Fees and Payments

International students from countries in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) are treated the same as South African students. They must pay

• Tuition fees for individual courses
• SADC Administration Fee
• Any applicable residence fees

Students from SADC countries can use the online pro-forma invoice to calculate their fees.

The SADC member countries are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.

International students from countries outside the SADC region must pay the following fees:

• Tuition fees for individual courses
• International Administration Fee
• International Term Fee (coursework qualifications only)
• Any applicable residence fees

International students who are officially recognised as refugees or asylum seekers pay the same fees as South African students:

• Tuition fees for individual courses
• Any applicable residence fees

Accredited diplomatic representatives of a foreign government in South Africa pay fees at the same rate as students from SADC countries:

• Tuition fees for individual courses
• SADC Administration Fee
• Any applicable residence fees

International UCT staff (or their dependents) eligible for the HR staff tuition concession pay the following fees:

• Tuition fees for individual courses
• Any applicable residence fees

Your fee status is determined when you apply and is based on the documents you present showing your country of citizenship or permanent residence.

To change your fee status, you must bring original documents proving your alternative citizenship or residency to the International Office before 31 July. Citizenship or residency status changes presented after this date will only apply to your fee status for the following academic year.

UCT operates a course-based fee structure.  Students are charged for each academic course they enrol in.

The fee for each academic course can be found in section 12 of the Student Fees handbook.

The typical course fees you can expect to pay for your qualification or programme of study can be found in section 11 of the Student Fees handbook.

All international students must pay a non-refundable administration fee covering costs related to visa clearance, registration, and orientation.  The fee is applicable for each year of study and must be paid prior to registration at UCT.

International non-SADC students registering for coursework qualifications will be charged an International Term Fee. There are two bands of International Term Fee: for non-SADC African students and for students from the rest of the world (i.e. outside Africa).

The fee is applicable for each year of study and must be paid prior to registration.

Students registering for one semester only will be charged 50% of the full International Term Fee. Published deadlines for registration and/or cancellation apply.

Consult section 5.4.3 of the Student Fees handbook for the International Term Fee for your qualification or programme of study.

Semester Study Abroad is a programme for any student (regardless of nationality) taking courses for one or two semesters only towards a qualification from a university established outside of South Africa. Credits for courses in the SSA programme do not count towards a South African degree but may be transferred towards a degree in another country.

The programme charges a package fee covering course tuition fees for up to four semester courses and services covered by the International Administrative Fee. Fees will be payable in advance, prior to registration at UCT.

Consult section 5.1 of the Student Fees handbook for this year’s SSA fee or visit the Semester Study Abroad website.

Occasional Studies is a programme for students with an undergraduate degree, or appropriate qualifications or experience, to register at UCT for non-degree purposes. Students enrolled in courses for Occasional Studies will receive a transcript of learning.

Students must typically have completed a degree or be registered for a degree at a non-South African university to be eligible.

Students are required to enrol in courses, attend classes, and write exams. A South African matriculation exemption is required for acceptance into this programme at undergraduate level.

International SADC students registering for international occasional studies pay tuition fees for individual courses and an SADC Administrative Fee.

International non-SADC occasional students pay a flat fee for each course in which they enrol.

Fees are payable in advance, prior to registration at UCT.

Consult section 5.3.1 of the Student Fees handbook for this year’s Occasional Studies fee per course.

Occasional Studies is a programme for students with an undergraduate degree, or appropriate qualifications or experience, to register at UCT for non-degree purposes. Students enrolled in courses for Occasional Studies will receive a transcript of attendance.

Students must typically have completed a degree or be registered for a degree at a non-South African university to be eligible.

Visiting international students who are not taking UCT taught courses but wish to pursue research towards studies at their own university by using UCT’s libraries and other facilities, must first make contact with a UCT department to ensure they will be welcome, and obtain an assurance that there are necessary resources (with mutual understanding of expectations) to accommodate them in the host department. Thereafter, online application should be made for admission as a postgraduate occasional student. (For details about applying, write to IAPO-exchanges@uct.ac.za.)

An international occasional research student does not attend lectures, work at UCT, or write examinations, but may participate in research seminars and activities. International occasional students who hope to have research supervision must make arrangements with the host department noting that access to a co-supervisor is subject to availability.

International occasional students pursuing research register as a student at UCT, enrol in a research course, and receive a transcript of attendance.

Fees are charged for periods of attendance and are payable in advance, prior to registration at UCT.

Consult section 5.3.2 of the Student Fees handbook for this year’s Occasional Studies fee per period of attendance.

The tuition and service fees for international exchange students enrolling at UCT are dependent on the programme. Students are accepted into the programme in terms of a signed inter-institutional agreement which lays out the fee liability of participating students.

In certain cases, an Exchange Levy (which covers administrative and support services broadly equivalent to the International Administrative Fee) will be applicable. Fees will be payable in advance, prior to registration at UCT.

Exchange students must register as UCT students and enrol in courses. For courses taken towards a taught qualification at a non-South African university, registration is via the Semester Study Abroad programme.

Students pursuing, at their home (non-South African) university, a postgraduate degree by research only, should enrol in the hosting department’s 5000-level dissertation (for Masters) or 6000-level thesis (for doctorates) course. For details about applying, write to IAPO-exchanges@uct.ac.za. 

Note: Fees for students in a joint or co-badged Master’s or PhD are specific to the inter-institutional agreement.  Contact IAPO-finance@uct.ac.za for details.

Fees are payable in advance, prior to registration at UCT.

Consult section 5.2 of the Student Fees handbook for this year’s Exchange Levy.

Individuals who wish to pursue research by using UCT’s libraries and other facilities, must first make contact with a UCT department to ensure they will be welcome and obtain an assurance that there are necessary resources (and with mutual understanding of expectations) to accommodate them in the host department. Thereafter application should be made through the International Office. If accepted, international affiliates are given third party access to UCT’s facilities. International affiliates are not registered as students and do not enrol in courses, receive supervision, receive official transcripts of attendance for use towards qualifications taken elsewhere or have access to any services offered to registered students.

International affiliate fees are levied for periods of attendance (or part thereof). Fees are payable in advance and prior to arrival at UCT.

Consult section 6 of the Student Fees handbook for this year’s International Affiliate fees.