University of Cape Town Scholarships for 2026: See UCT Bursaries

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University of Cape Town Scholarships 2026/2027: Complete Guide to Funding Your Studies

Update of University of Cape Town Scholarships available for 2026. Are you dreaming of studying at the prestigious University of Cape Town but worried about tuition fees? You’re not alone. Every year, thousands of students search for UCT scholarships, bursaries, and financial aid opportunities and the good news is that there are hundreds of funding options available to help you achieve your academic goals.

In this comprehensive, SEO-optimized guide, you’ll discover:

  • All available UCT scholarships and bursaries
  • Eligibility requirements
  • Step-by-step application process
  • Key benefits of studying with a scholarship at UCT
Overview of Scholarships at University of Cape Town

The University of Cape Town offers a wide range of scholarships funded by:

  • The university itself
  • Government initiatives like National Student Financial Aid Scheme
  • Private donors and foundations
  • Corporate organizations

These scholarships are broadly categorized into:

1. UCT Internal Scholarships

  • Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships
  • Entrance Scholarships
  • Named Entrance Scholarships
  • December Scholarships
  • Sports Scholarships
  • Sundry Scholarships

2. External Scholarships & Bursaries

These are funded by companies, NGOs, and government bodies and require separate applications.

How to Apply for University of Cape Town Scholarships (Step-by-Step)

Applying for scholarships at UCT depends on the type of funding:

Step 1: Apply for Admission to UCT

Before applying for most scholarships, you must secure admission to the University of Cape Town.

Step 2: Apply for Financial Aid (NSFAS or UCT Funding)

  • Submit your application through National Student Financial Aid Scheme
  • If unsuccessful, apply for UCT GAP Funding

Step 3: Apply for External Scholarships

  • Visit the sponsor’s website or request an application form
  • Submit required documents:
    • Academic transcripts
    • ID/Passport
    • Proof of admission
    • Motivation letter
    • CV (for some scholarships)

Step 4: Track Deadlines

Missing deadlines = automatic disqualification.

Step 5: Submit Progress Reports (if required)

For externally funded scholarships, you must submit academic progress reports annually

Eligibility Requirements for University of Cape Town Scholarships

Although requirements vary, most scholarships consider:

Academic Excellence
  • Strong Grade 12 or university results
  • Typically 60%–75%+ average
Financial Need
  • Especially for NSFAS and many bursaries
Citizenship
  • Many scholarships require South African citizenship
Field of Study
  • Some are faculty-specific (e.g., Engineering, Law, Health Sciences)
Special Criteria
  • Leadership potential
  • Sports excellence
  • Gender or diversity focus
  • Community involvement
Benefits of Studying at University of Cape Town with a Scholarship

Securing a scholarship at the University of Cape Town comes with major advantages:

1. Financial Relief

  • Covers tuition, accommodation, books, and sometimes living expenses

2. Access to World-Class Education

UCT is consistently ranked among Africa’s top universities

3. Reduced Student Debt

Graduate with little or no financial burden

4. Career Opportunities

Many bursaries offer:

  • Internships
  • Job placements
  • Work-back contracts

5. Academic Motivation

Scholarships often require maintaining strong academic performance

List of University of Cape Town Scholarships and Bursaries (2026)

Below is a comprehensive list of scholarships available at UCT:

UCT Undergraduate Scholarships and Bursaries

Loans / Financial Aid

Scholarships

  • A F Farquhar Scholarship
  • A Van Hulsteyn December Scholarship
  • ABSA Scholarship Programme
  • AI & AA Goldberg Scholarship (Med)
  • AI & AA Goldberg Scholarship (Open)
  • Alba Windham December Scholarship
  • Alex Andersson Classical Scholarship
  • Alice Philander Memorial Scholarship
  • Amelia Schenkman Scholarship
  • Andrew Proctor Memorial Scholarship
  • Ardi Louw Scholarship
  • Arthur Bostock Entrance Scholarship
  • Aubrey Radford Entrance Scholarship
  • Bennie Hewat Scholarship
  • Cameron Entrance Scholarship
  • Carol Iljon Drama Scholarship
  • Cecil Rhodes Memorial Scholarship
  • Clarendon Entrance Scholarship
  • Commerce Entrance Scholarship
  • Commerce Faculty Scholarship
  • Cuthbert Memorial Entrance Scholarship
  • Dr I D Du Plessis December Scholarship
  • Duncan McMillan December Scholarship
  • E E Coutts Music Scholarship
  • EC Premiers Scholarship
  • Eigenmann Entrance Scholarship
  • Engineering & Built Environment Entrance Scholarship
  • Engineering & Built Environment Faculty Scholarship
  • Friulian Society December Scholarship
  • G A Reynolds Entrance Scholarship
  • Gallagher Foundation Scholarship
  • George Stevens Opera Scholarship
  • H S Dyer Entrance Scholarship
  • Harry Allschwang Entrance Scholarship
  • Health Science Entrance Scholarship
  • Health Science Faculty Scholarship
  • Huguenot Entrance Scholarship
  • Humanities Entrance Scholarship
  • Humanities Faculty Scholarship
  • Hyman Liberman Entrance Scholarship
  • Invictus Sports Scholarship
  • Isaac Ellis Scholarships
  • Isaac Greenberg Scholarship (A, E, J)
  • Isaac Ochberg Entrance Scholarship
  • J & E Schaffer Family Scholarship
  • J M Hansen Scholarship
  • J S Marais Entrance Scholarship
  • JO Brunt Entrance Scholarship
  • Johnny Windham December Scholarship
  • KJ-Bathe Leadership Scholarship
  • Klaus-Jurgen Bathe Scholarship
  • Koopmans De Wet Scholarship
  • Law Diversity Scholarship
  • Law Endowment Scholarship
  • Law Entrance Scholarship
  • Law Faculty Scholarship
  • Lazarus Scholarship
  • Leah Mary Speier Scholarship
  • Lewis No 1 Entrance Scholarship
  • MacIver December Scholarships
  • Manilal Daya Scholarship Fund
  • Mark Lewis Scholarship
  • Mary Cavanagh Entrance Scholarship
  • Max Albow Scholarship
  • Merrill Lynch Scholarship
  • Michael Hiddingh Entrance Scholarship
  • Michael Ihlenfeldt Opera Scholarship
  • Molecular Biology Scholarship
  • Moshal Scholarship Programme
  • Music/Ballet December Scholarship
  • Myra Chapman Undergraduate December Scholarship
  • Philip Schock December Scholarship
  • Professor Mary Robertson Scholarship
  • R & J Schaverien Scholarship
  • R M Hahn Entrance Scholarship
  • Richard Solomon Memorial Scholarship
  • Ritchie Memorial Scholarship
  • Rosa Harris Memorial Scholarship
  • Rosalie Van der Gucht Scholarship
  • Russell Entrance Scholarship
  • Scheepers Memorial December Scholarship
  • Science Entrance Scholarship
  • Science Faculty Scholarship
  • Senator FS Malan Entrance Scholarship
  • Sport Entrance Scholarship
  • Sports Scholarship
  • StarrCV Scholarship Fund (F & M)
  • Stedman Scholarship
  • Stuttaford Entrance Scholarship
  • The Ball Family Scholarship
  • Tindale & Friends Scholarship
  • Tippetts-Aylmer Trust Scholarship
  • Twamley December Scholarship
  • UCT Intercalated Track Scholarship
  • UCT Union Scholarships
  • UCT Union Entrance Scholarship
  • Urmson Smith Entrance Scholarship
  • Uyinene Mrwetyana Scholarship
  • Valerie Anderson Scholarship
  • Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarship
  • Vintcent Entrance Scholarship
  • William Duncan Entrance Scholarship
  • Zooks Fields Piano December Scholarship

Bursaries (UCT + External + Donor)

(Grouped but all listed individually)

UCT / Donor Bursaries

  • 2U Bursary Fund
  • Abraham & Freda Saacks Bursary
  • Adult Education Bursary
  • Anonymous Fine Art Bursary
  • Argon Asset Management Bursary
  • BANKSETA – SAADP Bursary
  • BankSeta Bursary
  • Brian Eric George Macleod Bursary
  • Brockway Bursaries
  • C & L Maddison Trust Bursary
  • C. Louis Leipoldt Memorial Bursary
  • Calleva Foundation Bursary
  • Canadian Alumni Bursary
  • Carol Squires Bursary
  • Chames Memorial Bursary
  • CT Combined School Association Bursary
  • David Feldman Bursary
  • David Irving Engineering Bursary
  • David W Sive Bursary Fund
  • Davis Memorial Bursary
  • Dell YL Laptop Bursary
  • Dell Young Leaders Bursary
  • Derek Raphael Bursary
  • DMD Roberts Bursary
  • Doreen & Pikkie Geffen Bursary
  • Dougie Kruger Memorial Bursary
  • Dr Alison Good Bursary
  • Eldridge Boarding Bursary
  • Eli Lilly Medical Bursary
  • Elsie Rowland Bursary
  • Emmanuel Brodie Bursary
  • Esther Liberman Bursary
  • FASSET Bursary
  • First National Bank Bursary
  • Florence Monnery Bursary
  • G R Bock Bursaries
  • Garden Cities Bursary
  • George Home Bursary
  • Goodwin and Glossop Bursary
  • Green Leaves Foundation Bursary
  • Hawa Patel Memorial Bursary
  • Health and Welfare SETA Bursary
  • Heneck Family Foundation Bursary
  • Henry W Nash Bursary
  • Herbert Stanfield Dyer Bursary
  • Hillensberg Trust Bursary
  • I M Berk Memorial Bursary
  • Ida Maller Bursary
  • J & M Overbeek Bursary
  • J S Fotheringham Bursary
  • Jack Love Mechanical Engineering Bursary
  • Jacob Lurie Bursary
  • Jenny Van Dijk Bursary
  • Jeremiah Kuritzky Bursary
  • Joan Love Medical Bursary
  • John Fleming Brock Bursary
  • John Koster Bursary
  • Joseph Granelli Bursary
  • Joseph Stone Bursary
  • Kopano Alumni Bursary
  • Kophou Bursary Fund
  • Link-SA Fund Bursaries
  • Local Anonymous Donor Bursary
  • Lombardi Family Bursary Scheme
  • M Rose & S Freeman Bursary
  • Marjorie Irving Bursary
  • Margaret Graham Bursary
  • Marion Goode Bursary
  • Mary Elizabeth Pool Bursary
  • Media24 Bursary
  • Mittermaier Family MBChB Bursary
  • Molly Mahood Bursary
  • Morris & Rosa Walt Bursary
  • N-E Students’ Fund Bursary
  • Nedbank Bursary
  • Nedcor/Syfrets Bursaries
  • NEF Bursary
  • NSFAS/DHET Disability Bursary
  • NSFAS Military Veterans Bursary
  • Olive Schreiner Bursary
  • Open Society Club Fund Bursary
  • Ordansky Bursary
  • S & A Saunders Bursary
  • SA College of Music Undergraduate Bursary
  • SARAO Bursary Programme
  • Sasol Bursary Trust
  • Sentech Bursary
  • Sheila van der Horst UG Bursary
  • Silibona Educational Trust Bursary
  • Sir Simon Robertson Opera Bursary
  • Solly & Lydia Morris Bursary
  • Ted Sceales Bursary
  • Tippetts-Aylmer Trust Bursary
  • UCT Alumni & Friends Bursary
  • UCT Bursary – Meds
  • UCT Financial Aid Special Bursary
  • UCT Sibling Rebate Bursary
  • UCT Trust/UK Alumni Bursary
  • UCT War Commemoration Bursary
  • Urmson Smith Bursary
  • W & R SETA Bursary
  • Western Cape Department of Health Bursary
  • Weiss Education Trust Bursary
  • Wilfred Orr Bursary
  • Wintour Bursary
  • Wolf Michaels Bursary
  • Woodstock & Salt River Bursary
  • Young Professionals Bursary
  • Yvonne Parfitt Bursary Trust
External Bursaries & Scholarships
UCT Postgraduate Scholarships and Bursaries

NRF SCHOLARSHIPS

UCT NEED-BASED SCHOLARSHIPS

  • UCT Honours Financial Need Scholarship
  • UCT Honours GAP Scholarship
  • UCT Master’s Financial Need Scholarship
  • UCT Master’s GAP Scholarship
  • UCT Doctoral Financial Need Scholarship
  • UCT Doctoral GAP Scholarship

TRAVEL & RESEARCH AWARDS

  • Scarbrow Bursary Fund
  • UCT Postgraduate Doctoral Conference Travel Grant
  • UCT Scholarship for International Travel
  • Dee Bradshaw & Friends’ Scholarship

GENERAL MERIT & NEED BURSARIES

  • Alexandra Club Bursary
  • Ashton, Lilly Educational Trust
  • Beattie, Jock Memorial Bursary
  • Hans Middleman Open Society Bursary
  • Johnson, Siri Bursary
  • Johnston, KW Research Scholarship
  • Mullne, Rose & Sydney Bursary
  • Saunders, Noreen Bursary
  • Twamley Postgraduate Bursary
  • UCT Fund Inc
  • UK Alumni Bursary
  • Urmson-Smith Bursary
  • Wakeford, Dr John Bursary

COMMERCE

  • Anglo American De Beers Chairman Fund
  • Sir Chips Keswick Postgraduate Bursary
  • Van der Horst, Sheila Bursary

ENGINEERING

  • McKay, Alister and Graham Scholarship
  • Reino Stegen Scholarships
  • Walker, Hugh & Win Scholarship

HEALTH SCIENCES

  • Baxter, J W Duncan Scholarship
  • Benfara Scholarship
  • Brunow, Myer & Harry Scholarships
  • Forman, Frank Grant
  • Glickman/Elliot Scholarship
  • Loewenstein Trust Postgraduate Scholarship
  • Rubin, Marcus Scholarship
  • Yeoman Bequest Bursary

HUMANITIES

  • Albow Bursary
  • Bokhorst, Matthijs Bursary
  • Buyskes, Hilda Bursary

CROSS-FACULTY

OTHER FUNDING CATEGORIES (NO SPECIFIC NAMES LISTED)

  • Prestigious Fellowships (various external donors)
  • Postgraduate Research Scholarships (Departmental)
  • Independent External Bursaries (South Africa)
  • Overseas Study Scholarships
  • Postdoctoral Research Fellowships
  • UCT Academic Performance Scholarships

 

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