UCT 2027 Undergraduate Summary
We've summarized the UCT 2027 propectus below for a quick scan but I'd advise you to download the document and go through it yourself.
Minimum APS Range: 380 (Humanities) to 500+ (Engineering, MBChB) — varies significantly by faculty and band.
Application Fee:
South African & SADC applicants: R100 (non-refundable)
Other international applicants: R300 (non-refundable)
Currently registered UCT students, graduates & Semester Study Abroad applicants: No fee
2027 Key Closing Dates:
Applications open: 1 April 2026
All undergraduate applications close: 31 July 2026 (no late applications accepted)
Health Sciences NBT deadline (for conditional offer): 31 July 2026
Final NBT date for general admission: 3 October 2026
International applicants offer deadline: 15 November 2026
Faculty Breakdown
Faculty of Commerce (BCom / BBusSc)
General specialisations (Economics, Finance, Marketing, etc.): FPS 435+ for guaranteed admission; Maths 60% minimum; English HL 50% or FAL 60%
Computer Science & Statistics/Data Science: Same FPS threshold but Maths rises to 70%
Actuarial Science & Quantitative Finance: FPS 500+; Maths 80%; English HL 60% or FAL 80%
NBTs (Academic Literacy + Quantitative Literacy) are mandatory for all Commerce applicants, local and international
Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment
Civil Engineering: FPS 500+; Maths 80%; Physical Sciences 70%
Electrical / Electrical & Computer / Mechatronics: FPS 500+; Maths 80%; Physical Sciences 75%
Chemical Engineering: FPS 500+; Maths 80%; Physical Sciences 75%
Mechanical & Mechanical/Mechatronic Engineering: FPS 500+; Maths 80%; Physical Sciences 75%
Geomatics: FPS 450+; Maths 75%; Physical Sciences 70%
Construction Studies: FPS 450+; Maths 65%; Physical Sciences 60%
Property Studies: FPS 450+; Maths 65%
Architectural Studies: FPS 450+; Maths 50%; English 50%; plus a creative portfolio scored at 75%+
NBT results are not used for admission decisions in Engineering but must still be written
Faculty of Health Sciences
MBChB (Medicine): FPS 810+ (Band A); Maths 70%; Physical Sciences 70%; English 65%; NBT scores must be Proficient. Only 240 places available.
Physiotherapy: FPS 730+; Maths 60%; Physical Sciences or Life Sciences 65%
Occupational Therapy: FPS 730+; Maths 60% (or Mathematical Literacy 70%); Life/Physical Sciences 65%
Audiology: FPS 720+; same subject minimums as OT
Speech-Language Pathology: FPS 715+; same subject minimums
Higher Certificate in Disability Practice: 30 places; NBT Academic & Quantitative Literacy at Upper Intermediate+
Nigeria, Ghana and most non-SADC African countries are not eligible for most Health Sciences programmes (eligibility is restricted to SA citizens/permanent residents plus specific SADC countries per programme)
Faculty of Humanities (BA / BSocSc)
General degrees: FPS 380 minimum; NBT Academic Literacy at Intermediate+; English HL 50% or FAL 60%
Guaranteed admission band: FPS 450+ with Proficient NBT Academic Literacy
BSocSc PPE: FPS 450+; Maths 60%; NBT Quantitative Literacy at Upper Intermediate+
Bachelor of Social Work: FPS 380 minimum; up to 80 places; possible admissions interview required
Performing & Creative Arts (Fine Art, Theatre, Music): FPS 380 minimum but audition/portfolio is the primary admission driver — you can be below minimum APS and still gain entry if your creative work is exceptional
Mathematics test component of NBT not required unless you plan to take maths-based majors
Faculty of Law (LLB)
4-year undergraduate LLB: FPS 500+; NBT Academic Literacy Proficient; NBT Quantitative Literacy Intermediate+
Maximum of 10 international students accepted into the undergraduate LLB
Combined Humanities/Commerce + LLB route (5 years): you first enter Humanities or Commerce, then qualify for the law stream by achieving 65% (Humanities) or 63% (Commerce) GPA in first year
Graduate LLB (3 years, post-degree): requires minimum 65% cumulative GPA in completed undergraduate degree
Faculty of Science (BSc)
FPS calculated out of 800 (Maths and Physical Sciences scores are doubled)
Guaranteed admission: FPS 660+; Maths 70%; Physical Sciences 60%
Band C (possible admission): FPS 550+
All Science applicants must write all three NBT components (AL, QL, Mathematics) — results used for placement into Extended Degree Programme, not for admission gating
Some majors (Biochemistry, Computer Science, Genetics, Human Anatomy & Physiology) have capacity limits — acceptance into Science does not guarantee your chosen major
Use our Specialized FPS calculator to determine your FPS standing.
Fees Breakdown
2026 First-Year Tuition Estimates (2027 fees will be confirmed late 2026 — use these as your planning baseline):
Commerce (BCom/BBusSc): R62,340 – R110,580
Actuarial Science BBusSc: R110,580
Engineering: R82,820 – R89,780
MBChB (Medicine): R113,510
Architectural Studies: R75,610
Health Sciences (Allied): R84,000 – R96,900
Humanities (BA/BSocSc): R79,000
Law (LLB): R80,410
Science (BSc): R87,000
Registration Deposit (2026 figures — use as guide):
Tuition: First payment of R34,500 due by early February (or full fee if less than R34,500)
Catering residence: R44,500 initial payment
Self-catering residence: R29,500 initial payment
SADC international admin fee: R5,600 payable before registration
Single year total cost (all-in estimate): UCT states this can exceed R150,000 when tuition, accommodation, and living costs are combined.
The VarsityToolkit Insider Tip
Life Orientation does not count toward your APS — ever. UCT explicitly excludes it from all APS and FPS calculations across every faculty. Students frequently inflate their self-calculated APS by including their Life Orientation mark. Take it out before you assess your eligibility. For the Faculties of Science and Health Sciences, the scoring goes further: your Mathematics and Physical Sciences percentages are either doubled (Science FPS out of 800) or combined with your three NBT scores (Health Sciences FPS out of 900), meaning the standard 600-point APS you calculated from school results is not the figure UCT actually uses to rank you. Recalculate using the faculty-specific formula before deciding whether to apply.
But not to worry, our well optimized APS calculator can help you do the heavy lifting.