University of Cape Town
Cape Town · Official website ↗
University of Cape Town is in Cape Town, South Africa. Tuition for international students: ZAR 165,000–ZAR 173,000 (≈ US$9,900–10,300) per year (2026 figure). Standard entry requirements: A-levels Two A-level subjects at grade C or above; IB Diploma Full diploma with a minimum of three higher level subjects from a total of six subjects and a total of 24 points; IB Diploma IB Diploma (not the certificate), at least 3 Higher Level (HL) subjects plus 3 Standard Level (SL) subjects. Language: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 88. Applying: application fee ZAR 300. Scholarships: 1 from the university.
✓ 31 facts from 9 official pages, each with the exact sentence it comes from · checked 2026-11-12 · How we verify
International students should also budget for health insurance, visa and travel costs not shown here.
Reference only. Automatically checked against the college's official pages on 2026-11-12; maintained by Jordan Lee, editor. Colleges can change policies at any time — confirm on the official page before you apply. Spotted an error? Tell us.
Quick summary
| Cost per year | tuition ZAR 165,000 per year (≈ US$9,900) (varies by programme) + housing and meals ZAR 127,460 per year (≈ US$7,600) |
|---|---|
| Money from the college | Need-based aid: none for international students. Merit scholarships: none. No named scholarship is confirmed open to international students yet. |
| Chances of admission | A-levels: Two A-level subjects at grade C or above. IB Diploma: Full diploma with a minimum of three higher level subjects from a total of six subjects and a total of 24 points. Requirements for other school qualifications differ by country — see the college's page ↗ English minimum: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL 88, PTE 67. |
| Application deadlines | Earliest: Jul 31 (Main round) |
| Where and how students live | Cape Town · 13 km from CPT airport |
| Housing | First-year housing: Available (apply); housing and meals ZAR 127,460 per year |
| Working while studying | The holder of a study visa may conduct part-time work for a period not exceeding 20 hours per week. |
| After graduation | 79.2% of graduates employed or studying (2022) · 30.8% go on to further study (2022) |
Plain-language summary of the verified details below. Where it says “not yet determined”, we have not found it on an official page yet.
Financial aid & requirements for international students
| Aid & admission for international applicants | No need-based aid for international undergraduates International students are not eligible for need-based institutional aid; only merit awards or outside funding. Sources (1)“UCT does not offer bursaries/scholarships to international undergraduate applicants.”graduation.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
|---|---|
| Meets full financial need | No — does not promise to meet full needSources (1)“UCT does not offer bursaries/scholarships to international undergraduate applicants.”graduation.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| Merit scholarships | No — aid is based on need, not meritSources (2)“UCT does not offer bursaries/scholarships to international undergraduate applicants.”graduation.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Unless otherwise stated, eligibility for all Entrance Scholarships is restricted to South African citizens and to South African permanent residents.”mig-hum.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| English proficiency | English test required unless an exemption applies
Sources (4)“English language proficiency is a requirement for study at UCT. All international students for whom English is not a first/home language or have not passed English at NSC Grade 12, AS-level, IGCSE, NSSC level or equivalent secondary school-leaving qualification from an English medium-of-instruction institution must provide proof of English language proficiency.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“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.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“A valid (no more than 2 years old) IELTS Academic Test Report Form with an overall score of band 6.5 or above, with at least 6.0 in each component.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“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.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| Conditional admission / English pathway | Not yet determined — check the college site ↗ |
| Degree programmes taught in English | YesSources (1)“English is used both for teaching and for examinations at UCT.”graduation.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
Scholarships for first-year students
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Full cost of attendance
- Amount: Full cost of attendance
- Renewal: Renewable
Sources (4)
“Comprehensive financial support covering tuition fees for your chosen programme of study, a laptop, accommodation on UCT's campuses, living expenses, medical aid, a study visa (where applicable) and annual travel to and from UCT.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program covers the full period of your UCT programme of study. It is renewable annually subject to satisfactory academic performance and personal conduct, and to participate in the development programmes and activities which form part of the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program at UCT.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is available to students applying for their first bachelor's degree, or for an eligible postgraduate diploma, honours degree or master's degree at UCT.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Face significant social and economic barriers to accessing higher education;”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12Programmes
| Bachelor's programme | Bachelor of Business Science · 4 years Source (2)“Qualification Abbreviation Minimum Duration SAQA ID”graduate.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Bachelor of Business Science BBusSc 4 116396”graduate.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12Bachelor of Commerce · 3 years Source (2)“Qualification Abbreviation Minimum Duration SAQA ID”graduate.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Bachelor of Commerce BCom 3 116431”graduate.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12Bachelor of Laws (LLB) · 4 years Source (2)“Qualification Abbreviation Minimum Duration SAQA ID”graduate.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Bachelor of Laws LLB 4 10695”graduate.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBChB) · 6 years Source (2)“Qualification Abbreviation Minimum Duration SAQA ID”graduate.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery MBChB 6 3195”graduate.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12Bachelor of Science · 3 years Source (2)“Qualification Abbreviation Minimum Duration SAQA ID”graduate.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Bachelor of Science BSc 3 117697”graduate.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
|---|
Applying
| Academic entry requirement for your school qualification |
Requirements for other school qualifications differ by country — see the college's page ↗ |
|---|---|
| Application fee | ZAR 300 one-time (≈ US$18) Source (2)“undergraduate applications from outside of the SADC region R 300”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“undergraduate applications from the SADC region R 100”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| Application requirement | English proficiency test: Required Source (2)“English language proficiency is a requirement for study at UCT. All international students for whom English is not a first/home language or have not passed English at NSC Grade 12, AS-level, IGCSE, NSSC level or equivalent secondary school-leaving qualification from an English medium-of-instruction institution must provide proof of English language proficiency.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“As part of your application to study at UCT, you must submit one of the following:”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12School transcript / academic records: Required Source (1)“If you are currently at school, you must include all of your latest results with your application.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art (BA(FA)): Portfolio / audition: Required Source (1)“If applying for admission to BA(FA), applicants must submit the following items combined in a single PDF file, and not exceeding 20MB file size, via email to admissions.fineart@uct.ac.za:”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12Faculty of Commerce and Faculty of Health Sciences: Admission test scores (SAT/ACT/ATAR…): Required Source (1)“all applicants to programmes in the Faculty of Commerce or the Faculty of Health Sciences must write the NBTs wherever they reside.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
Deadlines (2027 entry)
| Application — february | Jul 31Source (1)“All undergraduate applications close on 31 July 2026. No late applications are accepted.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
|---|---|
| Scholarship application — february | Sep 30Source (1)“For applicants to a UCT bachelor's degree, the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program application deadline is 30 September 2026.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
Dates as published by the college; check the official page for time zones and supporting-document deadlines.
Costs for international students
| Tuition | Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Social Science: ZAR 165,000 per year (≈ US$9,900) (2026 figure) (reference) Bachelor of Laws (LLB): ZAR 166,410 per year (≈ US$10,000) (2026 figure) (reference) Bachelor of Science: ZAR 173,000 per year (≈ US$10,300) (2026 figure) (reference) |
|---|---|
| Housing and meals | ZAR 127,460 per year (≈ US$7,600) (2026 figure) |
| Living costs (college estimate) | Not yet determined — check the college site ↗ |
| Student health insurance | Not yet determined — check the college site ↗ |
| Health insurance rule for the student visa | The student must have adequate medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme, and proof of it must be provided. |
| Living costs you must show for the student visa (government amount, excluding tuition and travel) | Not yet determined — check the college site ↗ |
Sources (8)
“BA and BSocSc … R 79 000”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“International students must add the relevant Administrative Service Fee / International Term fee to the cost of the typical fee.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Students from outside Africa (rest of world) … ZAR 80 400”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“International Administrative Fee … ZAR 5 600”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“LLB … R 80 410”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“BSc … R 87 000”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“The average charge for a single room in a first-tier residence is R89 520 in 2026. If the meal option of 3 meals each day is added, the charge is R127 460.”graduation.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“The student must have adequate medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme and proof thereof”www.dha.gov.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12US$ figures are approximate, converted at the European Central Bank reference rate of 2026-11-12; the college charges in its own currency.
Where students live
| First-year on-campus housing | Available (apply) Source (2)“Applications for student accommodation must be received by 31 July 2026.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12“Only students applying for full-time study are considered for UCT accommodation.”uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
|---|
Work and after graduation
| Work allowed while studying (rule as stated by the government) | The holder of a study visa may conduct part-time work for a period not exceeding 20 hours per week. government rule Source (1)“The holder of a study visa may conduct part-time work for a period not exceeding 20 hours per week.”www.dha.gov.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
|---|---|
| Work hours allowed per week during term (student visa) | 20 government rule Source (1)“The holder of a study visa may conduct part-time work for a period not exceeding 20 hours per week.”www.dha.gov.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| Post-study work visa (name and length) | Not yet determined — check the college site ↗ |
| Graduates employed or in further study (college survey) | 79.2% (2022 figure) Source (1)“When the 'Employed', 'Studying' and 'Self-employed' categories are combined, a total of 79.2% of the UCT Class of 2022 was found to be meaningfully occupied at the time of graduation.”careers.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
| Graduates going on to further study (college survey) | 30.8% (2022 figure) (reference) Source (1)“Primary Activity at Graduation 2022 2021 2018 Employed 44.6% 42.7% 45.7% Studying 30.8% 33.3% 29.4%”careers.uct.ac.za ↗ · checked 2026-11-12 |
Location
| City / state | Cape Town |
|---|---|
| Nearest major airport | Cape Town International Airport (CPT), about 13 km in a straight line |
| Map | View on OpenStreetMap ↗ |
Location from Wikidata Q951305 (CC0); airport from OurAirports (public-domain data).