluent. Students will have to show proof of their language proficiency. If a student does not have proficiency in a third language, they will be required to learn a new language during the programme. Language skills are crucial for operating in multicultural and multilingual contexts. The programme offers a diverse learning experience and proficiency in several languages enables students to obtain greater knowledge for international contexts, especially when preparing to work in other countries and regions.

All CEMS Master of Management specialising in International Management students graduate with competence in three languages, one of which must be English.

Language 1: English (home language or proficiency)
Language 2: Any language (home language or B2 oral/ B1 written level)
Language 3: Any language (home language or elementary level)

NOTE: Students who have proficiency in two languages will be expected to gain a third during the programme. Similar languages, for example Dutch and Afrikaans, do not count as separate languages.

PERSONAL ATTRIBUTES

Students will be evaluated for their intellectual potential and knowledge, their attitude and soft skills, as well as their international orientation. Candidates should exhibit:

High academic standards and professionalism
Ability to perform in a fast-changing environment
Empathy with different values and cultures
Willingness to take responsibility within society

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE CEMS MIM

Ready to start your CEMS MIM application? Follow the step-by-step process.

NB: Before you proceed please ensure you meet the entrance criteria for the programme.

PGDip in Development Finance ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Attributes and qualifications needed for this qualification

The PGDip in Development Finance has the following requirements:

Have a bachelor’s degree (NQF level 7) in Economics, Commerce, Accounting, Finance or other finance related degrees. Verification of whether the qualification is equivalent to a South African degree is also required. This can be done by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority.
Alternatively, applicants may have a three year bachelor’s degree with at least 2 years work experience and a strong quantitative background.
Students must be fluent in spoken and written English.
Applicants are not required to take the GMAT or any other tests.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE PGDIP IN DEVELOPMENT FINANCE

Ready to start your PGDip application? Follow the step-by-step process.

NB: Before you proceed please ensure you meet the entrance criteria for the programme.

MCOM IN DEVELOPMENT FINANCE ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

Attributes and qualifications needed for this degree

The MCom in Development Finance is a rigorous modular programme designed to meet the growing demand for experts in the field.

OUR CRITERIA ARE:

Applicants need to have an NQF level 8 qualification in Economics, Commerce, Accounting, Finance or other finance related degrees. Verification of whether the qualification is equivalent to a South African degree is also required. This can be done by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority.
Alternatively, you may have an NQF level 8 qualification in other non-finance related disciplines with at least 3 years’ work experience in finance-related work and a very strong quantitative background.
Students must be fluent in spoken and written English.
Applicants are not required to take the GMAT or any other tests.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE MCOM IN DEVELOPMENT FINANCE

Ready to start your MCom application? Follow the step-by-step process.

NB: Before you proceed please ensure you meet the entrance criteria for the programme.

MPHIL IN INCLUSIVE INNOVATION ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

The MPhil in Inclusive Innovation has the following requirements:

Applicants must hold at least an NQF level 8 qualification in Applied Science, Commerce, Humanities, Health Sciences, Arts, and other related degrees. Alternatively, applicants who have a three-year degree with three or more years of work experience may apply as an RPL candidate (Recognition of Prior Learning). Verification of whether the qualification is equivalent to a South African degree is also required. This can be done by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority.
Be fluent in English. Applicants whose mother tongue is not English will be required to produce a TOEFL certificate to verify fluency in English. For more information on UCT’s English Language Requirements
Applicants must have already demonstrated a desire for solving problems within the key themes of education, health, finance and digital inclusion; or have a passion to pursue an area they have already researched substantially.
Applicants must have a minimum of three years’ work experience.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE MPHIL IN INCLUSIVE INNOVATION

Ready to start your MPhil application? Follow the step-by-step process.

Once you have enquired on our website, you will receive an email containing your unique Pre-application Portal Link. This sets you up with UCT GSB’s admissions team, your support along the application process. Each step of the process will be clearly indicated on the portal, with specific instructions for what to submit.

NB: Before you proceed please ensure you meet the entrance criteria for the programme.

PHD ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is a research degree undertaken with the guidance of a supervisor for a minimum period of two years.

PhD applicants need to:

Hold a recognised Master’s degree (or in special circumstances, at the discretion of the Senate, an approved Bachelor’s degree or qualification recognised by the Senate as equivalent). Verification of whether the qualification is equivalent to a South African degree is also required. This can be done by contacting the South African Qualifications Authority.
Demonstrate that they have the necessary competencies in research methodology and practice required for the completion of an independent study research degree.
Nominate a suitable supervisor with the application.

International applicants for whom English is a second language are required to submit one of the following, unless this requirement is waived by the GSB Research Director:

A recent score on the TOEFL Test of at least 570 (paper-based) or 230 (computer-based) or 88 (internet-based). This must be obtained within 3-5 years before applying to UCT.
A recent overall band score of 7.0 (with no individual element of the test scoring below 6.0) on the international English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Information on the TOEFL test is available. For the IELTS contact the British consulate or embassy in the applicant’s home country.

HOW TO APPLY FOR THE PHD IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

The decision to pursue a PhD is not one to be taken lightly, and it’s important that you fully consider the time and effort commitment required to complete.

The PhD application process includes a number of steps with some preparation required for each. Before you begin, please ensure that you are familiar with the entrance requirements for this programme, and that you have prepared all necessary documentation.

NB: Please do not attempt to contact a supervisor directly before you have been advised to do so.

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