Eligibility for admission
Undergraduate Certificate Study
To confirm eligibility for admission to undergraduate certificate study, applicant 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 four 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 need to pass a minimum of four subjects at a rating of 4 (Adequate Achievement, 50-59%) or better from a designated list of subjects. The designated list is as follows:
- Accounting
- Agricultural Sciences
- Business Studies
- Dramatic Arts
- Economics
- Engineering Graphics and Design
- Geography
- History
- Consumer Studies
- Information Technology
- Languages (one language of learning and teaching at a higher education institution and two other recognised language subjects)
- Life Sciences
- Mathematics
- Mathematical Literacy
- Music
- Physical Sciences
- Religion Studies
- Visual Arts
Applicants holding a South African Senior Certificate need matriculation endorsement.
Applicants holding non-South African school-leaving certificates must qualify for matriculation exemption certificate. For more information please visit the website of the Matriculation Board.
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.
UCT language policy in respect of South African Senior Certificate undergraduate applicants
- South African Senior Certificate undergraduate applicants to UCT must have achieved a pass at 40% or more on the Higher Grade in English (First or Second Language) at Senior Certificate level.
UCT language policy in respect of South African National Senior Certificate undergraduate applicants
- South African National Senior Certificate 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.
UCT language policy in respect of applicants holding non-South African school-leaving certificates
- A pass in English language at A-level, As-level, IGCSE, GCSE or O-level, International Baccalaureate or a level equivalent to any of those listed here
- A score of at least 570 (for the paper-based test) or at least 230 (for the computer-based test) in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). The score must be obtained no more than five years prior to application.
- A recent overall band score of 7.0 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS), with no individual element of the test scoring below 6.0.
- A score of 65 percent or more on the university's Placement Test in English for Educational Purposes (PTEEP).
Minimum points score
The University of Cape Town uses a system of allocating points to ratings and symbols achieved for individual subjects. The better your symbols, or achievement ratings, the higher your total score. In the case of some non-South African school-leaving certificates, a similar system is used to allocate points. Please refer to the Guidelines for Admission to UCT for holders of non-South African school-leaving certificates in 2009 for further information.
Tables used in the calculation of your points
National Senior Certificate applicants
| NSC Rating Table | |
| Achievement Rating | Points |
| 7 at 90% or better | 8 |
| 7 at 80% or better | 7 |
| 6 | 6 |
| 5 | 5 |
| 4 | 4 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 2 | 0 |
| 1 below 30% | 0 |
Senior Certificate applicants
| SC Rating Table | ||
| Symbol | HG | SG |
| A | 8 | 6 |
| B | 7 | 5 |
| C | 6 | 4 |
| D | 5 | 3 |
| E | 4 | 2 |
| F | 3 | 1 |
Calculating your points
National Senior Certificate applicants
The ratings achieved in all subjects, except for Life Orientation, will be awarded points. The University recognises the value in Life Orientation as a subject, and the skills with which the subject will equip learners.