The University of Cape Town (UCT)

The University of Cape Town (UCT) is a public university and the oldest institute of higher learning in South Africa. The University of Cape Town began as the South African College in 1829. Full university status was achieved in 1918, when it took on the name of the University of Cape Town. UCT now has four campuses and 17,125 students, 31% of who are graduate students.

The main campus is located on the slopes of Table Mountain–one of the most impressive sites any university could wish for–overlooking the suburbs of Cape Town, the second largest port of South Africa. Since 1999 the university is divided into six faculties each of which is made up of a number of closely related departments: humanities, science, engineering and the built environment, health sciences, commerce, and law.

UCT is dedicated to both teaching and research. It is one of South Africa’s leading universities with a distinguished worldwide reputation. UCT boasts four Nobel laureates and has 23 A-rated scientists who are world leaders in their respective fields of research. UCT has approximately 20,000 students and 5,000 staff. UCT sees itself as an active participant in the issues and challenges confronting post-apartheid South Africa. The enrollment of black students, which represented a tiny percentage in the period between 1960 to 1980, reached 48% in 2000.