Engage with the faculty

Start by visiting the website of the faculty you want to study with. This is where you can find details of the postgraduate programme you are interested in and the entrance requirements. You will also find contact details for the right people to speak to if you have any questions.

Each faculty has a designated postgraduate faculty manager. Don’t be afraid to ask for help before you submit your application.

Research degrees

If you are interested in a research postgraduate degree, you should seek out a potential supervisor as early as possible. Contact details can be found on departmental websites.

Coursework degrees

For coursework master’s degrees, decisions on research dissertation topics and supervisors are made after completion of the coursework.

Deadlines

Application deadlines are different for each programme. Always double check to be sure of your deadline.

You can find a full list of the deadlines for each postgraduate programme in the 2025 Directions for Postgraduate Applications document.

Applications for research master’s and PhD programmes are open throughout the year.

Think funding

You must submit your UCT admissions application before applying for UCT funding.

That means completing the online admissions application (see step 2) for the programme you’re interested in. Then you can begin the UCT funding application process.

However, it’s a good idea to start thinking about funding as early as possible. Postgraduate scholarships and bursaries are announced throughout the year, and deadlines are often months before studies begin.

You can learn more about funding opportunities, and how to apply for and manage funding.

Get more help

To get more help, you can request a one-on-one funding information session from the Postgraduate Funding Office. But note – this is only available once your admission application has been submitted.

Learn how the Postgraduate Funding Office can help you.

Before you request an information session, get familiar with the UCT Funding Handbook. It will give you an idea of what opportunities you’re eligible for, so you know what to discuss during the meeting.