All interested persons applying for undergraduate admission must meet the school admission requirements before submitting their application to the school.
Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment Requirements
For admission to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, applicants must obtain the National Senior Certificate endorsed for degree studies, meet the required admission point score, and satisfy specified subject requirements.
Please note: for admission in 2023, the National Benchmark Tests are not required for applications to the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment.
View the NSC 2023 guidelines for admission to the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment.
View the International 2023 guidelines for Admission to the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment.
Faculty of Health Sciences Requirements
| General Eligibility for consideration | 32 |
| For degree programmes and for Higher Certificate in Disability Practice | |
| Admission Requirements: National Senior Certificate | 32 & 35 |
| At school-leaving level and minimum performance levels to be considered | |
| Admission Requirements: International school-leaving certificates | 38 |
| Subjects and minimum performance levels to be considered | |
| Taking a gap year (for school-leavers) | 33 |
| Tertiary applicants | 34 |
| For tertiary applicants meeting specific requirements | |
| How we calculate your Faculty Point Score for degree programmes | 34 |
| National Senior Certificate (See also guidelines for admission to UCT)South African applicants taking international school-leaving examinations |
Faculty of Humanities Requirements
All applicants writing the National Senior Certificate must obtain the NSC with endorsement for degree studies or endorsement for diploma studies where this is the programme of choice. For applicants writing the NSC, and for those who wrote the Senior Certificate in the past, a Faculty Point Scoring System is used which assigns points to subjects passed, as indicated in the FPS table (see links below). Admission points are allocate to English and the next five best subjects (excluding Life Orientation). Please take time to read carefully through the following admission guide documents:
- 2023 Faculty Points Scoring and
- Humanities 2023 Admission tables – admission criteria for candidates with the NSC
Fine Art:
In addition to the general UCT application (which must be submitted to the central Admissions Office), applicants must submit a portfolio of their work to the Michaelis School of Fine Art. A portfolio should consist of at least 10 pieces of work (either originals or good colour photographs) that show evidence of observational skill and creative engagement.
Additional information, and advice on preparing the portfolio, are available by contacting the School, or visiting the Michealis School of Fine Art website.The selection panel grades and ranks the portfolios and makes a recommendation to the Faculty.
The Faculty of Humanities Undergraduate Office matches the portfolio recommendation with the FPS and NBT scores – applicants must have an acceptable FPS score, NBT score and portfolio recommendation to be made an offer. As long as the FPS score is above the cut off, the portfolio recommendation is the leading indicator.
Theatre and Performance:
The selection process for the BA Theatre and Performance degree is different from the selection process for the Diploma in Theatre and Performance. Applicants for the Diploma in Theatre and Performance must attend an in-person audition. Applicants for the BA Theatre and Performance degree must upload a video audition using the departmental website upload forms.
For the BA Theatre and Performance degree, applicants are considered for the programme on the basis of skills and abilities demonstrated on their video audition, as well as a reference letter and submitted essay.
For the Diploma in Theatre and Performance, the Selection Panel auditions applicants face-to-face and identifies the best audition performances. The applicants’ individual skills and abilities are assessed as well as the applicants’ ability to work in a group context with others, and consideration is given to the composition of the class as a whole. Applicants are also asked to submit an essay which is used as an additional indicator of an applicant’s writing ability alongside the NBT score.
In both cases, the top candidates are recommended to the Faculty Office. Other acceptable auditionees are wait-listed in rank order to be considered later if offers are turned down. Depending on the FPS score and NBT, the Faculty Office makes an offer of a place in either the degree or diploma programme to successful applicants. As long as the FPS score is above the cut off, the leading indicator is the audition performance live or on video.
Dance:
The selection panel auditions and selects applicants. Recommendations are made to the Faculty Office. Depending on the FPS score and NBT, the Faculty Office may make an offer of a place in either the degree or diploma programme. As long as the FPS score is above the cut off, the leading indicator is the audition performance.
Music:
The SACM selection panels audition applicants and thereafter the Head of Department (HoD) will make recommendations to the Faculty Office. Depending on the FPS score and performance in the NBT, the Faculty Office makes offers to those applicants recommended by the selection panels for either the degree or diploma programme, depending on the FPS scores and NBT scores. As long as the FPS score is above the cut-off, the leading indicator is the audition performance.
All applicants must come prepared for their auditions. Make sure to liase with the relevant department for assistance with the audition.
| Department | Audition / Portfolio requirements | Telephone |
| Dance | Contact Angie Pearson to arrange an audition. | (021) 650 2399 |
| Fine Art | Contact Sharon Werthen for portfolio details. | (021) 480 7111 |
| Music | Contact Sheila Taylor to arrange an audition. | (021) 650 2631 |
| Theatre & Performance | Contact Shabnam Pansari to arrange an audition. Visit the Drama website for more information. | (021) 480 7121 |
Please note: no applications will be considered without the required auditions (for Music, Dance and Drama applicants) or the submission of a portfolio (for Fine Art applicants).
The National Benchmark Tests:
The National Benchmark Tests (NBTs) are tests designed to measure a writer’s ability to respond to and cope with the entry-level academic literacy, quantitative literacy and mathematics demands they will face in their university studies. They are used by many universities in South Africa to determine the readiness of the writer for higher education.
View more information on the NBT’s should you wish to apply for study in 2023.
Faculty of Science Requirements
Admission to our undergraduate degree programme depends on a number of criteria and whether or not an applicant has previously studied at a tertiary institution.
The links below provide an overview of admission criteria for those writing the South African National Senior Certificate (NSC), for those writing International Board Examinations, and those who are wishing to transfer from another tertiary institution to UCT.
Admission criteria for those writing the NSC examinations
Admission criteria for those writing other International Board Examinations
Admission criteria for those wishing to transfer from another institution
Faculty of Law Requirements
For the Law Faculty’s Admission Requirements, see below:
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