Pre-registration

Pre-registration is an administrative process to verify and capture immigration documentation and proof of initial fee payments for international students and researchers prior to their registration at UCT. The Immigration Act requires all institutions of higher learning in South Africa to keep a record of international students registered at their institution. A report on international student registration is submitted annually by UCT to the South African Department for Home Affairs.

As an international student you are required to submit immigration and fees Service Requests through the Student Administration System: PeopleSoft to pre-register. Once you have submitted both Service Requests, your immigration and fee hold will be lifted from your student record after which you may proceed to complete your academic registration.

Pre-registration for the 2025 academic year will open on 6 Jan 2025. Kindly submit your request in the new year. Our turn-around times for processing requests is 3-to-5 working days.

For more information view the Pre-registration Guide

The following information is required when submitting your Immigration and Fees Service Requests:

IMMIGRATION SERVICE REQUEST REQUIREMENTS

For international students residing in South Africa while completing taught courses/programmes and conducting research

Students (residing in South Africa for longer than 3-months e.g. full-degree students and Semester Study Abroad)

Certified copy of passport personal details page  
Certified copy of study visa endorsed with UCT and not another institution; if so, you will be required to apply for a change in visa conditions from VFS, Cape Town
Medical aid registered with the South African Council for Medical Aid Schemes (see guide for more details)

Students (residing in South Africa for shorter than 3-months e.g. Modular degree programmes)

Certified copy of passport personal details page
Certified copy of entry stamp (provided they are from a visa exempt country)
Written confirmation from the course convenor or programme coordinator about the modular programme and that the student will only be resident in the country when the module is being taught.

Researchers (Postdoctoral Research Fellows or other)

Certified copy of passport personal details page
Certified copy of visitors visa endorsed for research at UCT
Invitation letter from host department (for International Affiliates and Visiting Researchers)

For internationals residing outside of South Africa while studying and conducting research

Certified copy of passport personal details page
Written confirmation of remote studies OR
Completed and signed Remote Pre-registration Application form (signed off by a staff member of the faculty office or academic department who has delegated authority to sign registration related forms)

VFS Receipts for visa renewal applications in South Africa:

For those who have applied in South Africa to renew their study visas or other visa type, we will accept your VFS receipt as part of your pre-registration immigration document submission once the Department of Home Affairs grants UCT delegated authority to do so; until then, if you submit your immigration Service Request with a VFS receipt for visa application renewal made in South Africa, your immigration Service Request will be marked incomplete.

We will not accept VFS receipts confirming visa applications made outside of South Africa.

For those who hold valid Asylum Seeker, Refugee and Permanent Resident Permits, we will accept certified copies of these valid documents and the passport personal details page and medical aid cover will not be required.

CERTIFICATION

We will require that all immigration documentation, including passport personal details page, study visa (or other permit type) is certified and/or notarised by a Commissioner of Oaths or Notary. The certified copy must not be older than 6-months and must include the date, name and signature of the Commissioner of Oaths or Notary. Should you be unable to certify your documents prior to departure, kindly note that certification services are available at the International Office located at Masingene Building (Level 3) on UCT Middle Campus. Our office times are Mon-Thurs 8h30-16h30 and Fri 8h30-16h00.

FEE SERVICE REQUEST REQUIREMENTS

For international full-degree students:

UCT has partnered with Flywire as a safe and convenient way to make international education payments. This is the recommended method of payment for tuition and housing fees and is available to students completing their full degree programme at UCT. Flywire allows the University of Cape Town to view your payment in real time and facilitates clearing for pre-registration. https://payment.flywire.com/pay/payment

Please note: Flywire may not be used by Semester Study Abroad, Exchange and students enrolling for programmes through the UCT Graduate School of Business. UCT Graduate School of Business students are advised to pay their tuition fees through the UCT credit card payment platform https://payonline.uct.ac.za/.

More details on the initial fee payments required for SADC and non-SADC students coming to UCT in 2025, see here. The initial payment of fees: tuition, UCT residence (if staying in UCT housing) and the non-refundable administrative service fee is due before registration or by Friday 07 February 2025, whichever date is earlier.

For Semester Study Abroad students:

All Semester Study Abroad students will be required to submit a Fees Service Request for their fee clearance to be granted. Free Movers should upload their proof of payment of their fees in full following the payment instructions for international bank transfers listed on their tuition invoice that they will receive via email. Please note: Flywire and the UCT credit card payment platform may not be used by Semester Study Abroad students.

Partner university and study abroad partner students (e.g. CIEE, IES Abroad and ISA students) should submit a fees Service Request uploading the fees clearance letter which they will receive from UCT via email.

Find out more about fee payments for international students.