The University of Cape Town assesses undergraduate applications on a Faculty Point Score calculated from your National Senior Certificate results, together with National Benchmark Test results. All undergraduate applicants normally resident or at school in South Africa must write the National Benchmark Tests.
UCT is unusual among South African universities in weighting a separate admissions test alongside school results. The Faculty Point Score is also calculated differently by faculty, so a score that qualifies for one faculty does not transfer to another.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
UCT assesses undergraduate applications on the following.
- A National Senior Certificate meeting the requirement for the programme
- The Faculty Point Score, calculated from your NSC results by the faculty own method
- National Benchmark Test results, which all South African resident applicants must write
- Subject requirements specific to the programme
- Available places, since programmes are heavily oversubscribed
- For some programmes, additional selection such as a portfolio or interview
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
The Faculty Point Score is calculated differently by faculty. Some faculties calculate it out of 600 and others out of 900, and the Science Faculty calculation sums the percentages achieved in the best six NSC subjects including English and excluding Life Orientation, doubling the percentages achieved in Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Because the calculation and the threshold both differ by faculty, work out your score using the specific faculty published method rather than a general APS. A general APS figure from another university does not transfer to UCT.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
National Benchmark Tests are administered by the Centre for Educational Testing for Access and Placement on behalf of Universities South Africa, and cover academic literacy, quantitative literacy and mathematics.
How much weight the tests carry differs by faculty. In the Science Faculty, for example, results are not taken into account for admission but are used for placement into the extended degree programme after registration. In other faculties they form part of the admission decision.
Book the tests early. Sitting dates are limited and fill, and results must be available before the faculty makes its decision.
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
UCT programmes are heavily oversubscribed and the university receives far more qualifying applications than it has places. Meeting the published threshold does not secure admission.
Conditional offers are commonly made on Grade 11 or mid-year results and confirmed on final results. UCT also operates redress and access considerations as part of its admissions policy.
Apply early and write the National Benchmark Tests as early as sittings allow, since late test results are the most common avoidable cause of an application stalling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Faculty Point Score?
UCT own calculation from your NSC results, done differently by each faculty, with some calculating out of 600 and others out of 900.
Do I have to write the NBTs?
All undergraduate applicants normally resident or at school in South Africa must write them. How much weight they carry differs by faculty.
Does my APS from another university apply at UCT?
No. UCT uses its own Faculty Point Score, calculated differently by faculty. Work out your score using the specific faculty method.
Does meeting the threshold guarantee a place?
No. UCT receives far more qualifying applications than it has places.
Source: University of Cape Town official admissions pages, checked August 2026. Confirm the Faculty Point Score method and threshold with the specific faculty, and book National Benchmark Tests early. See admission requirements and browse all education requirements.