International student applications

Before you follow the Online Application Process at University of the Western Cape (UWC), please make sure that you:
 

1. Meet the minimum admission requirements for the programme/s you wish to apply to. Visit Academia​ for further assistance in this regard.
2. Apply for exemption by following the Universities South Africa (USAf) Application for Exemption process or apply to have your foreign qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA) in the case of postgraduate programmes.

Evaluation 

Evaluation of your international qualifications is essential to confirm the level of learning attained and the appropriate articulation with qualifications registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). The relevant statutory bodies seek to ascertain the equivalence or comparison of international qualifications with local qualifications to inform the minimum admission requirements to higher education. This is done in one of the following ways: 

Application for Exemption with Universities South Africa (USAf), formerly Higher Education South Africa (HESA). 

 
This process is for international applicants who wish to apply for exemption in order to be granted access to higher education in South Africa. The Exemption Application process and Methods of Application for undergraduate applications are outlined on the following USAf webpage: https://mb.usaf.ac.za/online-assessment-and-application/ 

Firstly, you will be directed to the USAf Assessment Tool. This will give you a good indication of the strength of your application. Secondly, you will be directed to submit an online application.
 

For Applications for Exemption Enquiries

Phone: +2710 591 4401/2
Fax: 086 677 7744 (SA Only)
Fax: +2712 481 2922 (International)
Email: applications@usaf.ac.za 
 
Your Application for Exemption may take some time to process. Therefore, we recommend that you complete this step as soon as you have a statement of results available, before moving to the next step in the process, which is the UWC Online Application. 
 

Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications with the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)        

 
This process is for international applicants who wish to apply for admission to postgraduate higher education programmes in South Africa using their undergraduate qualifications. The information related to the process for evaluating foreign qualifications is outlined on this SAQA webpage.

The online application for the Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications can be accessed here. You will be required to register as a new user, after which you may proceed with your application for the evaluation of your qualification.
 

For Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications Enquiries

     Phone: +2712 431 5070 - Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications
     Phone: 0860 111 673 - Helpdesk
     Phone: +2721 431 5000 - Switchboard
     Fax: +2721 431 5147
     Email: customercare@saqa.org.za

This evaluation certificate must accompany your application to UWC. Therefore, we recommend that you complete this before moving onto the next step in the process. Click here for more information. 

Note:
Some faculties may require an Exemption Certificate from USAf and an Evaluation of Foreign Qualifications from SAQA for admission into a particular programme. Please consult faculty-specific admission requirements in the Academia tab.

Since your application depends on either USAf Exemption or a SAQA Evaluation Certificate and in some cases, both, we will not be able to make a selection decision until the appropriate evidence from USAf and/or SAQA is supplied. Therefore, we recommend that you complete this component as soon as possible. 
 
Further enquiries should be directed to USAf or consult our international guidelines for applications. Alternatively, you may contact isso@uwc.ac.za for further guidance and advice. 
 

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