University of Cape Town
- Private
Welcome to the University of Cape Town!
UCT has six campuses, including Upper, Middle and Lower campuses; Hiddingh Campus; the Health Sciences Campus; and the Breakwater Campus, which has a newly established satellite facility in Phillippi. If you are thinking about studying at UCT, please come and visit us on one of our annual open days, or arrange with the Admissions Office to take a guided tour of our beautiful institution.
UCT is a community of exceptionally talented students, teachers and researchers – and a wide range of professional, administrative support and service staff – all of whom are committed to help change this world for the better. We encourage one another to work hard, not only to earn degrees or public recognition, but also to be leaders in this increasingly changing world.
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.
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.
In addition to providing excellent teaching, 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.
UCT has a vibrant, diverse, cosmopolitan community. Our staff and students come from many different communities in South Africa, as well as more than 100 countries across Africa and the rest of the world. Every person has something to contribute to UCT’s quality and growth, and our goal is to ensure that everyone feels at home during their time here.
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.
Despite the many challenges we face as a university and a country, I believe that this is a great time to be at UCT. This is a time that offers the prospect of making real change happen.
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Head of University
Professor Mamokgethi Phakeng
Contact person
UCT
Position in Company
Direct
Telephone Number
+27 (0)21 650 9111
Email address
admissions@uct.ac.za
Website address
https://www.uct.ac.za/
Diversity Programme
Recent research indicates that self-identifying students on UCT’s campus require support services that do not reinforce hegemonic norms but help to create enabling environments for students who may have concerns, experience distress or question their gender and/or sexuality. The lived experiences of self-identifying students required a review of services that limited the opportunity for explicit forms of violence and discrimination, as well as the subtle or silent exclusions that result in micro-aggressions against self-identifying students.
Fourteen South African universities were accepted into a funded three-year programme to focus on service and institutional systems enhancement. UCT focused on developing capacity within existing structures, expanding services and creating new spaces that increased visibility of the institution’s programme. Using a theoretical framework and research from sub-Saharan Africa, best practice was adapted from other MSM-LGBQTIA campus programmes, to expand the reach of services to students who would not ordinarily utilise the available network of support in the institution.
Sexualities Policy
A sexualities policy has been developed that proposes reframing the institutional culture of UCT.
The policy recognises the institutional role in the provision of equal access to university administrative, academic and support services for all students and staff and contains the minimum standards and guidelines that govern interaction by UCT entities, staff and students in relation to gender identity and sexual diversity. It aims to ensure consistency in engagement and create an environment that represents the inclusivity of UCT.
The policy further recognises the potential for the conduct of UCT entities, staff and students within the borders of UCT, to re-inscribe heteronormative practices that, if left unchecked, delegitimize the lived realities of staff and students on campus. The policy sets out guidelines for the appropriate use of terminology in teaching praxis, communication, health care and administrative services at UCT. The policy encourages good practice in order to protect and govern UCT entities, staff and students with guidelines for teaching praxis, communication, administration and health care.
The Sexualities Policy was adopted by UCT Council in December 2017.
Inclusivity Policy for Sexual Orientation up and running
The University of Cape Town’s (UCT) ground-breaking new policy to tackle discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, ratified last December, is officially up and running following a recent public launch. The policy aims to facilitate a campus environment for staff and students that is free from discrimination in all spheres, including teaching content and language, the university’s code of conduct, and culture.
UCT has about 40 sport clubs, 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, soccer, archery or yachting, there will be something for you.
Sports and Recreation provides for all levels of competition from purely social programmes through to high-performance sport. Most clubs engage the services of top-level coaches, many of whom coach at provincial level.
UCT has a proud record of achievement both in the Western Province leagues and at national student tournaments.
Sport development and transformation are taken very seriously at UCT. Our students are actively engaged in promoting sport in our local communities and within their clubs on campus.
UCT’s sport facilities include:
- an Astro Turf hockey facility
- an indoor sports complex
- tennis and squash courts
- soccer, rugby and cricket facilities.
Our rowing club is one of the best-equipped university clubs in the country.
In addition, UCT has access to:
- a mountain near Ceres
- an L26 keelboat and many sailing dinghies
- an ocean-going dive boat
- a water-ski boat.
All of UCT’s clubs are keen to develop new members, so even if you’ve never tried a particular sport before, it’s well worth giving it a test drive. All the clubs are showcased on the plaza during orientation week.
Sport scholarships
With an excellent record in a wide variety of sports, UCT attracts top sports people to the campus. If you have represented your country in any sport at a national schools or age-group level, you could be eligible for a UCT sports scholarship.
Eligible applicants must apply to Sports and Recreation to be considered for these awards.
