University of Cape Town
#1
In South Africa
#164
In the world
If you want to study in Cape Town with some of the best in SA, UCT is the spot. You need to meet their strict entry criteria, so check your APS carefully.
Ranking source: THE 2026
www.uct.ac.za is the official University of Cape Town site. Always confirm programme cutoffs in the current prospectus before you apply.
How does UCT calculate APS?
UCT uses the Faculty Points Score (FPS), not the traditional 42-point APS. Your FPS adds the raw NSC percentages of your best 6 subjects (excluding Life Orientation and Life Sciences overlaps), for a total out of 600. A 70% in English contributes 70 points to your FPS, a 65% in Maths contributes 65, and so on.
UCT then applies a Weighted Points Score (WPS) on top of your FPS for redress. The WPS adds a percentage uplift based on school context (quintile, school resources) and family background (parents' education, household income, home language). The uplift is capped at 10% in most faculties and up to 20% for Health Sciences (MBChB).
Faculty cutoffs sit well below 600. Humanities starts near 380 FPS, Commerce near 420, Science near 420, Engineering near 450, and Health Sciences (MBChB) from around 510 FPS. Most UCT programmes also require the National Benchmark Tests (NBT) on top of FPS. Check the official UCT prospectus for exact details.
Does UCT include Life Orientation in APS?
No. Life Orientation is excluded.
What's the UCT APS system at a glance?
- Method
- Percentage-sum APS
- Max APS
- 600
- LO rule
- No
- Basis
- Faculty Points Score (raw % sum, best 6, LO & LS excluded)
How to calculate your UCT APS step by step
- Identify the 6 eligible subjects UCT will use, including English and any required subjects.
- Keep the raw percentages instead of collapsing them into 1-7 points.
- Compare that subject total with the faculty score needed for your chosen programme.
Popular programs
Min. APS
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery - MBChB
810+
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery - MBChB - Band A
810+
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery - MBChB - Band B
807+
Bachelor of Science in Physiotherapy - Band B
797+
Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy - Band B
782+
About UCT
UCT is known for its tough entry requirements and strong reputation in business, science, and research. It's based in Cape Town, so you get city life and mountain views. The Commer...
Campus & res
If you get into res at UCT, you'll start in a first-tier residence with meals included. As you move up, you could get into self-catering or semi-autonomous accommodation. There are...
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