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UCT applications for 2026 close 31 July 2025

No late applications - so the time to apply to Africa's top university would be right now! If you're interested in studying Law at UCT, we have loads of information to make the process easier.

Postgraduate applications for 2026 due end September 2025

UCT offers 18 specialist options at LLM and MPhil level, along with a number of Postgraduate Diplomas that focus on specific areas of law (deadline 30 September). Deadline for research-only degrees is 31 August.

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If you have questions, but don't know who to ask, email us on lawcares@uct.ac.za. #LawCares is an email-based service for students to help navigate academic administration, student services, and life as a law student!

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Faculty News Roundup

Faculty staff regularly demonstrate their expertise, knowledge and academic excellence through teaching, research, publication and engaged scholarship. We provide a regular roundup of the latest news & information about academic activities.

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FAQs

For quick access to key information about the Faculty of Law, we have developed an easy FAQ for you. If you have questions that are not answered here, let us know on lawcares@uct.ac.za.

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All rise: African Human Rights Moot Court

Law students from Kenya and Mozambique emerged victorious following a moot court challenge where they put legal theory to practice at the 34th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court.

Protecting human rights is of critical concern

Issues on migration and human rights, statelessness, and civil and political rights are in the spotlight as the University of Cape Town (UCT) hosts the 34th Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition until 5 July.

Orate Africa: pan-African moot competition alumni encouraging school learners

The Christof Heyns African Human Rights Moot Court Competition has been running for 34 years, and has thousands of competition alumni who have participated over the years. Some have used their passion for oration to train school learners.

UCT Law hosts over 70 universities in pan-African moot court competition

The 34th edition of the Christof Heyns African Human Moot Court Competition is being hosted by the University of Cape Town’s Faculty of Law from 29 June to 5 July 2025 in Cape Town, South Africa.

Postdoctoral Research Fellow - meet Dr Charlene Musiza

Dr Charlene Musiza is one of the UCT Law Faculty's ten Postdoctoral Research Fellows. Dr Musiza's term as postdoctoral research fellow commenced in July 2024 and continues this year.

Postdoctoral Research Fellows 2025

Did you know we have at least TEN postdoctoral research fellows in the Faculty at the moment? So who are these colleagues, and what are they busy with? Watch this space for spotlights on some of our postdocs!

New KAS-iNtaka Scholar in Law & Technology

Meet our 2025 KAS-iNtaka Scholarship in Postgraduate Law & Technology recipient, Hazel Mukunyaidze.

In remembrance - Associate Professor Cathy Powell

It is with the deepest shock and sadness that the Faculty of Law shares the news that Cathy Powell passed away this last weekend. Dr Cathy Powell (Associate Professor & Head of Department of Public Law) passed away on Saturday 15 February.

Trapped in tarpaulin - refugee shelter in Uganda

UCT Law was delighted to welcome Herman Tuhairwe to the Faculty in January. From Uganda, Herman is pursuing his doctoral research under the supervision of Professor Fatima Khan, Director of UCT Law’s Refugee Rights Unit.

Excellence

As the smallest Faculty at UCT, with close to 1,200 undergraduate and postgraduate students annually, the rigour of our degree programmes leads to UCT Law graduates being highly sought after, not only in South Africa but also internationally.

Democracy and Social Justice

We are committed to furthering the goals of the Constitution. Our aim is to develop the next generation of skilled legal professionals who will ensure the maintenance and strengthening of an open, free and democratic South Africa. Our core objective remains teaching and research, but we are committed to maintaining a clear awareness of the social and global context in which our graduates will find their place.

Theory and Practice

The Faculty’s Law graduates are known for their capacity not only in legal theory, and its application, but also in their achievement of practical experience in law. This is a result of our community service opportunities for students, our superb moot court facility and our local and international academic & professional networks which ensure that we secure the best opportunities for students to gain experience elsewhere during their student years.

Why Law at UCT?

Excellence

Democracy and Social Justice

Theory and Practice