What is registration?

Registration is the process which takes place at the start of the academic year in which students receive academic advice from curriculum advisors/programme convenors, select their compulsory and/or preferred courses, and enrol onto them. Registration is compulsory for all students (both new and returning). Students must register in-person (unless the Faculty Office has communicated otherwise) and are obliged to register before the end of the registration period.

When is registration?

For the provisional schedule for the upcoming Humanities registration, please see the 2025 Registration page and 2026 Registration page.

If you are new to UCT, you will be briefed about the registration process during Orientation. Please see details on the Humanities Orientation page and the Student Orientation page on the Department of Student Affairs (DSA) website.

What happens at registration?

During each registration slot, students will have the opportunity to:

  1. [for UG students only] complete a curriculum planner,
  2. discuss their curriculum with an advisor/programme convenor,
  3. [for Masters and PhD students only] complete their Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or Progress and Planned Activity report (PPA), and
  4. complete their registration task and upload their course selections to PeopleSoft.

Students are advised to consult the relevant handbook when planning their curriculum.

Things to remember

  • If you attend in-person registration, remember to bring your ID/passport, UCT student card (if a returner) and a pen.
  • All returning International and SADC students must obtain pre-registration clearance - see below.
  • Master’s and PhD students registering for a dissertation/thesis must complete their MoU/PPA prior to registering - see below.
  • A late registration fee of R2000 will automatically be charged to the account of any student who is allowed to register after the last day of registration.
  • Please attend curriculum advice or submit your request in your designated timeslot.
  • In terms of University rules students are required to maintain continuous registration until graduation. If you do not maintain continuous registration and you decide to return after break in registration for which you did not take leave of absence, you will need to reapply.

For international students

Please visit the International Office website for important information for international students:

Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) & Progress and Planned Activity report (PPA)

Details regarding the completion, submission and approval of MoUs/PPAs is included in the registration guideline documents on the 2025 Registration page and 2026 Registration page.

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