The University of the Western Cape charged no application fee for 2027, and it doesn’t publish a thick annual prospectus. Its requirements for 2027 entry fit on two printed pages: the UWC Admissions Criteria for 2027 leaflet (PDF). A separate UWC 2027 Application Guide (PDF) explains the online process. Applications closed on 30 September 2026, and Dentistry and Oral Health closed earlier, on 31 August 2026.
The leaflet has the UWC points table on one side. The other side lists every faculty’s minimum points, required subject codes and an email address and phone number for each faculty. The Application Guide confirms the opening date of 1 April 2026, the two-choice limit and the zero application fee. Read the two together; neither repeats the other’s content.
Why English and Mathematics weigh most
UWC uses a weighted points system. English and Mathematics earn almost double the points of other subjects, while Life Orientation adds a little:
- 90–100%: English 15, Mathematics 15, Life Orientation 3, any other subject 8
- 80–89%: English 13, Mathematics 13, Life Orientation 3, other subjects 7
- 70–79%: English 11, Mathematics 11, Life Orientation 2, other subjects 6
- 60–69%: English 9, Mathematics 9, Life Orientation 2, other subjects 5
- 50–59%: English 7, Mathematics 7, Life Orientation 2, other subjects 4
- 40–49%: English 5, Mathematics 5, Life Orientation 1, other subjects 3
- 30–39%: 3, 3, 1 and 2; 20–29%: 1 point in every column
You need English, at Home or First Additional Language level, at Level 4 at least. The leaflet warns that Mathematics and Mathematical Literacy score differently, but it prints only the Mathematics column, so ask UWC how your Mathematical Literacy mark converts. Subject codes follow the NSC levels in the same table: Code 4 means 50–59% and Code 5 means 60–69%.
Minimums by faculty and programme
Every programme also has language rules, usually English Code 4 and another language at Code 3. These are the points and subject codes from the leaflet:
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery: 40 UWC points, Mathematics Code 4, and Physical Sciences and Life Sciences both at Code 4. The Bachelor of Oral Health needs 33 points.
- BSc Physiotherapy: 39 points; Mathematics Code 4 or Mathematical Literacy Code 6; Life Sciences and Physical Sciences at Code 4.
- Bachelor of Pharmacy: 38 points, Mathematics Code 4, and Physical Sciences and Life Sciences at Code 4.
- LLB (four-year programme) and BA (Law): 37 points, with Mathematics Code 3 or Mathematical Literacy Code 5. BCom Law needs 30 points and Mathematics Code 4.
- Natural Sciences: 33 points across the faculty. BSc Computer Science and Mathematical and Statistical Sciences need Mathematics Code 5, plus Physical Sciences, Life Sciences or Information Technology at Code 4.
- BCom (three-year stream): 30 points and Mathematics Code 4. BCom Accounting adds Accounting Code 5, which falls away if your Mathematics reaches Code 5.
- BA, BTh and BLIS: 35 points, English Code 4 and Code 4 in another NSC subject.
- BEd programmes: 33 points. Mathematics-based BEd streams ask for Mathematics Code 4 or Mathematical Literacy Code 6.
The four-year route into Commerce
The Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences also offers four-year BCom and BCom Accounting streams, with lower subject requirements than the three-year stream. The four-year BCom accepts Mathematics Code 2 or Mathematical Literacy Code 6 with English and another language at Code 3. The four-year Accounting stream asks for Mathematics Code 3 and Accounting Code 4. Accounting isn’t required if your Mathematics reaches Level 4.
How UWC decides, and when
Current Grade 12 applicants upload nothing at the application stage, apart from a POPIA consent form for applicants under 18. UWC makes its final selection in January 2027 on your final Grade 12 results. You may list a maximum of two programme choices, and to change a choice you submit a programme change request rather than a second application. The leaflet’s tuition fees are 2026 figures, roughly R40 893 to R56 914 a year for BA, BCom, BEd and LLB, and UWC expects them to rise by about 5% for 2027.
Our UWC applications page covers the student portal. UWC doesn’t administer NSFAS, so see our NSFAS guide for funding, or our full prospectus index for other universities.
For admission queries, contact the UWC Contact Centre at admissions@uwc.ac.za or on 021 959 3900/1/2.