ARE YOU ELIGIBLE FOR A SCHOLARSHIP IN 2027?
This document provides you with the information you need to see whether or not you qualify for either an Entrance Scholarship, or a Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship, if you are admitted to UCT in 2027. 

General conditions 
1.	Faculties offer two kinds of undergraduate scholarships: Entrance Scholarships, for new undergraduate students, and Faculty Scholarships for returning students.  
2.	Faculties use different criteria and methods to identify scholarship recipients.  The value of the entrance scholarship may vary and is reflected in the respective faculty section below.
3.	The number of awards is limited. Awards are made on the criteria detailed below. There is no application process for these awards. 
4.	Faculties make awards using information provided in applications for admission and academic achievement in the previous year. 
5.	a) Entrance Scholarships are awarded to applicants on the basis of National Senior Certificate (NSC) achievement in open and redress pools. For Entrance Scholarships, redress is determined by an applicant’s disadvantage factor.  
b) Faculty Scholarships are awarded to returning students on the basis of academic achievement in open and redress pools.  For Faculty Scholarships redress is determined by self-declared racial identity. 
6.	An applicant or student who is entitled to staff tuition rates, will have the record of the award noted on their transcript, but the amount paid into the fee account will be a pro-rated percentage of the standard award.   

General conditions applicable to Entrance Scholarships
7.	Entrance Scholarships are for undergraduate students who are applying to enter UCT for the first time and are for the first year of academic study. 
8.	Except in the performing and creative arts where audition and portfolio rankings are considered, Entrance Scholarships are guaranteed to applicants who attain the published faculty threshold levels.   
9.	Unless otherwise stated, eligibility for all Entrance Scholarships is restricted to South African citizens and to South African permanent residents.
10.	Entrance Scholarships may be withdrawn entirely if a recipient cancels their academic registration before writing mid-year examinations (recipients who cancel registration after writing the mid-year exams will receive half the scholarship value).  
11.	Entrance Scholarships are valid for the year of admission for which the offer is made.  Applicants deferring their studies will need to meet the published threshold level for the year in which they register.  Faculties may rollover an Entrance Scholarship offer for applicants who take a ‘Gap year’. 
12.	A small portion of the faculty’s allotted amount for Entrance Scholarships is set aside to be awarded at the dean’s discretion and may be used for awards to applicants holding international school-leaving qualifications.

Faculty Points Score (FPS) and subject score thresholds for the award of an Entrance Scholarship in 2027

Faculty of Commerce

Entrance Scholarships worth R40 000 each are awarded differentially across three qualification groups. Scholarships will be awarded to the highest-ranking candidates in each category, subject to the availability of funds. 
1.1. NSC applicants for Bachelor of Commerce/Business Science (Actuarial Science): 20% split between the open, redress and EDU categories; 
1.2. NSC applicants for Bachelor of Commerce/Business Science75%: split between the open and redress categories; 
1.3. Non-NSC school-leaving certification: 5% Dean’s Discretionary allocation 

1.1. NSC applicants for Bachelor of Commerce/Business Science (Actuarial Science) (20%)
Entrance Scholarships in this category acknowledge and reward excellent performance in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. Award are made to first-time entering (FU) applicants and will be made to applicants who achieve the following FPS and NBT scores

Category	Eligibility	Criteria	
Open	All SA Applicants	FPS: 560 or above
NBT: Proficient in Academic Literacy (AL) and Quantitative Literacy (QL)	

Redress
	
Applicants with a disadvantage factor greater than 1	FPS: 560 or above
NBT: Proficient in Academic Literacy (AL) and Quantitative Literacy (QL)	
EDU	Applicants with a disadvantage factor greater than 1	FPS: 500 or above
NBT: Proficient in Academic Literacy (AL) and Quantitative Literacy (QL)	

1.2. NSC applicants for Bachelor of Commerce/Business Science (75%) 
Entrance Scholarships in this category acknowledge and reward excellent performance in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations. Awards are made to first-time entering (FU) applicants and will be made to applicants who achieve the following FPS and NBT scores, respectively:

Category	Eligibility	Criteria	
Open	All SA applicants	FPS: 540 or above
NBT: Proﬁcient in Academic Literacy (AL) and
Quantitative e Literacy (QL)	
Redress	Applicants with a disadvantage factor greater than 1	FPS: 500 or above
NBT: Proﬁcient in Academic Literacy (AL) and
Quantitative Literacy (QL)	

1.3. Non-NSC school-leaving examinations: 5% Dean’s Discretionary allocation 
Five percent of the Faculty’s entrance scholarship allocation is earmarked for award at the discretion of the Dean. Awards in this category allow for recognition of excellence in non-NSC or international school-leaving examinations

2. Faculty Scholarships 
Faculty scholarships valued at R20,000 are awarded across two qualification groups: 
2.1 Bachelor of Commerce/Business Science (Actuarial Science) (Open and Redress) 
2.2 Bachelor of Commerce/Business Science (Open and Redress) 

Funds are allocated equally between the Open and Redress categories. Categorisation relies on students’ self-declaration against designated Population Group data codes from the redress category field of the system Applicant Status Report as follows: Redress Category (RC) 1 = African, RC2 = Coloured, RC3 = Indian, RC4 = Chinese, RC9 = White. The criteria for award are detailed below. 
2.1 Bachelor of Commerce/Business Science (Actuarial Science) (Open and Redress) 

Faculty scholarships are awarded on academic merit to students entering their second, third or fourth year of study for an undergraduate qualification. Students’ performance, as measured by the weighted average from the preceding year, is ranked in order of merit and awards are made to the top students in descending order until available funds have been allocated. To be eligible, students must have: 
(i) registered for a full academic load in the preceding year; and 
(ii) passed all courses that form part of this load; and 
(iii) achieved a weighted average (GPA – grade point average) of 70% or above. 

2.2 Bachelor of Commerce/Business Science (Open and Redress) 
Faculty scholarships are awarded on academic merit to students entering their second, third or fourth year of study for an undergraduate qualification. Students’ performance, as measured by the weighted average from the preceding year, is ranked in order of merit and awards are made to the top students in descending order until available funds have been allocated. To be eligible, students must have: 
(i) registered for a full academic load in the preceding year; and 
(ii) passed all courses that form part of this load; and 
(iii) achieved a weighted average (GPA – grade point average) of 70% or above. 

Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment

1.	The Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment (EBE) awards Entrance Scholarships to South African citizens and permanent residents, as well as international applicants doing the South African NSC, based on the applicant’s final Faculty Points Score (FPS).  
2.	60% of Entrance Merit Scholarships will be used to encourage gender diversity. 
3.	Entrance Merit Scholarships will be to the value of R60 000 each.

Faculty of Health Sciences

1.	Entrance Scholarships may be offered to NSC applicants, with due consideration for #4 below.
2.	The number of scholarships awarded is dependent on the number of eligible applicants and
faculty budget allocation.
3.	The number of scholarships awarded is pro-rated based on the planned enrolment for each FHS programme.
4.	The Dean may identify and make additional discretionary awards, including to top-achieving applicants doing non-NSC school examinations.

Principles:
a.	Applicants for Entrance Scholarships are selected based on merit and disadvantage (hence, Weighted Point Score (WPS) are used to rank all applicants).
b.	Applicants are further selected to enhance classroom diversity (hence, using redress
categories to ensure equity).
c.	Applicants will be ranked according to their WPS in either the Grade 11 Final or Grade 12 Term 3/Trial results (the better of these two sets of results will be used) in each redress category.
d.	The rationale for using either Grade 11 Final or Grade 12 Term 3/Trial results: both examinations are based on a full year’s work and give a better understanding of the applicant’s academic performance.
e.	Awards will be given to the highest-ranked eligible applicants who hold conditional offers of admission.
f.	Awards will be made in October to add recruitment value.
g.	The faculty will honour the scholarship offer, once we confirm the conditional offer, notwithstanding the rank position of the applicant in the final NSC results.
h.	Applicants who have already completed schooling (e.g. a 2024 school-leaver on a gap year) are eligible for consideration and will be assessed on NSC final results.

Allocation:
a.10 entrance scholarship awards at R80 000 per award.

Faculty of Humanities

Entrance Scholarships worth R40 000 each are awarded differentially across three qualification groups as follows:

1.	Bachelors of Arts (BA), Social Science (BSocSc) and Social Work (BSW) (70%)
2.	Extended degree programmes in BA and BSocSc (10%)
3.	Degree programmes in the performing and creative arts (20%)

Eligibility is restricted to South African citizens and permanent residents seeking admission as undergraduate students for full-degree, full-time study.  Awards are also made to address historical and socio-economic disadvantage to South African applicants in the Redress category.

1.	Bachelors of Arts, Social Science and Social Work (BA, BSocSc, BSW)

Entrance Scholarships in this category acknowledge and reward excellent performance in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.  Awards are made to first-time entering applicants and will be made to applicants who achieve the following FPS and NBT scores.

Category	Eligibility	Criteria	
Open	All SA applicants	FPS:  525 (87.5% average) or above
NBT:  Proficient in Academic Literacy (AL) test	
Redress	Applicants with a disadvantage factor from 1.01 to 1.1 (i.e. up to 10% of the FPS)	FPS:  495 (82.5% average) or above
NBT: Upper Intermediate in Academic Literacy (AL) test	

2.	Extended degree programmes in BA and BSocSc
Entrance Scholarships in this category acknowledge and reward excellent performance in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations.  10% of scholarships in this category will be allocated competitively on the basis of academic merit to first-time entering applicants.  Awards are made by the Dean on the recommendation of the programme convenor and the Faculty Admissions Committee (RFAC).

3.	Degree programmes in the creative and performing arts
Entrance Scholarships in this category acknowledge and reward National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination and creative or performance excellence.  The scholarships are divided among three areas on a pro rata basis and at least 50% of the awards must be to applicants in the identified redress categories.  Awards are made to applicants by the Head/Director of the Department/School/College on the advice of a selection panel.  Awards are made to first-time entering applicants or to transferring students who have been assessed by the Department/School/College as having excellent potential.  Offer of a scholarship will fall away if a student subsequently registers for a qualification outside of one of the performing and creative arts degree programmes.

3.1	Bachelor of Arts in Fine Art (BA(FA))
Applicants are considered for an Entrance Scholarship on the basis of their portfolio rating.  Portfolios are rated A, B+ or B and applicants are ranked, and awards made to the top applicants in descending order. Where two applicants perform similarly in a portfolio submission, their NSC and NBT scores are taken into account.

3.2	Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Performance (BA(TP)); Diploma in Theatre and Performance 
Applicants to both the degree and diploma programmes are considered for an Entrance Scholarship on the basis of their audition performance, NSC results, and NBT scores (all three of which are equally weighted).

In allocating scholarships, consideration is also given to equity (with specific reference to the Redress category) and to achieving an appropriate balance between the various streams and specialisations in the degree programme.

3.3	Bachelor of Music (BMus); Diploma in Music Performance
Applicants are considered for an Entrance Scholarship on the basis of their musical ability as evidenced in the audition performance. Auditions are rated A, B+ or B and applicants are ranked, and awards made to the top applicants in descending order. Where two applicants perform similarly in an audition performance, their NSC and NBT scores are taken into account, along with any recommendation from the Music teacher.

In allocating scholarships, consideration is also given to equity (with specific reference to the Redress category) and to achieving an appropriate balance between the various streams and specialisations in the degree programme.

4.	Dean’s Discretionary allocation 
5% of the Faculty’s Entrance Scholarship allocation is earmarked for awards at the discretion of the Dean.  Awards in this category allow for recognition of excellence in non-NSC or international school-leaving examinations.

Faculty of Law

Entrance Scholarships will be allocated to entering undergraduate students who meet the criteria set out in the table below and who register in the Faculty of Law in 2027. The tenure of the award is one year. The value of the entrance scholarship is R20 000. Scholarships are awarded on a competitive basis.

Criteria for awards:

LLB (Undergraduate applicants)

Category	NSC	NBT 	
All redress categories 	WPS ≥ 500	Average of 75% for Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy	
Open	FPS ≥ 510	Average of 80% for Academic Literacy and Quantitative Literacy	

LLB (Graduate applicants)

Category	GPA	
All redress categories	70% for previous undergraduate degree	
Open 	77% for previous undergraduate degree	

Faculty of Science

Scholarships are available under the Science Entrance Scholarships Scheme, which acknowledges and rewards excellent performance in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examinations and aims to attract the top students into the Faculty of Science. 
Students are encouraged to apply early for provisional acceptance into the Faculty of Science, but do not need to apply for Entrance Scholarships. All South African applicants will automatically be considered for Entrance Scholarships. Entrance Scholarships will be awarded to students who meet the criteria set out in the table below and who register in the Faculty of Science in 2026 (note that a limited number of scholarships will be reserved for top South African students writing international examinations): 

•	South African applicants with a minimum Faculty Points Score (FPS) of 720 and ≥85% for Mathematics in the final NSC examinations	
•	Level 1 scholarship (R40,000; FPS ≥ 740)
•	Level 2 scholarship (R20,000; FPS 720-739)	

Scholarships will be confirmed on registration in February 2026 and are only awarded for the first year of study.  Faculty Scholarships to the value of R20,000 in each of second and third year may be awarded where the criteria for renewal are met.

Faculty Scholarships 
The Faculty Scholarship Scheme aims to reward currently registered students who are academically high achievers. Faculty Scholarships of R20,000 are awarded to registered students on the basis of results achieved in the previous year of study at UCT, according to the criteria outlined below. 
• Pass the equivalent of a full course load applicable to the year and programme of study (see table below), 
• Not be repeating any course, 
• Achieve a GPA of at least 80% (the GPA cut-off level may be higher due to the number of students who meet the criteria and the scholarship budget allocation). 

Extended degree programme (EDP)	3-year degree programme	
A total of at least 72 credits in the first year of study	A total of 144 credits in the first year of study	
A total of at least 72 credits in the second year of
study	A total of 144 credits, including at least 96 senior
course credits in the second year of study.	
A total of at least 114 credits, including at least 96
senior course credits, in the third year of study		
NOTE:
•	Faculty Scholarships will be awarded to recipients in the 3-year degree programme for a maximum of 2 years, and to recipients on the extended degree programme for a maximum of 3 years.
•	The Dean may award a limited number of Dean's Discretionary Scholarships.

Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships

•	are valued at R100 000 per annum.
•	are valid for three years, subject to being named on the Dean’s Merit List in your faculty, at the levels specified by your faculty; for applicants who do not qualify for renewal, the scholarship is valid for the first year of study only.
•	are not awarded in addition to entrance scholarships or, in subsequent years of study, to faculty scholarships. 
•	are awarded at a pro-rated value for any student qualifying for staff tuition rates.
•	are not payable, and, where already paid, may be refundable, where students enrol in 2026, and then withdraw their registration for whatever reason.

A Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship will be offered to you if:
•	you are among the top ten Mathematics, English or Computer Science Olympiad winners in 2025.
•	you attend a Western Cape Education Department (WCED) school in 2025, and when you write the NSC examination you are among the top 10 applicants in this category applying for admission to UCT in 2026.
•	you attend school outside of the Western Cape, write the NSC administered by the Department of Basic Education, and are among the top 15 applicants in this category applying for admission to UCT in 2026.
•	you attend an Independent Examination Board (IEB) school and write the NSC in 2025, and you are among the top five 2026 UCT applicants in this category.

Process of awarding scholarships
Scholarships are, in most cases, awarded after the final examination results are received, in January 2026.  If you are awarded a scholarship, you will receive correspondence informing you of your award.