The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) makes available financial support to South African (or permanent residents) students entering their first undergraduate qualification. NSFAS is introducing a Central Application System which will impact on our financial assistance policy.

The University of Cape Town is committed to providing a broad based financial assistance programme. The University aims to assist applicants who apply on time and qualify for Financial Aid. Information on eligibility can be obtained from the Undergraduate Financial Aid page.

Faculty Entrance Scholarships are awarded on the basis of the school leaving examination and/or NBT results. Deans may offer scholarships to applicants writing school leaving examinations other than the National Senior Certificate. Faculty Entrance Scholarships in the redress category take into account the consequences of discrimination based on disadvantage. The University uses the applicant's indication of parental classification under apartheid in considering eligibility for redress entrance scholarship awards.

The Undergraduate Entrance Scholarships are used as a recruitment tool. The total allocation to the Faculty is split between BA/BSocSc, Social Work and PPE programmes (80%), and the Performing and Creative Arts (20%). To ensure equity, the funds available in each of these sectors will be allocated equally between the "open" and "equity" categories. All South African citizens and permanent residents are eligible for consideration in the "open" category. Only Black, Coloured and Indian students who are South African citizens or permanent residents are eligible for consideration under the "equity" category.

As the funds available for distribution are limited, the list of potential scholarship recipients in each category will be ranked in merit order and the awards made in descending order until the available funds have been allocated.

Eligibility

• Applicants for undergraduate degree or diploma study, full-time; first degree only.
• Applicants who are South African citizens or permanent residents.
• Entrance scholarships (ES) are not normally offered to transferring students, except in the case of the performing and creative arts area where the School/ Department/ College concerned has motivated that the student has been assessed as having excellent potential.
• A transferring applicant who has a prior qualification is not eligible.

Criteria for the award of scholarships to BA/BSoc.Sc, Social Work and PPE applicants: Scholarships are awarded on academic merit as evidenced in school leaving results and/or NBT AQL score.

Criteria for the award of scholarships for performing and creative programmes: Awards will be based on academic merit as evidenced in school leaving results, academic record, NBT AQL score and performing and creative excellence, as advised by the Selection Panel and the Head/Director of the Department/School. The total amount is divided among the four disciplines (Dance, Drama, Fine Art, and Music) on a pro rata basis. The scholarship will fall away if the student subsequently registers for a qualification outside of the PCA programmes.

The allocation to the Faculty for Faculty Undergraduate Scholarships is split between BA and BSocSc programmes (80%), and the Performing and Creative Arts (20%). To ensure equity, the funds available in each of these sectors will be allocated equally between the "open" and "equity" categories..

As the funds available for distribution are limited, the list of potential scholarship recipients in respect of each category will be ranked in merit order and the awards made in descending order until the available funds have been allocated.

Open category

All students are eligible in this category (ie, all South African citizens and permanent residents). The scholarships are awarded on academic merit to students entering their second, third or fourth academic year of study for an undergraduate qualification, based on the weighted average received in the preceding year, subject to the student having registered for a full academic load and passed all courses that form part of this load.

Equity category

Only Black, Coloured and Indian students who are South African citizens or permanent residents are eligible. The scholarships are awarded on academic merit to students entering their second, third or fourth academic year of study for an undergraduate qualification, based on the weighted average received in the preceding year, subject to the student having registered for a full academic load and passed all courses that form part of this load.

For those interested in the Bachelor of Social Work programme, the National Government's UCT Department of Social Work & Social Development provides bursaries to support training and entrance into this profession.

In addition, various bursaries are available to UCT students. Please consult the UCT Bursaries noticeboard.

The best source of information regarding postgraduate funding opportunities is the Postgraduate Funding Office, located on the upper level of the Otto Beit Building on Upper Campus (adjacent to Sarah Baartman Hall).

1. Funding opportunities are also advertised on their Noticeboard
2. Contained in the Financial Assistance for Postgraduate Study & Postdoctoral Research Handbook.
3. Visit the main UCT website, then access the page related to postgraduate funding

Prospective postgraduate students are encouraged to plan for the financing of their studies well in advance. It is important to note that the University is not able to provide full-cost funding to postgraduate students. Any scholarships and/or bursaries that may be awarded will contribute towards the cost of study and applicants are advised to secure additional support.

In addition to standard tuition fees, all international, non-SADC (Southern African Development Community) students pay an international term fee (ITF). The Faculty of Humanities provides annual ITF Bursaries to deserving international Master's and Doctoral students. These bursaries are awarded based on academic merit and/or on financial need, at the discretion of the faculty. Preference is given to students who are from  countries on the African continent. Please note that only students who have been accepted to do a postgraduate programme in the Faculty of Humanities will be considered for this bursary. Please download the International Student Faculty Bursaries form here.

Tutor packages are another mechanism to assist postgraduate students. Please enquire about the availability of tutor packages through your academic department.

• For more information on UCT postgraduate funding, please visit the Postgraduate Funding web pages.
• For more information on the Fees for the degree programme you are applying for, please consult the UCT Fees Handbook.