UCT Admission Requirements for Engineering and Built Environment
These are guidelines for applicants who are writing, or have written the South African National Senior Certificate (NSC), including IEB and SACAI writers. Admission is based on a faculty points score (FPS) and/or a weighted points score (WPS).
Calculating the Engineering & Built Environment (EBE) Faculty Point Score (FPS) and Weighted Points (WPS) score:
Step 1 : Add up your 6 NSC subject percentages and divide the total by 12 (see below for which subjects to use). Step 2: Add up your 3 NBT test scores and divide the total by 6.
Step 3: Add up the results of Steps 1 and 2. This is your Faculty Points Score (FPS). Please see Band A on the next page for admission based on FPS. Admission is guaranteed if you achieve these levels in the final exams.
Step 4: Adjust your FPS by your disadvantage factor (see explanation below). The result is your Weighted Points Score (WPS). Please see Band B on the next page for admission based on the WPS. Admission is probable if you achieve these levels in the final exams.
Which subjects to include in your calculation:
Engineering Programmes, Construction Studies and Geomatics programmes
Score English, Mathematics and Physical Science and your three next best subjects excluding Life Orientation.
Architectural Studies Programme
Score English and Mathematics or Physical Science and your four next best subjects excluding Life Orientation.
Property Studies Programme
Score English and Mathematics and your four next best subjects excluding Life Orientation.
National Benchmark Tests (NBTs)
All applicants normally resident in South Africa (including non-South African citizens) must write the NBTs in Academic Literacy, Quantitative Literacy and Mathematics. The results of these tests are used in the calculation of the EBE Faculty Points Score (FPS) as described above. NBT results may also be used for placement, for example on the basis of NBT results an applicant may be offered a place in the ASPECT (extended) programme.
What is the disadvantage factor?
A disadvantage factor is an amount (expressed as a percentage) which boosts (or weights) your FPS to give a WPS.
This amount is different for each applicant. It is based on data you have provided about the school you attended and your family background, to ensure that disadvantage is taken into account. It is only applicable to South African citizens and permanent residents.
You will be informed of your factor in your acknowledgement letter. You can also use the online calculator at http://www.uct.ac.za/apply/criteria/nsc.
This percentage amount is between 0% (in which case your FPS is the same as your WPS), and 10% (except for the MBCHB where it is 20%).
In order to calculate your WPS, you adjust your FPS by the disadvantage factor applicable to you as described in step 4 above and in the examples below. Use the Band B column on the next page to see what WPS is needed for likely admission to each programme.
Examples
oIf your FPS is 68.2 and your disadvantage factor is 10%, add 6.82 (68.2 x 10%) to your FPS to get a WPS of 75.02
oIf your FPS is 68.2 and your disadvantage factor is 5%, add 3.41 (68.2 x 5%) to your FPS to get a WPS of 71.61.
oIf your FPS is 68.2 and your disadvantage factor is 0, ther is nothing to add your FPS and your WPS will also be 68.2.
Note : Engineering programme applicants may be considered for ASPECT (Academic Support Programme for Engineering in Cape Town), and would need to achieve at least the FPS levels in Band C.
OFFER LEVELS FOR AN ACADEMIC PLACE
BAND A |
BAND B |
BAND C |
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Admission Guaranteed |
Admission Likely |
Admission Possible |
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All applicants |
All applicants |
Targeted redress groups only |
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Chemical |
85 FPS |
80 WPS |
70 FPS |
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Engineering |
Mathematics ≥ 80% |
Mathematics ≥ 80% |
Mathematics ≥ 80% |
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Physical Sciences ≥ 70% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 70% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 70% |
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NBT scores of Proficient for |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
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AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
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Civil |
80 FPS |
75 WPS |
68 FPS |
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Engineering |
Mathematics ≥ 80% |
Mathematics ≥ 75% |
Mathematics ≥ 75% |
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Physical Sciences ≥ 70% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 70% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 65% |
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NBT scores of Proficient for |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
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AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
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Mechanical |
82 FPS |
80 WPS |
70 FPS |
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and Electro- |
Mathematics ≥ 80% |
Mathematics ≥ 80% |
Mathematics ≥ 80% |
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Mechanical |
Physical Sciences ≥ 70% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 70% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 70% |
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Engineering |
NBT scores of Proficient for |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
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AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
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Electrical, |
80 FPS |
75 WPS |
70 FPS |
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Electrical & |
Mathematics ≥ 80% |
Mathematics ≥ 75% |
Mathematics ≥ 75% |
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Computer |
Physical Sciences ≥ 70% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 70% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 65% |
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Engineering |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
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and |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
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Mechatronics |
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Architectural |
75 FPS |
68 WPS |
58 FPS |
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Studies |
75 Architecture Portfolio Score |
68 Architecture Portfolio Score |
50 Architecture Portfolio Score |
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NBT scores of Proficient for |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
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AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
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Construction |
75 FPS |
68 WPS |
60 FPS |
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Studies |
Mathematics ≥ 75% |
Mathematics ≥ 70% |
Mathematics ≥ 65% |
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Physical Sciences ≥ 65% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 62% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 60% |
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NBT scores of Proficient for |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
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Maths, and Intermediate or |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
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Proficient for AL and QL |
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Property |
80 FPS |
75 WPS |
65 FPS |
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Studies |
Mathematics ≥ 75% |
Mathematics ≥ 70% |
Mathematics ≥ 65% |
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NBT scores of Proficient for |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
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Maths, and Intermediate or |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
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Proficient for AL and QL |
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Geomatics |
75 FPS |
70 WPS |
60 FPS |
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Mathematics ≥ 75% |
Mathematics ≥ 75% |
Mathematics ≥ 75% |
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Physical Sciences ≥ 65% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 65% |
Physical Sciences ≥ 65% |
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NBT scores of Proficient for |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
NBT scores of Intermediate or |
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AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |
Proficient for AL, QL and Maths |