UCT has a proud tradition of academic excellence and effecting social change and development through its pioneering scholarship, faculty and students.
It is also renowned for its striking beauty, with its campus located at the foot of Table Mountain's Devil's Peak, with panoramic views of much of Cape Town.
Dr Max PriceUCT is very similar to the city of Cape Town: it has a vibrant, cosmopolitan community. It is a cultural melting pot where each person contributes their unique blend of knowledge and thinking. Our staff and students come from over 100 countries in Africa and the rest of the world. The university has also built links, partnerships and exchange agreements with leading African and international institutions that further enrich the academic, social and cultural diversity of our campus.
This heritage characterises the experience of studying at UCT, where our students are introduced to a life of leadership and service through social engagement. They also have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills by participating in the over 100 clubs and societies on campus, as well as in student governance.
Please browse freely through these web pages for information on all aspects of the university. You may also look at our photo albums that capture the highlights of life at UCT.
UCT aspires to become a premier academic meeting point between South Africa, the rest of Africa and the world. Taking advantage of expanding global networks and our distinct vantage point in Africa, we are committed, through innovative research and scholarship, to grapple with the key issues of our natural and social worlds. We aim to produce graduates whose qualifications are internationally recognised and locally applicable, underpinned by values of engaged citizenship and social justice. UCT will promote diversity and transformation within our institution and beyond, including growing the next generation of academics.
Foundation statement underpinning the mission statement
Our research-led identity is shaped by a commitment to:
academic freedom as the prerequisite to fostering intellectual debate and free enquiry;
ensuring that research informs all our activities including teaching, learning and service to the community;
advancing and disseminating knowledge that addresses the key challenges facing society - South African, continental and global;
In advancing UCT as an Afropolitan university, we will:
expand our expertise on Africa and offer it to the world;
extend our networks on the continent, along with our global connections and partnerships;
promote student and staff exchanges and collaborative research and postgraduate programmes;
engage critically with Africa's intellectuals and world views in teaching and research;
contribute to strengthening higher education on our continent.
We strive to provide an environment for our diverse student and staff community that:
promotes a more equitable and non-racial society;
supports redress in regard to past injustices;
is affirming and inclusive of all staff and students and promotes diversity in demographics, skills and backgrounds;
offers individual development opportunities to all staff;
is welcoming as a meeting space for scholars from Africa and around the world.
The strategic plan for the University of Cape Town
The strategic plan for the University of Cape Town highlights the interventions we believe we need to make in order to develop UCT in particular ways over the next five to 10 years.
The six key strategic goals are:
Internationalising UCT via an Afropolitan Niche
Transformation of UCT Towards Non-Racialism - Redress, Diversity, Inclusiveness and the Recognition of African Voices
Working Towards a Desired Size and Shape for UCT
A Vision for the Development of Research at UCT: Greater Impact, Greater Engagement
Enhancing the Quality and Profile of UCT's Graduates
Expanding and Enhancing UCT's Contribution to South Africa's Development Challenges
Download the Strategic Plan document.
It is also renowned for its striking beauty, with its campus located at the foot of Table Mountain's Devil's Peak, with panoramic views of much of Cape Town.
Dr Max PriceUCT is very similar to the city of Cape Town: it has a vibrant, cosmopolitan community. It is a cultural melting pot where each person contributes their unique blend of knowledge and thinking. Our staff and students come from over 100 countries in Africa and the rest of the world. The university has also built links, partnerships and exchange agreements with leading African and international institutions that further enrich the academic, social and cultural diversity of our campus.
This heritage characterises the experience of studying at UCT, where our students are introduced to a life of leadership and service through social engagement. They also have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills by participating in the over 100 clubs and societies on campus, as well as in student governance.
Please browse freely through these web pages for information on all aspects of the university. You may also look at our photo albums that capture the highlights of life at UCT.
UCT aspires to become a premier academic meeting point between South Africa, the rest of Africa and the world. Taking advantage of expanding global networks and our distinct vantage point in Africa, we are committed, through innovative research and scholarship, to grapple with the key issues of our natural and social worlds. We aim to produce graduates whose qualifications are internationally recognised and locally applicable, underpinned by values of engaged citizenship and social justice. UCT will promote diversity and transformation within our institution and beyond, including growing the next generation of academics.
Foundation statement underpinning the mission statement
Our research-led identity is shaped by a commitment to:
academic freedom as the prerequisite to fostering intellectual debate and free enquiry;
ensuring that research informs all our activities including teaching, learning and service to the community;
advancing and disseminating knowledge that addresses the key challenges facing society - South African, continental and global;
In advancing UCT as an Afropolitan university, we will:
expand our expertise on Africa and offer it to the world;
extend our networks on the continent, along with our global connections and partnerships;
promote student and staff exchanges and collaborative research and postgraduate programmes;
engage critically with Africa's intellectuals and world views in teaching and research;
contribute to strengthening higher education on our continent.
We strive to provide an environment for our diverse student and staff community that:
promotes a more equitable and non-racial society;
supports redress in regard to past injustices;
is affirming and inclusive of all staff and students and promotes diversity in demographics, skills and backgrounds;
offers individual development opportunities to all staff;
is welcoming as a meeting space for scholars from Africa and around the world.
The strategic plan for the University of Cape Town
The strategic plan for the University of Cape Town highlights the interventions we believe we need to make in order to develop UCT in particular ways over the next five to 10 years.
The six key strategic goals are:
Internationalising UCT via an Afropolitan Niche
Transformation of UCT Towards Non-Racialism - Redress, Diversity, Inclusiveness and the Recognition of African Voices
Working Towards a Desired Size and Shape for UCT
A Vision for the Development of Research at UCT: Greater Impact, Greater Engagement
Enhancing the Quality and Profile of UCT's Graduates
Expanding and Enhancing UCT's Contribution to South Africa's Development Challenges
Download the Strategic Plan document.