NEWS & ANALYSIS

UCT's racial admission requirements 2012

Marks needed by colour for probable entry into different programmes (with tables)

Below are tables of the admission requirements, by race, for probable admission to the various undergraduate courses at the University of Cape Town in the 2012 academic year. These criteria will apply to students who matriculate in 2011 and who generally would have entered Grade 1 in 2000.

South African applicants for positions are required to identify themselves by one of five racial categories: Black, Coloured, Indian, Chinese and White. The university sets overall enrolment targets and racial targets for each programme. According to the university's Admission Policy for 2012 "All faculties will aim to admit specified minimum numbers of eligible South African Black, Chinese, Coloured and Indian students in accordance with these targets."

The University justifies the use of race in admissions on the basis of "diversity" and "redress." The goal, in terms of "diversity", it states, is to ensure that the local component of the student body "increasingly reflects the demographic diversity of the South African population" This suggests that the ultimate intention is for the racial proportions of the student body to reflect those of the population as a whole: i.e. 79% black, 9% Coloured, 9,5% white and 2,6% Indian and Asian (2007 Community Survey).

The University claims that its policy is also "designed for redress. The law requires this. The legacy of decades of inequality, and in particular structural educational inequality, in South Africa and the continuing (and in many cases increasing) disparities in public education provision is a reality with which our admissions policy must deal."

In terms of the policy white applicants fall under the "open" category and black, Coloured, Indian and Chinese applicants under the "redress" one. The latter can apply for direct entry into the normal degree courses or, in many cases, to an extended degree programme where academic support is provided and where admission requirements are lower.

As evidenced by the tables below there are, particularly for the higher status courses, wide differentials between the marks required for the different racial groups. In engineering, medicine and, to a lesser extent, law, white applicants have to attain considerably higher marks than their black contemporaries for probable admission.

Applicants are generally assessed through a combination of two measures: An Admission Point Score (APS) calculated from the applicant's marks in the National Senior Certificate (NSC) examination; and the National Benchmark Test (NBT) set by the university.

The NSC APS is derived from the sum of six subject scores, excluding life orientation, but including English and any other subjects required for that particular programme. There are two NBTs: An Academic and Quantitative literacy test (AQL) which tests academic literacy (AL) and quantitative literacy (QL); and a Mathematics Test (MT) which all applicants, who wish to enter a programme with mathematics-based coursework are required to write.

In programmes falling under Engineering and the Built Environment an EBE Admission Point Score (EBE APS) is calculated, out of 100, using the following formula: EBE APS =  0.5 x %NSC + 0.5 x %NBT + 0.03 x % Maths 3.

Table 1: Requirements for probable admission to health science degrees at UCT 2012

MBChB

 

Minimum requirements for all

APS (out of 600)

% Ave

NBT (out of 300)

% Ave

TOTAL SCORE (out of 900)

% Ave

Black

Level 4 (50%) for: Mathematics plus Physical Sciences  plus English    PLUS a pass  in the next 3 best subjects excluding Life Orientation; AL: 42; QL: 38; Maths: 34

420

70.0%

114

38.0%

534

59.3%

Chinese

480

80.0%

180

60.0%

660

73.3%

Coloured

450

75.0%

128

42.7%

578

64.2%

Indian

500

83.3%

200

66.7%

700

77.8%

White & others

500

83.3%

200

66.7%

700

77.8%

BSc Physiotherapy

 

Minimum requirements for all

APS (out of 600)

% Ave

NBT (out of 300)

% Ave

TOTAL SCORE (out of 900)

% Ave

Black

Level 4 (50%) for: Mathematic; plus level 4 for Physical Sciences or Life Sciences; plus level 4 for English; PLUS a pass in the next 3 best subjects excluding Life Orientation; AL: 42; QL: 38; Maths: 34

340

56.7%

114

38.0%

454

50.4%

Chinese

440

73.3%

144

48.0%

584

64.9%

Coloured

340

56.7%

114

38.0%

454

50.4%

Indian

450

75.0%

144

48.0%

594

66.0%

White & others

460

76.7%

150

50.0%

610

67.8%

BSc Occupational Therapy

 

Minimum requirements for all

APS (out of 600)

% Ave

NBT (out of 300)

% Ave

TOTAL SCORE (out of 900)

% Ave

Black

Level 4 (50%) for: Mathematics or Level 5 for Mathematics Literacy; plus level 4 for Physical Sciences or Life Sciences; plus level 4 for English; PLUS a pass in the next 3 best subjects excluding Life Orientation; AL: 42; QL: 38; Maths: 34

340

56.7%

114

38.0%

454

50.4%

Chinese

410

68.3%

120

40.0%

530

58.9%

Coloured

340

56.7%

114

38.0%

454

50.4%

Indian

420

70.0%

120

40.0%

540

60.0%

White & others

440

73.3%

120

40.0%

560

62.2%

BSc Audiology and BSc Speech-Language Pathology

 

Minimum requirements for all

APS (out of 600)

% Ave

NBT (out of 300)

% Ave

TOTAL SCORE (out of 900)

% Ave

Black

Level 4 (50%) for: Mathematics or Level 5 for Mathematics Literacy; plus level  4 for Physical Sciences or Life Sciences; plus level 4 for English; PLUS a pass in the next 3 best subjects excluding Life Orientation; AL: 42; QL: 38; Maths: 34

340

56.7%

114

38.0%

454

50.4%

Chinese

380

63.3%

114

38.0%

494

54.9%

Coloured

340

56.7%

114

38.0%

454

50.4%

Indian

380

63.3%

114

38.0%

494

54.9%

White & Others

380

63.3%

114

38.0%

494

54.9%

Table 2: Engineering and Built Environment

Programme

White and others ("Open")

Black, Indian, Coloured or Chinese ("Redress")

Normal

Normal

Extended degree

Architectural Studies

Offers for the limited places are made on a competitive basis taking into account Faculty equity targets

58 EBE APS Points; Mathematics or Physical Science ≥ 50%; BAS Portfolio weighted 50%

 

Construction Studies

70 EBE APS Points; Mathematics ≥ 65%; Physical Science ≥ 55%

50 EBE APS Points; Mathematics ≥ 65%; Physical Science ≥ 55%

 

Engineering (all programmes)

75 EBE APS Points; Mathematics ≥ 80%; Physical Science ≥ 70%

65 EBE APS Points; Mathematics ≥ 75%; Physical Science ≥ 65%

55 EBE APS Points; Mathematics ≥75%; Physical Science ≥ 60%

Geomatics

70 EBE APS Points; Mathematics ≥ 75%; Physical Science ≥ 65%

60 EBE APS Points; Mathematics ≥ 70%; Physical Science ≥ 60%

55 EBE APS Points; Mathematics ≥70%; Physical Science ≥ 60%

Property studies

70 EBE APS Points; Mathematics ≥ 65%

50 EBE APS Points; Mathematics ≥65%

 

Table3: Commerce

Programme

White and others ("Open")

Black, Indian, Coloured or Chinese ("Redress")

Normal

Normal

Extended degree

BCom (Accounting); Bcom (Information Systems); Bcom (Philosophy Politics& Economics); Bcom (Accounting and Law); Bcom (Economics and Law); Bcom (Economics and Finance); Bcom (Economics and Statistics); Bcom (Management Studies)

APS of 432(72% average); Maths 6 (70%); NBT:AL & QL scores of Proficient/ Intermediate

APS of 420 (70% average); Maths 6 (70%); NBT:AL & QL score of Intermediate

APS of 408 (68% average); Maths 5 (68%)

BBusSc Management Studies programmes

APS of 450 (75% average); Maths 7 (80%); NBT:AL & QL score of Proficient/ Intermediate

APS of 438 (73% average); Maths 6 (70%); NBT:AL & QL score of Intermediate

APS of 414 (71% average); Maths 5 (69%)

BBusSc; Computer Science programme

APS of 450 (75% average); Maths 7 (80%); NBT:AL & QL score of Proficient/ Intermediate

APS of 438(73% average); Maths 6 (70%); NBT:AL & QL score of Intermediate

APS of 414 (71% average); Maths 6 (70%)

BBusSc and BCom Actuarial Science Quantitative Finance programme

APS of 480 (80% average); Maths 7 (85%); NBT:AL & QL score of Proficient

APS of 468 (78% average); Maths 7 (80%); NBT:AL & QL score of Intermediate

APS of 450 (75% average); Maths 7 (80%); NBT:AL & QL score of Intermediate

Table 4: Science

Programme

White and others ("Open")

Black, Indian, Coloured or Chinese ("Redress")

 

Normal

Normal

Extended degree

BSc Majoring in: Applied Biology, Applied Mathematics/ Astrophysics/ Chemistry/ Ecology & Evolution/ Geology/ Genetics/ Human Physiology/ Mathematical Statistics/ Mathematics/ Microbiology/ Oceanography & Marine Biology/ Physics

APS of 450 (75%); Mathematics 6 (70%); Physical Science 5 (60%)

APS 435 (72.5% ave); Mathematics 6 (70%) & Physical Science 5 (60%)

General Entry Programme for Science: APS of 410 (68.3% ave); Mathematics 5 (60%) and Physical Science 4 (50%) or Life Sciences 4 (50%)

BSc Majoring in: Business Computing/Computer Engineering/Computer Games Development/Computer Science

APS of 450 (75%); Mathematics 6 (70%); Physical Science 5 (60%) or Life Sciences 5(60%)

APS 435 (72.5% ave); Mathematics 6 (70%) & Physical Science 5 (60%) or Information Technology 5 (60%)

 

 Table 5: Law & Humanities  

Programme

White and others ("Open")

Black, Indian, Coloured or Chinese ("Redress")

Normal

Normal

Extended degree

LLB

NSC APS OF 480 (80%); NBT; AL (Proficient at 75%); QL (Intermediate)

NSC APS OF 450 (75%); NBT; AL (Proficient at 75%); QL (Intermediate)

NSC APS of 420 (70%); NBT AL (70 - 74%); QL (Intermediate)

BA and BSocSc (majors other than Economics or Psychology) AND BA Film & Media Production

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 410 (68%); AL score Upper Intermediate

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 390 (65%); AL score Upper Intermediate

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 360 (60%); AL score Upper Intermediate

BA and BSocSc (majoring in Psychology)

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 440 (73%); AL score Upper Intermediate; QL score of 69% or NSC Maths 50%

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 420 (70%); AL score Upper Intermediate; QL score of 69% or NSC Maths 50%

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; NSC Maths 50% and/or QL score Upper Intermediate; APS of 360 (60%); AL score Upper Intermediate

BA and BSocSc (majoring in Economics)

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 430 (72%); AL score Upper Intermediate; QL score Upper Intermediate; NSC Maths 60% 

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 420 (70%); AL score Upper Intermediate; QL score Upper Intermediate; NSC Maths 60% 

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; NSC Maths 50% and/or Upper Intermediate; APS of 360 (60%); AL score Upper Intermediate

BSocSc in Philosophy, Politics and Economics (PPE)

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 430 (72%); AL score Upper Intermediate; QL score Upper Intermediate; NSC Maths 60% 

Same

 

Bachelor of Social Work

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 380 (63%); AL score Lower Intermediate

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 370 (62%); AL score Lower Intermediate

 

BA in Fine Art

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 380 (63%); AL score Lower Intermediate; Assessment of artistic competence by submission of portfolio; Portfolio graded "A"  

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 380 (63%); AL score Lower Intermediate; Assessment of artistic competence by submission of portfolio; Portfolio graded "A/B+"

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 350 (58%); AL score Lower Intermediate; Portfolio graded A/B+

Bachelor of Music

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 380 (63%); AL score Lower Intermediate; NSC Music 60% or Unisa Grade V Theory and Grade VII Practical; Successful audition

Same

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 350 (58%); AL score Lower Intermediate; NSC Music 60% or Unisa Grade V Theory and Grade VII Practical; Successful audition

Bachelor of Music (Dance)

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%; APS of 380 (63%); AL score Lower Intermediate; Successful audition; In the case of classical ballet the candidate must provide a Royal Academic of Dance or Cecchetti Society Intermediate certificate;  or the candidate must provide a certified statement from a registered professional, accredited dance academic or school of at least three years of formal training in African Dance or Contemporary Dance; or must hold a qualification that is deemed equivalent by the HoD.

Same

 

BA in Theatre and Performance

NSC endorsed for degree study with  English 50%3; APS of 380 (63%); AL score Lower Intermediate; Successful audition

Same

 

Music Diploma programmes (other than opera)

NSC endorsed for diploma studies; NSC English 50%2; Successful audition; NSC Music 60% or Unisa Grade V Theory and Grade VII Practical

Same

 

Performer's Diploma in  Opera

NSC endorsed for diploma studies; NSC English 50%2; Successful audition

Same

 

Dance Teacher's Diploma

NSC endorsed for diploma studies; NSC English 50%; Successful audition; In the case of classical ballet the candidate must provide a Royal Academic of Dance or Cecchetti Society Intermediate certificate;  or the candidate must provide a certified statement from a registered professional, accredited dance academic or school of at least three years of formal training in African Dance or Contemporary Dance; or must hold a qualification that is deemed equivalent by the HoD

Same

 

Performer's Diploma in Theatre

NSC endorsed for diploma studies; NSC English 50%A; Successful audition

Same

 

Data source: University of Cape Town (see here for full information on admissions policies.) Please check against original source.

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