AOS-SAMOS Course Fees

The 2026 fees are outlined below and are structured according to the UCT taught Masters fee. Please check the fees handbook towards the end of January next year for the updated costs for 2027.

For South African students:

  • Coursework fees BIO5013Z + (BIO501ZF or SEA 501ZF) (2026) = R 17 220 + R 21 520 = R 38 740
  • BIO5015W Minor-Dissertation fees (2026): R 39 560
  • Total paid by South African students (2026): R 38 740 + R 39 560 = R 78 300

For SADC students*:

  • Coursework fees (2026): R 38 740
  • Dissertation fees (2026): R 39 560
  • Non-refundable Administration Service Fee (2026): R5 600
  • Total paid by SADC students (2026): R83 900

** “For the purposes of fees - Citizens and Permanent Residents of the SADC countries are treated the same as South African Residents. (Note that study visa regulations, etc. do still apply) The SADC member countries are Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Seychelles, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.” Extract from UCT Fees Handbook 2024.

 

International students:

There are two bands of International Term Fee: for non-SADC African students and students from the rest of the world (i.e. outside Africa).

For students from Africa, but non-SADC countries:

  • Coursework fees (2026): R 38 740
  • Dissertation fees (2026): R 39 560
  • International fees (2026): R48 200
  • Non-refundable Administration Service Fee (2026): R5 600
  • Total paid by non-SADC African students (2026): R132 100

 

For International students (outside of Africa):

  • Coursework fees (2026): R 38 740
  • Dissertation fees (2026): R 39 560
  • International fees (2026): R64 500
  • Non-refundable Administration Service Fee (2026): R5 600
  • Total paid by international students (2026): R148 400
     

For more information on the structure of UCT Fees, visit the UCT Fees page.

Note: More information on the SAMOS logistics (including accommodation and travel fees) is available on the SAMOS Project website.

Funding Opportunities

The UCT Post-Graduate funding office (PGFO) administers and supports postgraduate student funding at UCT. The contact information for the various departments is available here.

The PGFO maintain a noticeboard outlining all available funding opportunities here. 

Remember, when applying for funding, we suggest that you take the time to look through the available information before contacting the funding office.  Grants may be available, but applicants need to consider self-funding. Applicants are encouraged to apply for multiple funding opportunities to enhance their chances for success. For instance, if applying for NRF funding, you should also apply for UCT internal funding through the PGFO.

 

DSTI-NRF Master’s Student Funding

The DSTI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding for the 2027 Academic Year is now open. Applicants are invited to submit their application through the NRF Connect website by 26 June 2026 (UCT Internal closing date). All information regarding eligibility criteria and step-by-step guide on how to apply is available on UCT Postgraduate degree funding page.

Please note that being invited to apply does not guarantee funding, nor does acceptance to the programme guarantee funding. Final funding decisions are made at the sole discretion of the NRF.

South African students and permanent residents may be granted Full Cost of Study (FCS) or Partial Cost of Study (PCS) scholarships, subject to meeting the requirements and funding availability. Although International students only qualify for the Partial Cost of Study (PCS) funding, the number of international scholarships is limited and international students are encouraged to pursue alternative funding.

All postgraduate call documents can be accessed via the NRF website: DSTI-NRF Postgraduate Student Application and Funding Framework for the 2027 Academic Year.

All NRF funding enquiries can be forwarded to nrfdasupport@uct.ac.za or telephone 021 650 3622 and select option 3.

NOTE: Frequently Asked Questions for Postgraduate Funding 2027.

Please refer to the SAMOS website if needed.