About University of Cape Town
The University of Cape Town (UCT) is a public university located in Cape Town, South Africa. Founded in 1829, it is the oldest university in South Africa and has a proud tradition of academic excellence and pioneering scholarship. UCT serves approximately 28,600 students and employs around 4,500 staff members, making it the highest-ranked African university in both the QS World University Rankings and the Shanghai Jiao Tong Academic Ranking of World Universities. UCT is known for its vibrant, cosmopolitan community, with students and staff coming from over 100 countries.UCT offers degrees across six faculties: Commerce, Engineering & the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, and Science. The university's vision is to be an inclusive, research-intensive African institution that addresses contemporary challenges through cutting-edge teaching and research.
#136
QS World University Ranking
28,600
Total Enrollment
Accreditations and Rankings
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#136
QS World University Ranking
28,600
Total Enrollment
Accreditations and Rankings
University of Cape Town Highlights
Career Outcomes and Placement Information
The University of Cape Town provides comprehensive career services designed to support students in their professional development. These services include personalized career counseling, workshops on resume writing and interview preparation, as well as access to job fairs featuring top employers from various sectors. UCT emphasizes experiential learning through internships that allow students to gain practical experience while studying. The Career Services office maintains partnerships with numerous organizations to facilitate internship placements aligned with students' career goals. Additionally, online resources are available that include job listings and career advice articles.
Faculties
These are the expert instructors who will be teaching you throughout the course. With a wealth of knowledge and real-world experience, they're here to guide, inspire, and support you every step of the way. Get to know the people who will help you reach your learning goals and make the most of your journey.
4.8
79
Reviews
34,774
Students
1
Course
Aditi Hunma is a linguist and language teacher dedicated to facilitating students' transitions into university life through customized language pedagogies. Specializing in Education within the Applied Language and Literacy stream, she teaches academic English, which she views as a "foreign language" for many, regardless of their linguistic background. As an academic in the Centre for Higher Education Development at the University of Cape Town, she is attuned to the social redress aspects embedded in her educational efforts. Currently, she explores how digital spaces can serve as transformative arenas both locally and globally.
4.8
30
Reviews
15,822
Students
1
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Aunnie Patton Power is the founder of Intelligent Impact and serves as an advisor to the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Cape Town’s Graduate School of Business. She is also an Associate Fellow at the University of Oxford’s Saïd School of Business. In her roles, Aunnie manages projects related to Social Impact Bonds, Development Impact Bonds, impact investing, and sustainable philanthropy. She consults with various organizations, including start-ups and investment funds, on social investment strategies and lectures on social finance across multiple programs, including EMBA and MBA courses.
4.9
79
Reviews
9,942
Students
1
Course
Dr. Brian Watermeyer is a clinical psychologist and disability studies academic, as well as a severely visually impaired individual. He earned an M.A. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Cape Town (UCT) in 2000 and a D.Phil in psychology from Stellenbosch University in 2009. Previously a lecturer in UCT’s Department of Psychology, he now serves as a senior research officer in UCT’s Division of Disability Studies within the Faculty of Health Sciences.
4.7
6
Reviews
18,896
Students
5
Courses
Co-Pierre Georg is an Associate Professor at the African Institute of Financial Markets and Risk Management (AIFMRM) at the University of Cape Town. He also serves as a Policy Associate at Economics Research Southern Africa and as a Research Economist at Deutsche Bundesbank. His academic focus includes fintech, financial regulation, and the dynamics of emerging markets.
4.8
126
Reviews
16,184
Students
1
Course
Colleen Moloney's research focuses on the variability and dynamics of marine food webs and ecosystems, particularly within the productive marine ecosystems of the Benguela region along the west and south coasts of southern Africa. She also engages with projects in the oligotrophic east coast area. Her work spans a broad range of taxa, from microbes to top predators, examining how these ecosystems respond to global change. Utilizing ecological models, Colleen aims to understand the complex interactions and feedbacks among physical, chemical, and biological processes across various time and spatial scales. Currently, her research emphasizes the "end-to-end" dynamics of eastern boundary upwelling ecosystems, integrating fieldwork and modeling studies with a particular focus on microbial dynamics
4.9
259
Reviews
14,281
Students
1
Course
Dr. David Thomson is a Critical Care specialist and consultant surgeon in the Transplant Unit at Groote Schuur Hospital, as well as a lecturer at the University of Cape Town. He completed his undergraduate medical training at the University of KwaZulu Natal in Durban and specialized in surgery at the University of Cape Town, earning his FCS in 2011 and MMed in surgery in 2012, followed by a critical care fellowship in 2015. Dr. Thomson received the Bunny Angorn prize for Surgical Research and was awarded the Garron Caine Travelling Fellowship, allowing him to work at prestigious institutions such as Massachusetts General Hospital and Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. His clinical practice involves performing kidney and liver transplants and conducting ICU rounds, while he actively promotes organ donation and transplantation through educational initiatives and improved hospital systems to ensure proper assessment and counseling for potential donors and their families.
5
9
Reviews
4,199
Students
1
Course
Dr. Susan Winks is a lecturer at the University of Cape Town, specializing in English courses, including "Introduction to Small Molecule Drug Discovery & Development." Her academic background and teaching focus on the intersection of language and scientific communication, particularly in the context of drug discovery and development processes. Dr. Winks is dedicated to enhancing student understanding of complex scientific concepts through effective communication strategies
4.8
446
Reviews
1,14,916
Students
1
Course
Dr. François Bonnici is a physician, professor, and social change practitioner with over 20 years of experience across various countries and sectors. His early career was deeply rooted in frontline work, collaborating extensively with civil society, foundations, public sector entities, multilateral organizations, and the private sector to foster progressive partnerships aimed at transformative social change. Since 2019, he has served as the Director of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, an international foundation focused on impactful social change models. Previously, he was the Founding Director of the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship at the University of Cape Town from 2011 to 2018, establishing a globally recognized center for advancing social innovation in Africa. A Gold Medal graduate from UCT's medical school, he holds a Master's in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and an MBA from the University of Oxford, where he graduated at the top of his class. Dr. Bonnici's extensive career includes clinical medicine, humanitarian programs, and innovative social change projects, earning him numerous accolades such as Rhodes Scholar and Archbishop Tutu African Leadership Fellow. He is also an Adjunct Associate Professor at UCT and has contributed to various academic initiatives in social entrepreneurship.
4.8
79
Reviews
34,774
Students
1
Course
Gideon Nomdo is an academic at the Centre for Higher Education Development at the University of Cape Town (UCT), where he focuses on social redress and enhancing student access. He approaches his teaching and facilitation roles with the aim of "educating for positive and transformative change" at both personal and societal levels. With a specialization in Sociology and Education, he teaches academic literacy and serves as the UCT Academic Coordinator for the Mellon-Mays Undergraduate Fellowship Programme (MMUF), which provides mentoring to students aspiring to pursue PhDs and academic careers. His current research interests include student development, identity transformation, and equity.
4.7
143
Reviews
47,630
Students
1
Course
Professor Harald Winkler is the Director of the Energy Research Centre (ERC) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), where he focuses on the interplay between energy, poverty, development, and climate change. His research primarily addresses energy efficiency, renewable energy, and energy modeling as strategies for tackling these challenges. With a strong emphasis on climate change and the economics of mitigation within sustainable development, his work has significantly influenced national energy and climate policy as well as multilateral negotiations. Notably, he led the research that formed the basis for South Africa’s Long-Term Mitigation Scenarios (LTMS) and has since collaborated with other developing countries through the MAPS program to share this experience. An active contributor to academic discourse, he serves on the editorial boards of three international journals and has published extensively, including two books and numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, Professor Winkler is involved in international climate negotiations as part of South Africa's delegation and as a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s Working Group III on mitigation.
4.5
82
Reviews
38,040
Students
1
Course
Dr. Henri Laurie is a senior lecturer in Mathematics and Applied Mathematics at the University of Cape Town, where he also teaches Applied Mathematics. His primary research interest is leveraging mathematical techniques to enhance discussions in plant ecology. His work encompasses various topics, including pattern analysis, the effects of size distribution, lottery models for Cape fynbos, heuweltjies, projective geometry related to human motion, and multifractal patterns in nature. Recently, he has been utilizing the Julia programming language to implement models of plant-herbivore dynamics in savanna ecosystems.
4.8
67
Reviews
21,957
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1
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Luise-Katharina Richter serves as an advisor on Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) for the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), where she contributes to the Global Project on Mainstreaming EbA based in Bonn. Prior to this, she played a key role in implementing the ‘Strategic Mainstreaming of Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Viet Nam’ project for GIZ in Hanoi. With a background in journalism and International Development Studies, Luise specialized in environmental protection and climate change during her studies in Denmark and Iceland. Her academic research in Bangladesh also focused on EbA, laying a strong foundation for her current work. Luise teaches the course "Ecosystem-based Adaptation: Working with Nature to Adapt to a Changing Climate" through SDGAcademyX on edX.
4.7
15
Reviews
2,17,709
Students
3
Courses
Dr. Juan Klopper is a surgeon in academic practice at Groote Schuur Hospital and serves as a senior lecturer in surgery at the University of Cape Town. After working in private practice, he returned to academia, where he now heads the Acute Care Surgery unit, specializing in emergency surgical conditions. In addition to his clinical responsibilities, Dr. Klopper creates YouTube videos on physics, mathematics, and surgery, embodying his mission statement: "Knowledge belongs to us all. Never stop learning."
4.8
220
Reviews
31,454
Students
2
Courses
A/Prof. Judith McKenzie is a member of the Disability Studies Division at the University of Cape Town within the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences. She serves as the principal investigator for the Teacher Empowerment for Disability Inclusion (TEDI) project, which aims to improve educational access and quality for children with disabilities. With over 20 years of experience in inclusive education, her personal journey as the mother of a young man with Down Syndrome fuels her commitment to disability advocacy both professionally and personally.
4.8
81
Reviews
29,920
Students
2
Courses
Mark New is the Pro-Vice Chancellor for Climate Change and Director of the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) at the University of Cape Town (UCT). He also holds a joint appointment as Professor of International Development at the University of East Anglia in the UK. In his role as Pro-VC for Climate Change, he oversees the ACDI and coordinates innovative research and teaching focused on low carbon and climate-resilient development from an African perspective. In 2016, he was awarded the AXA Chair in African Climate Risk. His research program aims to quantify and understand the evolving risks of climate change on water and food security in southern Africa, integrating expertise from climate risk attribution, statistical sciences, hydrology, agriculture, and economics. This work includes assessing human influences on climate risk and system exposure, evaluating socio-economic damages, and analyzing the return on investment for strategies aimed at reducing vulnerability in water and food systems. Mark actively collaborates with public, private, and civil society organizations to maximize the societal impact of his research.
4.8
447
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1,14,916
Students
1
Course
Marlon Parker is an entrepreneur and advocate for using technology for social good. He is the founder of the Reconstructed Living Lab (RLabs), a global movement that operates in 23 countries and has impacted over 9.2 million people since its inception. His commitment to community development has earned him recognition as one of the 100 World Class South Africans in 2013 and 2014, as well as being an alumnus of President Obama’s Young African Leaders Initiative. In 2014, he was selected as a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and an Ashoka Fellow. Parker co-founded JamiiX, a mobile chat counseling network that has reached over 4.5 million people, and has collaborated with organizations such as Mozilla, BBC, UN Women, and the World Bank to promote social change through technology.
4.8
122
Reviews
16,591
Students
1
Course
Odette has been passionate about teaching Deaf children since her teenage years. After completing her BPrimEd degree, she was part of the inaugural class for the BEd Honours in Deaf Education at WITS University. Following five years of teaching across two provinces, she transitioned to educational interpreting in higher education and later became a lecturer in South African Sign Language for hearing students. Odette also holds a Master’s Degree in Translation Studies. In January 2014, she took on the role of Director: Deaf Education at the Deaf Federation of South Africa, where she advocates for educational rights and services for the Deaf community. Recently, she became the Principal at Fulton School for the Deaf in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, a province known for its high number of Deaf citizens and schools dedicated to Deaf education. Odette is married and has two sons.
4.8
122
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16,591
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1
Course
Tara is a registered speech therapist and audiologist (BSc Logopaedics, STA) currently serving as a clinical educator in Audiology within the Department of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Cape Town. She works with both children and adults, emphasizing the importance of early intervention for positive language and communication outcomes for families. With experience as an audiologist in both the private and public sectors in South Africa and Canada, Tara has dedicated 20 years to actively engaging with the Deaf community. She is passionate about empowering Deaf individuals and their families to navigate the challenges associated with hearing loss.
4.8
30
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15,822
Students
1
Course
Tsakane Ngoepe is based in Nairobi, where she supports the investment activities of AHL Venture Partners through the entire cycle, including origination, structuring, and post-investment portfolio support. Before joining AHL, she was an impact investment analyst at the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship, focusing on researching and testing innovative financing instruments and projects. Additionally, Tsakane served as a research and writing assistant to Julia Balandina Jaquier for the second edition of “Catalyzing Wealth for Change,” an impact investing guide aimed at high-net-worth individuals and family offices. She holds a BCom Honours degree in Financial Analysis and Portfolio Management from the University of Cape Town.
4.8
446
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1,14,916
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1
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Warren is currently an Associate Professor specializing in Social Innovation at the Graduate School of Business, University of Cape Town. He earned his Ph.D. in Management from McGill University, studying under renowned scholar Henry Mintzberg. His research centers on the organizational dimensions of deep institutional transformation, particularly focusing on shifts related to social and environmental sustainability. Warren has collaborated with various social purpose organizations to investigate the relationship between engaging organizational practices and broader social change patterns. He has been recognized for his teaching excellence, having taught nearly 40 courses across undergraduate, graduate, and executive levels in subjects ranging from organizational strategy to social innovation and sustainability. His extensive professional experience in community development fuels his passion for connecting academic research with practitioner-driven social initiatives. Notably, he conducted research at Kufunda Learning Village, a grassroots sustainability project in Zimbabwe, and further expanded his research by visiting social change organizations in India.