University of the Western Cape (UWC)

The University of the Western Cape, known as UWC, is a public university in Bellville, Cape Town. It started in 1960 and now teaches more than 23,000 students. The university is proud of its role in the struggle against apartheid, and it became known as the "Intellectual Home of the Left".

About UWC

UWC began in 1960 as the University College of the Western Cape, with 166 students and 17 teaching staff. Under apartheid, it offered limited training to Coloured students for lower positions in schools, the civil service and other institutions, and it taught only in Afrikaans. It gained university status in 1970 and could then award its own degrees.

The campus later became a centre of anti-apartheid activism. That history still shapes UWC's identity as an institution committed to access and social justice.

Faculties and campus

UWC teaches through seven faculties: Arts and Humanities, Community and Health Sciences, Dentistry, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Law, and Natural Sciences. The main campus is on Robert Sobukwe Road in Bellville, in Cape Town's northern suburbs.

Applying to UWC

UWC opens its undergraduate applications well before the academic year. For the 2027 intake, the general undergraduate closing date was 30 September 2026, while Dentistry and Oral Health closed earlier, on 31 August 2026. So if you want to study dentistry, apply early.

You apply online through the university's application system. Check the admissions pages for the current application requirements and any fee before you submit.

Fees and funding

Fees depend on your faculty and modules. UWC runs a financial aid office and lists external bursaries for its students, and qualifying students can apply for NSFAS. Browse our bursaries to compare funding that covers UWC.

Contacting UWC

The UWC Contact Centre can be reached on 021 959 3900 or 021 959 3901. The main campus address is Robert Sobukwe Road, Bellville, 7535.

Is UWC right for you?

UWC suits students who want to study in Cape Town at a university with a strong tradition of access and community engagement. It is also a leading choice for dentistry and the health sciences.

Before you apply to UWC

Check the admission requirements for your programme on UWC's admissions pages, because each faculty sets its own points and subject levels. Dentistry closes a month before most other programmes, so plan for that earlier date if you want to study it. Apply for residence at the same time as your studies if you will need housing. Keep your student number from the application, as you will use it to follow your outcome online.