All first-time entering students are eligible to receive a laptop from UCT at a cost. This is due to laptops being a mandatory requirement to study at UCT. You will only have the opportunity to opt-in while completing your registration declaration. Only students who opt-in will be eligible to receive a laptop. The UCT laptop terms and conditions are included in the registration declaration process.

Your registration declaration can be done prior to coming to the First Year Campus Reception, or while you're there.

Laptop specifications

Standard laptops

Architecture students only laptop

Intel i3/AMD RYZEN 3 or equivalent

8GB RAM

250GB SSD

Intel Core i5/i7

8GB RAM

512GB SSD

Opt-in to receive a UCT laptop

  1. Once your student account is activated, you will receive a registration task to complete in PeopleSoft.

  2. Only eligible students will be presented with a question to opt-in for a UCT laptop. By clicking Yes, a separate laptop task will be allocated to you.

  3. This task can also be viewed in the Tasks tile in PeopleSoft.

Laptop collection

You must collect your laptop during the First Year Campus Reception, which will take place at the UCT Sports Centre from 1-3 February 2025 from 08:00 to 17:00.

Laptop costs

The costs for the laptop and laptop bag will be added to your student fee account, which is then payable by the end of 2024. For students who receive NSFAS funding, the book and learning material allowance will be used to cover the laptop cost over two years (2024 and 2025). 

  • Standard laptop and bag: R9200
  • Architecture students only (laptop and bag): R13 600

The full terms and conditions are provided when you opt into the laptop programme. 

Available software

There is no need for you to purchase software as all UCT students are covered by our institutional licences.

Opt-in later

Unfortunately, you can only opt-in for a UCT laptop during the registration process as a limited number of units are available.