The University of Cape Town (UCT) is South Africa's oldest university, and is one of Africa's leading teaching and research institutions. UCT climbed
23 places, retaining its top spot on the continent in this year’s World University Rankings published by Times Higher Education (THE); placed 77th (21 places higher than in 2021) in the world for
clinical and health in the latest subject
rankings; and ranked in the top 100 for five subjects, including an outstanding
position of being in the top 25 for infectious diseases research according to
the 2023 US News and World Report Best
Global Universities Rankings.
- #125 Ranking
- 62 Bachelors
- 4,984 Academic Staff
- 30,392 Students
- Public Institution Type
Top reasons to study here
- UCT is committed to the professionalisation and valorisation of teaching and learning.
- UCT is a community of exceptionally talented students, teachers and researchers – and a wide range of professional, administrative support and service staff.
- UCT has a vibrant, diverse, cosmopolitan community.
Bachelor's programmes
Social Sciences (17)
- BSocSc African Studies
- BSocSc Anthropology
- Bachelor Archaeology
- BSocSci Economics
- BBusSc Economics
- BCom Economics with Law
- B.A. / B.Sc. Environmental and Geographical Science
- BBusSc Finance with Accounting
- B.Sc. Occupational Therapy
- BBusSc Organisational Psychology
- BSocSc Politics and Governance
- BSocSc Psychology
- BSocSc Sociology
Business & Management (16)
- BCom Accounting with Law
- BBusSc / BCom Actuarial Science
- BCom Chartered Accountant
- B.Sc. Construction Studies
- BBusSc Economics
- BSocSci Economics
- BCom Economics with Law
- BBusSc Finance
- BBusSc Finance with Accounting
- BCom General Accounting
- BCom Information Systems
- BBusSc Marketing
- BBusSc Organisational Psychology
- B.Sc. Property Studies
Arts, Design & Architecture (11)
- B.A. Art History
- BCP City Planning
- B.Sc. Construction Studies
- B.A. Fine Art
- B.Sc. Geomatics
- B.A. / BMus Music
Engineering & Technology (10)
- BScEng Chemical Engineering
- BSc (Eng) Civil Engineering
- B.Sc. Construction Studies
- BSc (Eng) Electrical Engineering
- BSc (Eng) Electrical and Computer Engineering
- B.Sc. Geology
- BSc (Eng) Mechanical Engineering
- Bsc (Eng) Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering
- BSc (Eng) Mechatronics
- B.Sc. Property Studies
Natural Sciences & Mathematics (10)
- BBusSc / BCom Actuarial Science
- B.Sc. Applied Mathematics
- B.Sc. Astrophysics
- B.Sc. Biological Sciences
- B.Sc. Chemistry
- B.Sc. Mathematics
- B.Sc. Physics
- B.Sc. Statistics
Medicine & Health (6)
- B.Sc. Audiology
- MBChB Medicine and Surgery
- B.Sc. Occupational Therapy
- B.Sc. Physiotherapy
- BSocSc Psychology
Computer Science & IT (5)
- B.Sc. Computer Science
- BSc (Eng) Electrical and Computer Engineering
- B.Sc. Geomatics
- BCom Information Systems
Environmental Studies & Earth Sciences (5)
- Bachelor Archaeology
- B.Sc. Biological Sciences
- B.A. / B.Sc. Environmental and Geographical Science
- B.Sc. Geology
- Bachelor Oceanography
Humanities (5)
- B.A. English
- B.A. History
- BSocSc Philosophy
- BSocSc Religious Studies
Law (3)
- BCom Accounting with Law
- BCom Economics with Law
- L.L.B. Law
Applied Sciences & Professions (2)
- B.A. Art History
- B.Sc. Property Studies
Hospitality, Leisure & Sports (1)
- B.Sc. Physiotherapy
Journalism & Media (1)
About
History
UCT was founded in 1829 as the South African College, a high school for boys.The College had a small tertiary-education facility that grew substantially after 1880, when the discovery of gold and diamonds in the north – and the resulting demand for skills in mining – gave it the financial boost it needed to grow.
Education
UCT has a proud tradition of academic excellence and is currently the top-rated university in Africa and one of the top-rated universities in the world. Our researchers continue to help with the creation of African-based solutions to global problems, including issues relating to climate change, urbanisation, safety and security, education and health, to name just a few. Many UCT researchers are recognised world leaders in their respective fields, which means that if you choose to study with us, you will continually be exposed to the latest scholarly work and research discoveries.
Research
Our vision is to be an inclusive, research-intensive African university that addresses the challenges of our time with cutting-edge teaching, research and facilities. As a university we are committed to promoting transformation, to working tirelessly to guarantee the sustainability of our institution, and to ensuring excellence in all we do.
Career
Higher education not only opens the door to exciting career opportunities, but it can also help to build South Africa’s young democracy. Good citizenship requires each of us to understand the issues our country is dealing with and our individual responsibilities. In this sense, education can help to transform society as a whole, and many UCT alumni are currently making outstanding contributions to society through the skills they learned here.
Global Student Satisfaction Awards 2021
GSSA 2021
The Global Student Satisfaction Awards empower students across the globe to determine the best universities of 2021. Universities with a score above 4.0 (out of 5) in any of the 8 award categories, receive Badges of Excellence. Congratulations!
University Ranking
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report
2023
125 -16
2022
109 -6
2021
103
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
World University Rankings by Times Higher Education
2023
160 23
2022
183 -28
2021
155
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
Academic Ranking of World Universities by Shanghai Jiao Tong University
2022
201
2021
201
2020
201
ARWU World University rankings is the first world university ranking. It ranks the world's top 1000 colleges and universities based on objective indicator. They look at the number of award-winning (Fields Medals and Nobel Prize) scientists who are located there, how much of their research is cited and referenced around the world, and how much they've contributed to different academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, ARWU ranks the universities accordingly.
QS World University Rankings by TopUniversities
2023
237 -11
2022
226 -6
2021
220
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
Services
Student services
Housing services
UCT provides different types of accommodation for undergraduate and postgraduate students, on and off campus.
Usually, you will start out in a first-tier residence (full catering), move on to a second-tier residence (senior catering or self-catering) and later, stay in third-tier accommodation (semi-autonomous self-catering).
Students with disabilities can be accommodated in different residences. Simply contact the Student Accommodation Office and the Disability Service, and they will address your particular needs.
Library services
UCT Libraries offer state-of-the-art technology, vast collections of reading and research material, and the specialised services of friendly, efficient and helpful staff.
The Chancellor Oppenheimer Library lies at the heart of Upper Campus. Its 8 branch libraries can be found close to the relevant faculties.
ICT services
Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS) is a support organisation that helps staff and students to use information and communication technologies to enhance their work.ICTS offers different services and support for staff and students.
Medical services
The Student Wellness Service offers a comprehensive outpatient medical service by both medical practitioners and nurses, who are dedicated to helping students to remain healthy, and to make the correct life choices while pursuing their academic goals. Students are encouraged to seek assistance and guidance as early as possible.
Student Life
Campus life
UCT has 4 campuses:
- Groote Schuur Campus in Rondebosch
- Medical Campus in Observatory
- Hiddingh Campus in the city
- Breakwater Campus at Cape Town's Waterfront, where the Graduate School of Business is located.
Sports facilities
UCT offers more than 40 sporting codes, with a total membership of around 9 000 students and staff. So, this is a great opportunity to carry on with the sport you loved at school or to try your hand at something completely new.
Whether you’re interested in athletics, rugby, netball and soccer or archery, paragliding, skydiving and yachting, there will be something for you.
Student clubs
UCT encourages students to build their leadership and service skills. We invite our students to participate in the many volunteer projects taking place in the local communities, to become active members of the 100+ societies and over 40 sports clubs on campus, or to give something back to the institution by serving in student governance.
Student Reviews
Failed the first time
Anonymous rated 3 out of 5 stars
The university experience itself was alright however I was struggling mentally so my overall experience wasn’t the best
Let's shine
Anonymous rated 4 out of 5 stars
It has been great compared to my secondary life.
South Africa's Finest
Anonymous rated 4 out of 5 stars
I love studying at UCT. It is highly academic with some of the best lecturers and professors and a degree from UCT is advantageous for leavers.
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