UCT Admission Requirements for Engineering and Built Environment

By | September 15, 2021


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:

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Engineering Programmes, Construction Studies and Geomatics programmes

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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 .

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

Admission Guaranteed

Admission Likely

Admission Possible

All applicants

All applicants

Targeted redress groups only

Chemical

85 FPS

80 WPS

70 FPS

Engineering

Mathematics ≥ 80%

Mathematics ≥ 80%

Mathematics ≥ 80%

Physical Sciences ≥ 70%

Physical Sciences ≥ 70%

Physical Sciences ≥ 70%

NBT scores of Proficient for

NBT scores of Intermediate or

NBT scores of Intermediate or

AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Civil

80 FPS

75 WPS

68 FPS

Engineering

Mathematics ≥ 80%

Mathematics ≥ 75%

Mathematics ≥ 75%

Physical Sciences ≥ 70%

Physical Sciences ≥ 70%

Physical Sciences ≥ 65%

NBT scores of Proficient for

NBT scores of Intermediate or

NBT scores of Intermediate or

AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Mechanical

82 FPS

80 WPS

70 FPS

and Electro-

Mathematics ≥ 80%

Mathematics ≥ 80%

Mathematics ≥ 80%

Mechanical

Physical Sciences ≥ 70%

Physical Sciences ≥ 70%

Physical Sciences ≥ 70%

Engineering

NBT scores of Proficient for

NBT scores of Intermediate or

NBT scores of Intermediate or

AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Electrical,



80 FPS

75 WPS

70 FPS

Electrical &

Mathematics ≥ 80%

Mathematics ≥ 75%

Mathematics ≥ 75%

Computer

Physical Sciences ≥ 70%

Physical Sciences ≥ 70%

Physical Sciences ≥ 65%

Engineering

NBT scores of Intermediate or

NBT scores of Intermediate or

NBT scores of Intermediate or

and

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Mechatronics

Architectural

75 FPS

68 WPS

58 FPS

Studies

75 Architecture Portfolio Score

68 Architecture Portfolio Score

50 Architecture Portfolio Score

NBT scores of Proficient for

NBT scores of Intermediate or

NBT scores of Intermediate or

AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Construction

75 FPS

68 WPS

60 FPS

Studies

Mathematics ≥ 75%

Mathematics ≥ 70%

Mathematics ≥ 65%

Physical Sciences ≥ 65%

Physical Sciences ≥ 62%

Physical Sciences ≥ 60%

NBT scores of Proficient for

NBT scores of Intermediate or

NBT scores of Intermediate or

Maths, and Intermediate or

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL and QL

Property

80 FPS

75 WPS

65 FPS

Studies

Mathematics ≥ 75%

Mathematics ≥ 70%

Mathematics ≥ 65%

NBT scores of Proficient for

NBT scores of Intermediate or

NBT scores of Intermediate or

Maths, and Intermediate or

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL and QL

Geomatics

75 FPS

70 WPS

60 FPS

Mathematics ≥ 75%

Mathematics ≥ 75%

Mathematics ≥ 75%

Physical Sciences ≥ 65%

Physical Sciences ≥ 65%

Physical Sciences ≥ 65%

NBT scores of Proficient for

NBT scores of Intermediate or

NBT scores of Intermediate or

AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

Proficient for AL, QL and Maths

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