Admission and Application
Congratulations on selecting UCT Faculty of Humanities! Did you know that we are the premier Humanities faculty in Southern Africa?
- Humanities is the largest Faculty at UCT with over 7 000 students and 18 academic departments.
- We offer students a diverse range of academic programmes designed to stimulate and engage.
- Humanities is the most popular destination for international students visiting UCT and we are host to a vibrant community of Semester Study Abroad students each year. This means that Humanities students are exposed to a rich diversity of culture and global perspectives.
- The Faculty of Humanities offers students over 40 academic majors at the undergraduate level. This means greater choice in tailoring your academic experience.
- We produce graduates who possess insight, imagination, skills of analysis and critical argumentation.
Interested in applying to Humanities?
We have compiled guides to help you navigate the admission process, as well as familiarise yourself with the various programmes we have on offer in the Humanities Faculty:
- Undergraduate Prospectus
- Directions for Undergraduate Applicants
- Directions for Postgraduate Applications
You can also visit Humanities Contacts page for the appropriate channel to ask your questions.
Undergraduate applications
All UG applications are delt with directly by the Humanities Faculty office and not by the department.
View our Frequently Asked Questions page for more information on the Faculty of Humanities undergraduate admissions processes. To be considered for admission to Undergraduate study, applicants normally resident in South Africa are required to:
- Possess a matriculation exemption (Senior Certificate) or a NSC endorsed for degree studies (NSC); or for a Diploma, a school leaving certificate) or NSC endorsed for diploma studies.
- Write the NBT Academic and Quantitative Literacy Test (AQL).
Matriculants applying to Humanities must submit at least two sets of interim school results, which may include your Grade 11 final results and Grade 12 April, Grade 12 June or Grade 12 September school results.
Refer to think link for details of the REL UG Degree Programmes on offer.
Refer to the Humanities web page for more details of the undergraduate programmes on offer: HUM Academic Programmes
Postgraduate applications
For applicants who wish to be considered for admission to a postgraduate programme in the Humanities, the following describes the application procedures.
What happens when I apply for postgraduate study in the Humanities?:
- Similar to the Undergraduate application process, after completing your online application, UCT Admissions Office will inform you via email that your application has been received and request accompanying documents. Please note that your application cannot be considered if you do not supply your latest academic transcripts (even if you are still completing your studies).
- Please note that applications for the academic year close on 31 October in the preceding year.
- If you decide to change your degree choice after your application has been submitted, you should contact Central Admissions to update your choice (not the Faculty office). UCT Admissions Office uploads your details onto the computer database.
- If your selected programme is owned by the Faculty of Humanities, the Humanities Faculty Office staff will send your application to the relevant department for consideration.
- Once the department notifies the Faculty's Postgraduate Office of their decision, you will be sent a letter informing you whether you have been offered a place, a conditional place, if your application has been refused, or if you are on a waiting list.
- You can monitor the progress of your application online.
For more details on how to apply for the Study of Religions Postgraduate Programme, please refer to the following documents:
Registration
2025 Humanities Undergraduate Registration
All students registered to undergraduate Humanities programmes require two levels of curriculum review in order to finalise their registration:
- the first level is in-person curriculum advice, and
- the second level is incorporated into (Steps 12-14 of) the registration task on PeopleSoft.
Students must finalise their registration task (or request approval on Step 12 of the registration task) by Friday, 14 February 2025. Importantly, students will not be able to proceed past Step 11 of their registration task on PeopleSoft without completing the first level of curriculum review.
Link to Important Undergrad Registration Resources
2024 Online MOU process and 2025 Registration
Progress Reporting - Monitoring PG student progress (MOU): Current Students registered for dissertation course codes (REL5003W, REL5000W and REL6000W)
- You will be required to complete the MOU process where you will need to meet with your supervisor to discuss and complete the required MOU form for 2025 re-registration.
- The process will be automated where the forms will be completed online via the PeopleSoft system.
- All new and returning students registering or re-registering for the REL dissertation courses will need to complete this MOU process before registering for the 2025 academic year.
- The timeline for completion of the MOU will coincide with registration in 2025 (22 January - 12 February 2025).
2025 Registration and completion of MOU forms for new/returning students:
- 2025 registration will take place ONLINE from 22 January – 12 February 2025 for new and returning students.
- Registration will formally commence on the 22nd of January 2025 and all new and returning students will be required to register remotely via Peoplesoft.
For further details regarding the dates and procedures for online registration, refer to the attached documents.
-
Study of Religions 2025 Postgraduate Registration Information -
Humanities Registration Guide (BCC Process) -
Humanities Registration Guide (PE Process) -
2025 Humanities Faculty Handbook -
UCT 2025 Fees & Payment Dates
Orientation
Undergrad Course Information
This section provides essential information and resources for undergraduate students regarding the UG programme as well as academic policies, procedures, and support services.
Courses on offer this year:
- REL1002F: Religions Past and Present
- REL1006S: Judaism, Christianity and Islam
- REL1017S: African Religious Traditions
- REL2040F: Religion and Society
- REL2047F: Religion Sexuality and Gender
- REL2048S: Psychology of Religion
- REL3037F: Religion and Politics
- REL3042S: Religion and Media
Course Timetable:
- All 1st and 2nd year courses have a lecture and tutorial component while 3rd year courses only have a lecture component.
- Lectures take place every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday.
- Tutorials are by sign-up via the Amathuba course sites. You can contact Dr Abdulhakim Nsobya for more information.
Academic and Support Services:
Academic Intergrity:
Guidelines for Academic Writing:
Assignment Guidelines:
Policy for Assignments, Referencing and Attendance:
UCT Disability Services:
Extra time applications and mental health accommodations:
Undergraduate administrative links
- Student responsibilities
Maintenance and confirmation of personal and academic information – please see the document detailing your responsibilities with regards to your own information. - Student administration self-service (PeopleSoft)
- Check application status
- Check current enrolments
- Access student results
- Request proof of registration document
- Check and maintain address details
- Check and maintain bank account details
- Check fee account
- Select a tutorial group
(limited to certain courses) - Get unofficial academic transcript
- PeopleSoft student self-service help
Should you have any problems logging in, please consult the student self-service help documentation or send an email to sss-helpdesk@uct.ac.za. - Student administrative forms
- Password self-service for students
- Course timetable
- UCT examinations site
Please note that the latest changes to courses may not be reflected yet.- Exam timetable
- Deferred exams
- COVID-19 exam protocol
- Amathuba
UCT’s new digital learning platform - Vula
UCT’s digital learning platform - Learning Platforms Update Project
What’s the difference between Amathuba and Vula? - electronic Research Administration System (eRA)
- Official academic records/transcripts
- myUCT
email for undergraduate and honours students
Online learning
- Self-training resources
- SuccessFactors Learning
Staff Learning & Development Platform
Links to other useful sites and pages
- Emergency contacts
- UCT Shuttle bus service
- Student Wellness Service
- Survivor support
- Disability Service
- UCT Libraries
- UCT Writing Centre
- UCT Careers Service
- Staff directory
- Information and Communication Technology Services (ICTS)
Postgrad Course Information
This section provides essential information and resources for postgraduate students regarding the PG programme as well as academic policies, procedures, and support services.
Courses on offer this year:
Honours (4000 level) and Masters (5000 level)
Taught Courses
- REL4010F: Methods and Theory in the Study of Religions 1
- REL5117F: Methods and Theory in the Study of Religions 1
- REL4049F/REL5115F: Islamic Studies
- REL4113F/REL5113F: Issues in Contemporary Jewish Thought
- REL4012S: Methods and Theory in the Study of Religions 2
- REL5118S: Methods and Theory in the Study of Religions 2
- REL4054S/REL5018S: Religion, Gender and Sexuality: Exploring Contested Territories
- REL4046S/REL5114S: Buddhism in Contemporary Society
Research Courses:
- REL4011H: Research Project/Essay
- REL5003W: Minor Dissertation
- REL5000W: Research Masters
- REL6000W: PhD
Course Timetable:
- All taught courses have a lecture component while research courses only have a dissertation/thesis project.
- Honours students must complete 4 taught courses plus the REL4011H: Research Project/Essay.
- Coursework Masters students must complete 4 taught courses and the REL5003W: Minor Dissertation.
- Research Masters students would register for REL5000W only and PhD students for REL6000W.
- For taught courses lectures take place every Wednesday and each lecture is 1.5 hours.
- Course Materials and Resources are available on the UCT teaching and learning platform Amathuba
- You can contact Mrs Tasneem Wise for more information.
Academic and Support Services:
Academic Intergrity:
Guidelines for Academic Writing:
Assignment Guidelines:
Policy for Assignments, Referencing and Attendance:
UCT Disability Services:
Postgraduate administrative links:
- Student responsibilities
Maintenance and confirmation of personal and academic information – please see the document detailing your responsibilities with regards to your own information. - Student administration self-service (PeopleSoft)
- Check application status
- Check current enrolments
- Access student results
- Request proof of registration document
- Check and maintain address details
- Check and maintain bank account details
- Check fee account
- Select a tutorial group
(limited to certain courses) - Get unofficial academic transcript
- PeopleSoft student self-service help
Should you have any problems logging in, please consult the student self-service help documentation or send an email to sss-helpdesk@uct.ac.za. - Student administrative forms
- Password self-service for students
- Amathuba
- UCT’s new digital learning platform
- Vula
UCT’s digital learning platform - Learning Platforms Update Project
What’s the difference between Amathuba and Vula? - electronic Research Administration System (eRA)
- Official academic records/transcripts
- myUCT
email for undergraduate and honours students
Online learning
- Self-training resources
- SuccessFactors Learning
Staff Learning & Development Platform
Links to other useful sites and pages
Research Ethics
This notice serves to inform you of important updates to our research ethics procedures. In order to streamline the process and ensure compliance with the latest ethical standards, the University has implemented a new online procedure for submitting and reviewing research ethics applications.
Key Changes Include:
- Online Submission Platform: All research ethics applications must now be submitted through our dedicated online portal (eRA Research Portal:
https://eraonline.uct.ac.za/converis/portal/overview?lang=en_GB)
- Updated Guidelines: The research ethics guidelines have been updated to reflect recent changes in ethical standards and best practices. We encourage you to review the new guidelines carefully before submitting your application. Please refer to attached guides for the detailed instructions on how to access and use the platform.
Research Ethics Student Guide How to Apply for Ethics Clearance 2025 Research Ethics Supervisor Guide Reviewing an Ethics Application as the Supervisor 2025 Research Ethics Principle Investigator Guide how to tag oneself as a principal investigator in the application
- Training Module: A new mandatory training module on research ethics is now available. This module must be completed before you submit your ethics application. For training information please contact: Aphiwe Ngunge aphiwe.ngunge@uct.ac.za
For additional support and to request training on this system please links below:
- Review Process: The review process has been enhanced to provide faster feedback and clearer guidance on ethics approval. This will help you navigate your application more efficiently.
Action Required:
- Complete the online training module available at eRA Online Training Request or email Aphiwe Ngunge aphiwe.ngunge@uct.ac.za
- Familiarize yourself with the updated research ethics guidelines attached.
- Log in to the new online portal to submit your research ethics applications.
https://eraonline.uct.ac.za/converis/portal/overview?lang=en_GB
These new procedures will take effect immediately, and we ask that you begin using the new platform for any upcoming research ethics submissions.
If you have any questions or need assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out as follows:
- eRA system support: eRA Support Resources
- Department Support: PG Admin Office (Tasneem.Wise@uct.ac.za) / Ethics Convener (Louis.Blond@uct.ac.za)
Thank you for your attention to these important changes, and for your continued commitment to ethical research practices.