How to Qualify for Scholarships at University of Cape Town?

Securing a scholarship at the University of Cape Town (UCT) can significantly alleviate the financial burden of pursuing higher education.

UCT offers various entrance scholarships to both incoming and returning students across different faculties. Here’s what you need to know to qualify for scholarships at UCT:

Entrance Scholarships Overview

At UCT, entrance scholarships are divided into two main categories: Faculty Entrance Scholarships and Faculty Scholarships.

These scholarships are awarded based on academic achievement, and there is no separate application process for them.

Instead, recipients are selected using information provided in their applications for admission and their academic performance in the previous year.

Faculty Entrance Scholarships

1. Criteria for Selection: Faculty Entrance Scholarships are awarded to first-time undergraduate students based on their National Senior Certificate (NSC) achievement. The selection process considers both open and redress pools, with redress determined by the applicant’s disadvantage factor.
2. Eligibility: These scholarships are open to South African citizens and permanent residents. However, specific eligibility criteria may vary depending on the faculty and programme.
3. Award Conditions: Recipients must maintain their academic registration and meet certain threshold levels. Additionally, the scholarship is valid for the year it is awarded, and deferring studies may require meeting the threshold levels for the new academic year.

Faculty Scholarships

1. Criteria for Selection: Faculty Scholarships are awarded to returning students based on their academic performance in open and redress pools. Redress is determined by self-declared racial identity, and academic achievement plays a significant role in the selection process.
2. Eligibility: These scholarships are typically available to students in their second or third year of undergraduate study, with some faculties offering awards for subsequent years as well.
3. Award Conditions: Recipients must maintain full curriculum workload and avoid course failures within their programme. Failure to meet registration requirements or mid-year examination cancellations may result in the withdrawal of the scholarship.

Specific Faculty Requirements

Each faculty at UCT may have unique criteria and methods for awarding scholarships. For example:

• The Faculty of Commerce offers entrance scholarships with a value of R20,000, based on minimum FPS and NBT scores.
• The Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment prioritizes scholarships for women and transgender applicants and awards R60,000 scholarships.
• The Faculty of Health Sciences awards scholarships based on NSC performance and faculty budget allocation, with awards ranging from R40,000.

Understanding the specific requirements and conditions set by each faculty is essential for maximizing your chances of securing a scholarship at UCT.