Orientation is a series of events and activities designed to help you as a first-year student explore all that awaits you at university. Orientation is face-to-face, supplemented with online information. You will meet people, find out about resources on campus, learn how to find your way around and have some fun too. You will receive important curriculum and general advice to help you to register as a student. Orientation is about our commitment to help you, as a new student, explore opportunities and connect to your new community. Residence students will also have an orientation programme specific to their residence.

Orientation is designed to assist students making the transition to UCT, and has something to offer to incoming students, whether this is your first university experience directly from high school, you are transferring from another institution, or you are coming to university later in your life. During Orientation, you will have the opportunity to: meet with representatives from the university, including faculty members, find your way around on campus, receive information on your degree and what is involved, learn about the wide variety of campus resources available to you, ask questions and get answers from current students, faculty members, and other UCT staff, meet other new and returning students, talk with student organisations and learn how you can get involved on campus and set up your email and computer lab accounts.

During Orientation, you will have the opportunity to:

• meet with representatives from the university, including faculty members
• find your way around on campus
• receive information on your degree and what is involved
• learn about the wide variety of campus resources available to you
• ask questions and get answers from current students, faculty members, and other UCT staff
• meet other new and returning students
• talk with student organisations and learn how you can get involved on campus
• set up your email and computer lab accounts.

Each semester, before teaching begins, the International Office offers an orientation programme to welcome new international students. The programme consists of fun activities and useful information sessions to help acquaint you with UCT and Cape Town. You will learn about UCT student support services, receive academic advice and have an opportunity to begin making new friends.

Please visit the International Office website for important information for international students:

• Pre-arrival information and advice
• Pre-registration
• International Orientation.

Parent Orientation is for the parents of students and will include a range of activities.

Find out more about Parent Orientation.

Yes! Your advisor addresses the issues to get you registered for classes. Orientation is the next step. Orientation assists students in the transition from high school to university.

Registration is carried out by the respective faculty.

Find out more about Registration.

You can contact your faculty and ask them to put you in touch with an academic advisor.

See the faculty contact details.

Unfortunately, first-year students are not allowed to park on campus. We advise students to use the UCT Shuttle. These are buses which operate between all residences, campuses and public bus, train and parking facilities in the vicinity. They are free to use for all UCT registered students.