Admission to medicine at the University of Cape Town requires a National Senior Certificate with very high results in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences, a Faculty Point Score meeting the health sciences threshold, and National Benchmark Test results. Medicine is the most competitive programme at the university.
UCT weights the National Benchmark Tests in health sciences admission, and applies redress and access considerations alongside academic results as part of its admissions policy. Meeting the academic threshold is necessary but far from sufficient.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
UCT assesses medicine applications on the following.
- A National Senior Certificate with bachelor degree endorsement
- Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences at high levels
- The Faculty Point Score calculated by the health sciences faculty method
- National Benchmark Test results, which all South African resident applicants must write
- The faculty admissions policy, including redress and access considerations
- Available places, which are strictly capped nationally
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The Faculty Point Score is calculated by the faculty own method from your NSC results, and health sciences uses its own calculation and threshold. A score calculated for another faculty or another university does not transfer.
Thresholds are revised between intake years and the effective standard is set by competition. Confirm the current figures against the UCT health sciences admissions material for the year you are applying for.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences are required at high levels. Mathematical Literacy is not accepted for medicine at any South African medical school.
National Benchmark Tests cover academic literacy, quantitative literacy and mathematics, and are administered by the Centre for Educational Testing for Access and Placement. Book early, since sitting dates are limited and results must be available before the decision.
Meeting every published requirement and still not being admitted is a common outcome rather than an unusual one, because places are capped nationally.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications normally require the following.
- A certified copy of your identity document
- Your National Senior Certificate or latest statement of results
- Proof of the application fee, where one is charged
- Your final matric results, used to confirm any conditional offer
- A SAQA evaluation certificate, if you hold a foreign qualification
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Have a considered second option. Related health science degrees such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, radiography and nursing are valuable careers in their own right, and at some institutions strong performance in a science degree can support a later application to medicine.
Apply to more than one medical school. Each runs its own selection process with different criteria, so an application that fails at one may succeed elsewhere. See medicine requirements for the national picture.
Studying medicine abroad is a route some students take. Confirm with the Health Professions Council of South Africa whether the qualification will be recognised for registration here before committing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need for medicine at UCT?
A bachelor pass with very high results in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences, a Faculty Point Score meeting the health sciences threshold, and NBT results.
Do I have to write the NBTs?
All undergraduate applicants normally resident or at school in South Africa must write them, and health sciences weights them in admission.
Can I study medicine with Mathematical Literacy?
No. Mathematics and Physical Sciences are required at all South African medical schools.
Does meeting the threshold guarantee a place?
No. Places are capped nationally and UCT applies its admissions policy alongside academic results.
Source: University of Cape Town official admissions pages, checked August 2026. Confirm the current Faculty Point Score threshold and selection criteria with the UCT health sciences faculty. See medicine requirements and browse all education requirements.