Education requirements 

  • 4 years Bachelor’s degree (with research project), Honours degree or any equivalent NQF level 8 qualification that carries a 30-credit research and has disciplinary alignment with the AOS-SAMOS curriculum (for more information about NQF, please see the SAQA Fact Sheet)

  • An average of 65% in science subjects or >70% in other pertinent subjects

  • An excellent academic track record with strong interests in marine science

  • Good numeracy skills are highly recommended 

  • Previous specialised knowledge of oceanography or marine biology is not essential

  • Students from both the natural and social sciences/humanities (+hons) are eligible, with a preference for students with a Science background and those who have demonstrated numerical skills

  • Non-science students are required to write in their motivation letter how they will compensate for knowledge gaps in science subjects and numerical skills

Language requirements 

The medium of instruction and examination for AOS-SAMOS is English. You must submit evidence of proficiency in English as part of your application. These include any of the following:

For South African applicants, either:

  • A pass in English Home Language or First Additional Language if you hold the NSC, or

  • 40% In English on the Higher Grade (first or second language) if you hold the Senior Certificate

For international applicants: 

  • A recent TOEFL score (obtained within 3-5 years before application for admission) of at least

    • 570 for the paper-based test or
    • 230 for the computer-based test or
    • 88 for the Internet-based test
  • A recent overall band score of 7.0 on the IELTS, with no individual element of the test scoring below 6.0 

  • A score of 65% or more for the Academic Literacy component of the NBT 

Additional Requirements

  • To learn more information about the UCT Science Faculty admission requirements, course information, course fees and funding opportunities, check the UCT Handbook guides.
  • Please refer to the UCT Science Postgraduate Resource Hub for more useful resources to guide you on your postgraduate journey.
  • Refer to the Faculty of Science Master's and PhD Information booklet for more detail, this booklet explains and outlines the administrative and academic issues related to the postgraduate experience for Masters and PhD students. It provides valuable information on a range of important faculty and university policies and procedures of direct relevance to higher degree candidates in the Science Faculty, both current and future.
Closed

**Candidates who don’t meet the academic requirements can apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) if they meet the requirements which includes a minimum five years’ work experience. Visit the Recognition of Prior Learning Overview page for more information or contact Amy Rooks-Smith at the Science Faculty, or call her on 021 650 2082.

Closed

 

South African students and permanent residents can apply for the Full Cost of Study (FCS) SAMOS NRF bursary and International and national students can apply for the Partial Cost of Study (PCS) SAMOS NRF Bursary for 2026-2027 (more details on the SAMOS website). Keeping in mind, that eligible students applying for the SAMOS NRF bursaries must identify a possible supervisor and a research project prior to their application. Therefore, eligible students from one of the partner universities are encouraged to contact the reference person of their university. Please visit the SAMOS Research thematics page for a list of expertise and potential research projects available across the partner universities.

 

Closed