Orientation is a series of events and activities designed to help you, as a first-year student, in exploring all that awaits you at university. You will meet people, find out about resources on campus, learn how to find your way around campus and have some fun too. However, Orientation is more than just a single day or week of activities. It is about our commitment to help you, as a new student, explore opportunities for involvement on campus and successfully connect to your new community.

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, and
• set up your email and computer lab accounts.

International Orientation is for international students and includes a range of activities. Find out more about 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.

Students cannot register until the end of Orientation, and registration is carried out by the respective faculty.

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

You need to be registered before you can get your student card. These cards will be issued during Orientation once you are registered. The student card is your passport to all of UCT's services, such as the library, computer labs, etc. A valid student card can also entitle you to a number of student discounts so keep it safe and have it on you at all times.

Unfortunately, first-year students are not allowed to park on campus. We advise students to use the UCT Shuttles. 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 and are efficient and eco-friendly. Also, parking can be a real pain and who knows what great new people you might meet on the Shuttle!