You are not an official UCT postgraduate student until you register. Keep in mind that there isn’t a one-size-fits all approach.  Each faculty has a different registration process with different deadlines. For information about the registration process as it applies to your faculty, click here.

Deadlines

The process and deadlines for your programme registration should be sent by email when you receive the offer of admission. Keep in mind that communication will always be sent to your official UCT student email account.

It’s helpful to remember that each faculty is responsible for registering its own students. Find your registration dates online here, or contact your postgraduate faculty manager if you’re uncertain.

There is a penalty fee for late registration, so know your deadlines and be prepared.

Who must register

Most postgraduates and all returning postgrads must register at the beginning of the year. Only new research master's students (dissertation only) and PhD students can register at any time of the year. 

Returning postgraduates should visit this page of the Postgrad Hub for information on how to re-register.  

New master’s and doctoral students: If you are registering for a dissertation or thesis you will be asked to submit a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The MoU is an agreement that is established between you and your supervisor and it sets the stage for the year ahead.  

Once your online Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has been approved, you will be required to complete your online registration via the  PeopleSoft Student Administration System

NOTE: If you encounter any technical problems with completing your registration on PeopleSoft, please email the Student Systems Support Helpdesk. If you’re unclear about the registration process, contact your postgraduate faculty administrator for clarity.

International postgraduate students must complete pre-registration with the International Academic Programmes Office (IAPO) before attempting to register. Visit this page for more information.

  • Honours registration

    Once you've received an offer of acceptance, you can begin the registration process. This includes completing the online registration task and completing course enrolment.

    Log in to your PeopleSoft student account and follow the prompts to complete registration.

  • Coursework master’s registration

    New coursework master’s students are required to complete the online registration task and course enrolment.

    On completion of the coursework, you will register for the research component of your master’s. This will require that you complete an online Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

    The online MoU, and a research proposal need to be approved by the supervisor and the head of department. In some instances, the Deputy Dean will need to approve the MOU before finalisation.

    If you register for the dissertation component at the beginning of the year, the MoU must be completed and submitted with the other registration documents. 

    Returning coursework master’s students must complete the online registration task and course enrolment. If you are registering for the dissertation component for the first time, you must also complete an online Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

    If you are re-registering for the dissertation component in a second or subsequent year, you do not complete the MOU. Instead, you must complete the online Progress and Planned Activity (PPA) Form. This must be approved by the supervisor and head of department, who will then forward it to the faculty office for processing.

    Helpful guidance can be found here:

  • Research master’s registration

    New research master's students (dissertation only) can register at any time of the year.

    If you are a new research master’s student, you must complete an online Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with your supervisor, and submit it, along with your research proposal, to PeopleSoft. 

    Your supervisor is then required to approve the online MoU on PeopleSoft, before it goes to the head of department and/or faculty dean for approval.

    Once the documents have been approved, you will be notified by email that you may register online via PeopleSoft. Log in to your PeopleSoft student account and follow the prompts to complete registration.

    Note that the notification may take up to 24 hours to come through after your documents have been approved. 

    Returning research master’s students must complete the online Progress and Planned Activity (PPA) Form with their supervisor, and submit it, along with their research proposal, to PeopleSoft. 

    The supervisor is then required to approve the online PPA on PeopleSoft, before it goes to the head of department and/or faculty dean for approval.

    Once the documents have been approved, you will be notified by email that you can register online via PeopleSoft. Log in to your PeopleSoft student account and follow the prompts to complete registration.

    Note that the notification may take up to 24 hours to come through after your documents have been approved. 

    Helpful guidance can be found here:

     

  • PhD registration

    New PhD students can register at any time of the year. 

    If you are a new PhD student, you must complete an online Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with your supervisor, and submit it, along with your research proposal, to PeopleSoft. 

    Your supervisor is then required to approve the online MoU on PeopleSoft, before it goes to the head of department and/or faculty dean for approval.

    Once the documents have been approved, you will be notified by email that you can register online via PeopleSoft. Log in to your PeopleSoft student account and follow the prompts to complete registration.

    Note that the notification may take up to 24 hours to come through after your documents have been approved. 

    Returning PhD students must complete the online Progress and Planned Activity (PPA) Form with their supervisor, and submit it, along their your research proposal, to PeopleSoft. 

    The supervisor is then required to approve the online PPA on PeopleSoft, before it goes to the head of department and/or faculty dean for approval.

    Once the documents have been approved, you will be notified by email that you can register online via PeopleSoft. Log in to your PeopleSoft student account and follow the prompts to complete registration.

    Note that the notification may take up to 24 hours to come through after your documents have been approved. 

    Helpful guidance can be found here:

Need help? To help our postgraduates and associated staff navigate the online MOU/PPA submission process a helpline has been set up. Contact the helpline:021 650 5227 or email: sss-helpdesk@uct.ac.za. The helpline is open: Monday-Friday 09h00–17h00.

Confirmation of registration

Your PeopleSoft student account will show confirmation of your registration. It also shows the programme and full list of courses you’ve registered for.

PeopleSoft also gives you information on where your MoU and PPA stand in the approval process.

Contact your postgraduate faculty manager if you have any questions or if your MoU/PPA is not moving forward in the approval process.

Exporting the MoU or PPA Form

screenshot
You may export your Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) or Progress and Planned Activity (PPA) form to an external supervisor by following the instructions below: 

1.In the top left corner next to your student ID, you will see a drop-down arrow. Click the drop-down arrow
2.The Actions pop-up will appear
3.Click the MOU Export option The MoU/PPA form will appear in PDF format. Download the form to your desktop so you may email it as an attachment.