UWC Courses

With UWC Courses, UWC graduates have successful careers and are making an impact across South Africa and internationally. 

With more than 200 degree, diploma and certificate programmes and a universe of subjects to select from, the University can accommodate your career aspirations.

For more information on UWC’s programmes, click on your chosen faculty and select the ‘Programmes’ tab.

  • Faculty Of Arts And Humanities
  • Faculty Of Community And Health Sciences
  • Faculty Of Dentistry
  • Faculty Of Economic And Management Sciences
  • Faculty Of Education
  • Faculty Of Law
  • Faculty Of Natural Sciences

Postgraduate Programmes

Arts and Humanities

Arts and Humanities offers an exciting range of postgraduate options across its 13 departments at Honours, Master’s and Doctoral levels.

The faculty is one of the leading producers of research at UWC; is home to many internationally recognised researchers and has partnerships with universities and institutions elsewhere in Africa and further afield.

Community and Health Sciences

The Faculty of Community & Health Sciences (CHS) – which has a dual campus modus operandi – is a faculty for community-based, interprofessional education and research in the health and social sciences whose excellence in education and research is recognised globally.

Apart from its postgraduate options across its six departments and three schools, CHS also offers niche postgraduate studies via its two centres.

Dentistry

The Faculty of Dentistry – Africa’s largest dental training school – is a world-class oral health centre committed to the promotion of oral health through excellence of its teaching and learning, service rendering, community engagement and research.

The Academic Oral Health Centres at Tygerberg and at Mitchell’s Plain are at the core of our clinical platform, but clinical care and training activities also take place at the Red Cross War Memorial Children’s and Groote Schuur hospitals, Gugulethu and Mitchell’s Plain Dental Clinics, the Phelophepha Health Trains and many other locations served by our mobile dental clinic.

Economic and Management Sciences

With a vision to be the leading Economic and Management Sciences Faculty recognised for its excellence in relevant learning, teaching and research aimed at transforming society through critical, engaged and applied scholarship.

Its varied postgraduate options – across five departments, two centres, two institutes, two schools and two units – speaks to its mission to contribute to and influencing the social, economic, political and technological development of society through teaching, learning and critical scholarship, in the fields of economic and management sciences, in a digital age.

Education

The Faculty of Education currently offers a wide range of professional and academic programmes at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. These programmes are designed to develop the intellectual, academic and professional capacity of students in teaching and related professions.

They cover fields such as teacher education (both pre-service and in-service), adult education, higher education and vocational education. Added to this are the disciplinary areas such as language education, science and mathematics education, educational psychology, sociology of education, educational leadership and management, curriculum studies, comparative education and policy studies.

Law

The UWC Law Faculty was established as an independent Faculty in 1979 and has a proud history in the struggle against apartheid as well as providing an excellent education in law. Many of its former staff and alumni have occupied and today still occupy high positions in academia, the judiciary, parliament, the executive, the legal profession and in business.

The faculty has approximately 2400 students, of whom about 80 are doctoral students and 280 Master’s students.  The faculty has the expertise to provide supervision for doctoral degrees on a wide range of legal topics and offers specialised master’s degrees in law in a number of fields. The faculty furthermore offers two postgraduate diplomas, which each take in around 50 new students every year.

Natural Sciences

The Faculty of Natural Sciences boasts innovative and relevant learning and teaching programmes at both undergraduate and postgraduate level. We aim to create an enabling environment for students that encourages their intellectual curiosity, and debate. In our faculty you will find scholars who are recognised as national and international leaders in their fields, and who are actively engaged in ground-breaking research. As a faculty we are committed to research that is relevant to the needs and challenges facing our local communities and our country as a whole, but also has a global impact.

At the postgraduate level, the faculty offers 12 honours degrees, one postgraduate diploma, and a number of master’s and doctoral programmes across a wide range of scientific disciplines.

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Sponsored Guide

Complete Guide to NSFAS Online Loan Application for South African Students (2025)

If you are a South African student looking to pursue higher education but are facing financial difficulties, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is one of the most accessible funding options available. NSFAS provides financial aid in the form of bursaries and loans to qualifying students at public universities and TVET colleges in South Africa.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the NSFAS loan application process, from eligibility requirements to application steps and frequently asked questions.

📌 What is NSFAS?

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government-funded financial aid scheme aimed at helping students from low- and middle-income households to access tertiary education without the burden of upfront fees.

NSFAS offers both bursaries and income-contingent loans:

  • Bursaries: For eligible students who meet academic and household income criteria (especially for TVET and university students).
  • Loans: For students who do not meet all bursary criteria or who are pursuing postgraduate qualifications not funded under bursary schemes.

✅ Who Qualifies for an NSFAS Loan?

To qualify for an NSFAS loan (especially for postgraduate students or programs not funded under the bursary system), you must:

  • Be a South African citizen.
  • Be financially needy, with a household income of less than R350,000 per year.
  • Have a valid South African ID.
  • Be enrolled or accepted to study at a public university or TVET college.
  • Not be funded through another bursary program that covers all expenses.
  • Maintain satisfactory academic progress (returning students).

📚 Courses Funded by NSFAS

NSFAS primarily funds undergraduate qualifications, but certain postgraduate programs (e.g., PGCE, postgraduate diplomas in education, and professional courses like LLB) may be considered under the NSFAS loan scheme, not bursaries.

If you’re studying:

  • Undergraduate degree or diploma: You are likely eligible for a full NSFAS bursary.
  • Postgraduate study: You may qualify for a loan, depending on the course and funding availability.

📄 Required Documents for NSFAS Application

When applying, make sure you have the following documents scanned and ready:

  1. Certified copy of your South African ID or Smart Card.
  2. Parent(s) or guardian(s) ID documents.
  3. Proof of income (latest payslips, UIF, or affidavit if unemployed).
  4. Consent Form signed by your parent(s)/guardian(s) to allow NSFAS to verify income.
  5. Proof of registration or acceptance at a public institution.
  6. Academic transcripts (for continuing or postgraduate students).

🖥️ How to Apply for an NSFAS Loan Online

Step-by-Step NSFAS Online Application Process (2025)

  1. Visit the NSFAS Website

    Go to: https://www.nsfas.org.za

  2. Create an Account

    • Click on “MyNSFAS” and register your profile.
    • You’ll need a valid email address and South African cellphone number.
    • Choose a strong password and verify your account via email or SMS.

  3. Login and Start the Application

    • After registration, log in to your MyNSFAS account.
    • Click on “Apply” to begin a new application.

  4. Fill in Your Personal Details

    • Input your ID number, name, surname, and other details exactly as they appear on your ID.
    • Provide household income information and living arrangements.

  5. Upload Required Documents

    • Upload all supporting documents in PDF or JPEG format.
    • Each document must be clear and under the size limit specified.

  6. Submit Your Application

    • Review your application for accuracy.
    • Click “Submit” and wait for a confirmation message.

  7. Track Your Application

    • Log in regularly to check your application status.
    • You will be notified via SMS and email at each stage of the process.

🗓️ Important NSFAS Dates (2025)

  • Application Opening Date: September 1, 2025
  • Application Deadline: January 31, 2026
  • Appeals Period: February 2026 (if rejected)
  • Disbursement: After registration and approval

Note: Dates are subject to change; always confirm on the official NSFAS website.

💸 What Does the NSFAS Loan Cover?

NSFAS funding typically includes:

  • Tuition fees
  • Registration fees
  • Accommodation (if living away from home)
  • Meals and transport
  • Learning materials (e.g., textbooks)

For loans, repayment is only required once you start working and earn above a threshold (around R30,000 annually, but subject to change).

🔄 NSFAS Loan Repayment

Repayments are:

  • Income-contingent – you only repay when you can afford to.
  • Administered by DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training).
  • Interest-bearing, but interest rates are low and favorable.

You can also apply for a partial loan conversion to a bursary if you perform well academically.

🔁 How to Appeal a Rejected NSFAS Application

If your application is rejected, you may submit an appeal via your MyNSFAS portal:

  1. Log into your MyNSFAS account.
  2. Click on “Track Funding Progress”.
  3. If rejected, click on “Submit Appeal”.
  4. Upload any missing or corrected documents.
  5. Provide a clear explanation or motivation.

📱 NSFAS Contact Information

📝 Final Tips Before Applying

  • Apply early to avoid system overload near the deadline.
  • Use your own email and cellphone number (do not use someone else’s).
  • Double-check that all your documents are certified and legible.
  • Keep a copy of your submission confirmation for reference.

By following this guide, you can confidently apply for NSFAS funding and move one step closer to achieving your academic and career dreams—without the burden of immediate financial pressure.

 

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