Undergraduate Funding General Rules & Policies
1. Financial Aid Cancellation
Financial Aid or GAP funding will be cancelled if the fee account is in credit due to other sponsorship overpayments.
2. Repayment of Allowances
Where allowances are paid to you in error due to available information, you will be required to repay the money to your UCT fee account. Failure to do so will result in owing the institution, and further allowances may be stopped.
Example: Allowances paid and then full funding received from a sponsor.
3. Moving Out of University Residence
Students intending to move out of a University Residence into private accommodation must submit a motivation for approval to Student Financial Aid. This must be done before any change, as accommodation information submitted to NSFAS cannot be readily changed.
Note: Only exceptional cases will be considered.
4. UCT Residence & Private Accommodation Costs
UCT residence and private accommodation costs are primarily for students whose home address is outside of the greater Cape Town area.
Students from within the greater Cape Town area who wish to stay in UCT residence or private accommodation must submit a written motivation to the SFA Office before signing into residence or signing a lease agreement.
The SFA Office will confirm the outcome in writing. If the motivation is unsuccessful and the student moves into residence or private accommodation, the cost will be borne by the student.
If the motivation is successful, it does not need to be resubmitted the following year.
Note: According to NSFAS Funding Policy, University accommodation is the first option, and any private accommodation must be accredited through the University. NSFAS may take over the accreditation of private accommodation from 2024.
5. Funding for Summer/Winter Term Courses
Funding for Summer and/or Winter Term courses is not automatic. It requires a separate application. Accommodation costs for these terms are not covered.
6. Personal Payments and Bank Loans
Personal payments or bank loans (non-sponsor payments) made to the fee account will reduce UCT and GAP funding. No reimbursements will be made for personal payments or loans.
7. Maximum Study Duration
Students must not exceed the minimum duration (n) of the undergraduate programme plus 1 year of study (n+1).
8. Programme Changes
Students may not change their programme of study without written approval from Student Financial Aid (SFA).
9. Eligibility for Renewal of Funding
Renewal of funding will be subject to passing the required credits/courses as defined in the NSFAS Funding Policy. The same eligibility for renewal applies to UCT GAP-funded students.
10. Academic Exclusion
Academic exclusion automatically cancels eligibility for renewal and is not reinstated, even if the Readmission Appeal is successful.
11. Withdrawal of Funding
The University reserves the right to withdraw all funding if such funding was received as a result of fraud.
12. Allowance Payments
Allowances are payable to students, subject to NSFAS's decision on whether to pay students directly or through the University allowance payment process.
13. NSFAS Registration for Private Accommodation
NSFAS may require students to register with NSFAS for private accommodation that is accredited by NSFAS.
Monitor NSFAS social media platforms for information on the NSFAS 2025 private accommodation requirements applicable to UCT students.
14. NSFAS Accreditation for Private Accommodation
Where NSFAS requires UCT to manage private accommodation, students must meet the accreditation requirements. Students who stay in non-accredited accommodation will not be eligible for a rental allowance.