Full degree study
Study permits: Requirements
- Department of Home Affairs application form (BI-1738).
- Valid passport which must be valid for at least 30 days after the end of your proposed stay in South Africa, otherwise your permit will only be granted for the period up to 30 days before the expiry date. It should also have at least one unused page left when arriving in South Africa.
- Application fee for the permit. This is non-refundable even if your permit is refused.
- An official letter from UCT confirming provisional acceptance and the duration of the course. This is a letter from the relevant faculty offering a study place, together with proof of your acceptance of the offer.
- Medical and radiological reports* (less than six months old)
- Yellow fever vaccination certificate if relevant
- Relevant certificate if married, widowed, divorced or separated
- Proof of medical insurance cover registered and/or recognised in South Africa**
- Details regarding arranged accommodation, if any
- Proof of sufficient funds to cover tuition fees, maintenance and incidental costs
- A police clearance certificate (less than six months old)
- A deposit (a cash amount not exceeding the cost of a single ticket to the applicant's country of origin). Students from other African countries are not required to pay this deposit provided that the government of their country submits a written undertaking to pay all costs relating to deportation of the student should it become necessary.
Please note that the documents must be originals or certified copies.
A certified copy is a photocopy of the original document with an original certified stamp indicating that the authorised person, e.g. a Commissioner of Oaths or police officer, has seen the original document.
An uncertified photocopy of the original or a photocopy of a certified copy is not sufficient.
We advise that applications for new study permits should be submitted at least five to six weeks before the intended departure date for UCT, as it takes time to process these applications.
Renewing an existing permit
NB: All applications for extension of a study permit should be submitted at least 30 days before the expiry date. Failure to do so will mean that you will have to satisfy the Director General that there was good cause, in order to have the late application accepted.
In order to extend your study permit you will need to take the following to Home Affairs:
- Valid passport (valid for at least 30 days more than the required extension period)
- Completed Home Affairs application form BI 1739
- Application fee of R425 (either by cash or bank-guaranteed cheque)
- Proof of sufficient financial means to cover tuition fees, subsistence and incidental costs (in the form of a bursary, or bank statement)
- Police clearance certificate less than six months old (anyone 18 years or older)
- Medical and radiological reports less than six months old* (forms are available at IAPO)
- Official letter from your faculty / department administrator / supervisor confirming that you will be continuing studies at UCT including the duration for which an extension is required.
- Proof of medical cover that is registered in and/or recognised in South Africa**
- Proof of repatriation undertaking or, in the case of African countries only, proof that your country has signed a written undertaking to pay costs for deportation should it become necessary
- Accommodation (copy of lease arrangement, letter from landlord, etc)
Additional information for postgraduate studies
You must submit original academic transcripts covering all periods of registration at every university that you have attended. Any documentation not in English must be translated and sworn to by an authorised translator. You may be required to have your qualifications evaluated by:
Human Sciences Research Council, Evaluations Department, Private Bag X41, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa.
(Tel: +27 12 302 2999)
Department of Home Affairs contacts
The Home Affairs office nearest to UCT is the Cape Town office:
Cape Town
56 Barrack Street (2nd floor)
Cape Town
Tel: 021 462 4970
*Medical report from a GP with regard to your general state of health and radiological report certifying that you do not have active signs of pulmonary TB
** South African medical insurance companies that have international student medical insurance packages