Bachelor Of Law At University Of Cape Town (UCT)

Bachelor Of Law At University Of Cape Town (UCT)

How to apply to UCT for admission to the LLB programme

We have developed a great 5-minute video on the ins and outs of applying for the LLB programme at UCT. This should be watched in conjunction with the general video on applying to UCT. 

UCT Virtual Open Day 2022 – The Faculty of Law

UCT Law participates in the UCT Virtual Open Day event. Recordings of all of these sessions are being made available – look on the Students site for recordings and more info.

Please note

1. Applications for admission to all LLB programmes for 2023 were open from 1 April – 31 July 2022.
2. All three LLB programmes (the 2-year graduate combined stream LLB; the 3-year graduate LLB; and the 4-year LLB) are treated as undergraduate degrees and applicants must follow the processes and deadlines set out for undergraduate applications.   

Applying to UCT and Applying to study Law – Frequently Asked Questions

1. When do applications to UCT open each year?

Applications for study at UCT are usually open between April and July each year.  Keep an eye on this page for specific dates from year to year. Applications for 2022 are now closed. 

2. How do I apply?

You can apply online. The UCT Online applications site will be active from April of a given year at applyonline.uct.ac.za.  Full information on applying to UCT can be found at  http://www.students.uct.ac.za/students/applications/apply/undergraduates.

3. What are the admission requirements at UCT?

Find all the info you need on admission requirements at this link: http://www.students.uct.ac.za/students/applications/admission-requirements/eligibility.

4. Do I have to take the NBTs to apply to UCT Law?

To apply to UCT for any undergraduate programmes, you will need to write the NBTs. For more info, go to http://www.students.uct.ac.za/students/applications/admission-requirements/national-benchmark-tests and look for updates. For 2023 applications, the latest you can take the tests and still have time to submit as part of your application is October 2022.

5. Where can I find information about all the degree programmes that UCT offers?

There is loads of information online – but the best place to start to get a good overview of everything on offer at UCT is to look at the Undergraduate Prospectus.

6. I want to study Law at UCT – what are my options?

There are three ways to do an LLB:

• firstly, you could do a combined degree, where you do a 3-year undergraduate degree in Commerce or Humanities with Law subjects and then go on to the Law Faculty to do a 2-year LLB degree (eg. BComm LLB)  
• secondly, you could register for a 3-year graduate LLB if you have an undergraduate with no law subjects, but decide you want to study Law after completing your first degree.  Please note that for the 3-yr LLB, you do not need to take the NBTs for your application.  You would need to have at least a 65 % GPA to be considered for admission, which is highly competitive.
• and thirdly, you could do a 4-year straight LLB where you would register straight away in the Law Faculty.

7. I want to study Law at UCT – what subjects must I have, and how many points do I need to be considered for a place on the LLB programme?

There are no specific subject requirements for Law, and you don’t need to have Maths as a matric subject. You would need to have achieved a certain number of points with your matric results (which is calculated largely on the basis of adding up your 6 core subject results (not LO). UCT takes redress into account which ensures that disadvantage is factored into the calculation and the score requirements. The point requirements therefore vary because the university is committed to ensuring redress and that students with historical disadvantage have a fair chance at being offered a place on the Law programmes. All of this is outlined in the attached booklet. For details, look at the Choose Law booklet or contact the Faculty Office on law-studies@uct.ac.za.

8. I am studying Law at another university – can I transfer to UCT?

Transferring students need to follow the same application process as first-time applicants to UCT for the LLB.

A UCT student in good academic standing may apply to transfer to the LLB degree, but must satisfy the requirements for admission to the LLB with their matric and NBT results. Successful applicants may be granted credit or exemption or both for courses already completed, up to a maximum of four full courses (or the equivalent).

A non-UCT student who has NOT been excluded from another university may apply to transfer to UCT as an LLB student but must satisfy the requirements for admission to the LLB with their matric and NBT results (note: while NBT results were waived for applications for 2021, applicants for study in 2022 must write the NBTs). Successful applicants may be granted credit or exemption or both for courses already completed, up to a maximum of four full courses (or the equivalent).

Credit and exemption will only be granted for courses taken at another institution if the Faculty is satisfied that the courses are substantially equivalent, in both content and standard, to the courses offered at UCT. Such transferring students will be required to complete the remaining courses prescribed for the LLB at this University over a period of not less than two years.

For more information, contact the Law Faculty Office on law-studies@uct.ac.za.

9. I have been made an offer to study Law at UCT. What now?

Once you have been made a firm offer to study at UCT, based on your final matric results, you are ready to start your first year. Details about Orientation, laptop requirements and other important notices are available on this site.  Orientation dates will be made available once they have been finalised by the university.  Perhaps you have questions about credit transfers, financial support, parent orientation sessions, or other issues – have a look at this download to see if your questions are answered.

There is plenty more information on the whats and hows of being a UCT Law student – have a browse through, along with information about the Law Students Council who would be your spokespeople and representatives in the Faculty of Law. 

• Courses

You may want to find out about available courses in the Faculty of Law – you can find all courses listed in the Faculty Handbook, or on the websites of each of our three Departments – Private Law, Commercial Law and Public Law.

• Staff

You might be wondering who the Dean of Law is, or who the academic staff are (check the departmental pages above), or who it is you are talking to the in the Faculty Office. 

• Library

You may wonder where the Law Library is, and who the Law Library staff are who will be assisting you as you navigate your way around the best-stocked Law Library on the continent.