The admission requirements differ depending on what you want to study. The criteria for certificate courses, diplomas and degrees is listed below:

Undergraduate Certificate Study

To confirm eligibility for admission to undergraduate certificate study, applicants must consult the Admissions Office or the faculty concerned.

Undergraduate Diploma Study

The minimum requirement for admission to undergraduate diploma study is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) as certified by Umalusi with an achievement rating of 3 (Moderate Achievement, 40-49%) or better in 4 recognised NSC 20-credit subjects.

Bachelor’s Degree Study

To be eligible for admission to degree study, applicants need to meet minimum requirements for eligibility:

• Applicants holding a South African National Senior Certificate (NSC) need to pass a minimum of 4 subjects at a rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50-59%) or better in any four 20-credit NSC subjects.
• Applicants holding a South African Senior Certificate need matriculation endorsement.
• Applicants holding non-South African school-leaving certificates must qualify for a matriculation exemption certificate. For more information please visit the website of the Matriculation Board.

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Minimum language proficiency

All applicants must have attained a certain level of proficiency in English and are required to submit evidence of this, as outlined below, as part of their application to study.

South African Senior Certificate undergraduate applicants

• South African Senior Certificate undergraduate applicants to UCT must have achieved a pass of 40% or more on the Higher Grade in English (First or Second Language) at Senior Certificate level.

South African NSC undergraduate applicants

• South African NSC undergraduate applicants to UCT, must have achieved a rating of 2 (Elementary Achievement, 30-40%) or better at Home Language or First Additional Language level.

Applicants holding non-South African school-leaving certificates

• Please see UCT’s language requirements.

For further information on the IELTS and TOEFL exams, please contact the UCT English Language Centre.

Calculating Admissions Points Score (APS)

The percentages achieved in National Senior Certificate examinations (preliminary and final examinations) will be allocated an admission score equal to that percentage.

The sum of 6 subjects, excluding Life Orientation, but including English and any required subject(s) for the relevant programme, is considered when deciding on admission. For example, for a given programme where Maths and Physical Sciences are required, we will take scores for English, Maths, Physical Sciences and the next best 3 subjects other than Life Orientation to compute the NSC score towards the APS.

Results below 40% for any subject do not attract a score.

If you have completed or will be completing, the National Senior Certificate (NSC), the following guidelines can be used to calculate your entrance scores and disadvantage factor, where applicable:

• 2025/2026 Guidelines for holders of a National Senior Certificate
• Calculate your Disadvantage Factor (for South African applicants)
• Subject Selection Guide for Grade 9 learners (for South African applicants)

English proficiency is a requirement for study at UCT.

South African applicants

As part of your application to study at UCT, you must submit one of the following:

• either a pass in English Home Language or First Additional Language if you hold the National Senior Certicate (NSC), or
• 40% in English on the Higher Grade (first or second language) if you hold the Senior Certificate.

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International applicants

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.

As part of your application to study at UCT, you must submit one of the following:

• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL): 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: 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.
• Pearson PTE Academic  test: 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.
• National Benchmark Test (NBT): 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.

English language proficiency can also be demonstrated through successful completion of the UCT International English Pathway programme.

These are the minimum levels of English proficiency required for consideration for admission to UCT. For programme-specific requirements, please consult the relevant Faculty handbook.

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Showcasing a sample of the academic, sporting, social and cultural possibilities available, the below video captures the diversity of life on offer as an international student at UCT. Are you thinking about studying abroad? Choose the University of Cape Town – the highest ranking university in Africa!

The International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO) empowers internationalisation at UCT by assisting international students with information about application procedures, application deadlines, visa requirements, medical cover and international tuition fees. Before you start your Semester Study Abroad (SSA) or full-degree programme, IAPO will provide comprehensive information and a dedicated Orientation Programme to welcome you to UCT.