Public university in Cape Town, South Africa, founded 1829

University of Cape Town Admission Requirements 2027

The University of Cape Town, founded in 1829 as the South African College and a university since 1918, describes itself as South Africa's oldest university. Non-SADC international students pay course tuition plus an International Term Fee of ZAR 60,300 or ZAR 80,400 a year at undergraduate level in 2026 and a ZAR 5,600 administrative fee. Postgraduate applications for 2027 close on 30 September 2026.

Verified 15 Sep 2026 Sources Official site

Next deadline

30 Sep 2026

Academic year 2027, Master, regular, 8 days left

Tuition

See fees

charged per credit or per semester

English test

IELTS 6.5

TOEFL 88, PTE 67, waiver possible

Acceptance rate

Not published

Application fee

R300

Requirements

Requirements are being verified.

English test waiver

UCT accepts a TOEFL iBT score of 88 with at least 19 in listening, 19 in writing, 20 in reading and 22 in speaking; IELTS Academic 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component; PTE Academic 67 with at least 59 in each skill; or the NBT Academic Literacy test in the Intermediate Upper range, each no more than two years old (NBT no more than three). Proof is required from applicants whose first language is not English and who have not passed English at NSC Grade 12, AS level, IGCSE or an equivalent school-leaving qualification from an English-medium institution. Completing UCT's Academic English course is also accepted, and some programmes set higher levels.

Sources, checked 15 September 2026