Affordability and high-quality education programmes have ensured that CPUT remains a top study destination for international students.

And the proof is in the registration numbers.

During the last two weeks, CPUT has registered a large number of undergraduate and postgraduate students from across the globe.

And the numbers are expected to rise as more students will register by the cut-off date of 31 January.

International Officer Zinzi Nkalitshana says the registration of international students has been running smoothly.

“We have registered a large number of new students this year of which the bulk is from SADC countries,” she says.

And to make sure students feel at home, a number of international students are assisting at the registration points and also making sure students are aware of what is all on offer at CPUT.

Postgraduate student Odette Bakam from Cameroon, who is signing students up at the Association of International Students desk, says many opt for CPUT because it is affordable.

Everiett Mthunzi, who is enrolled in the MTech Electrical Engineering programme, says CPUT has a good reputation as a university that offers top-quality education and hands-on training.

Mthunzi, who comes from Zimbabwe, says both his siblings also completed their studies at CPUT.

“This is a very good university,” he says.

*All students who still need to register must consult the Registration 2013 document on the CPUT homepage.

By Candes Keating

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To register in 2013, CPUT will only need 15 minutes of your time.

Thanks to the successful rollout of online registration, returning students will once again be able to make use of this user-friendly facility.

Students will have the option to register online from the comfort of their homes or anywhere else they have access to the internet.

Students also have the option of registering online at computer laboratories, which have been set aside for registration at CPUT campuses.

Best of all, this process is straightforward and will only take between 10 and 15 minutes.

To register online in 2013, students must meet the following criteria:

• Have no outstanding fees
• Qualify academically (this will vary from Faculty to Faculty)
• Have made the upfront payment
• Have been registered in the 2012 academic year

All international students as well as first-year students will have to follow the manual registration process, which will take place at the various campuses.

Those who have to follow the manual process will be assisted by registration staff at the various campuses.

The links below contain information for courses that will be available for online registration as well as additional information on the 2013 registration process.

Registration information 2013

Online registration 2013

Online registration help

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

A group of international students are marking their mark at the CPUT HIV/Aids Unit.

Two Human Rights and Democracy students from Sweden, Ellelta Beyene and Sanna Deltin, along with their German counterparts, Niclas Dehmel and Matthias Flug, are volunteering at the Cape Town-based unit.

Their stay at CPUT is part of a compulsory youth service programme, run by their countries.

Beyene and Deltin, who recently arrived in South Africa, first visited Idutywa in the Eastern Cape, before settling in at CPUT.

Whilst in Idutywa, the students lived with a host family in order to learn how democracy had affected the lives of those living in rural South Africa.

Now at CPUT, the students are already hard at work and are participating in a range of activities.

Some of the activities include developing posters and awareness campaigns, voluntary counselling, testing drives and data-capturing. The students also have a number of initiatives they would like to roll out during their stay.

Dehmel, who arrived last August, says he enjoys being part of the CPUT community as well as living in Cape Town.   The German student says he chose South Africa because of the variety of cultures he would be exposed to and good reviews from others who had visited the country.

Beyene is also pleased that she opted for volunteering at CPUT.

 “I’m amazed to see the different cultures, although I’ve visited the continent before I’ve never seen Africa like this.”

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

International students who are still waiting for their study permits to be issued by the Department of Home Affairs will be allowed to register before the cut-off date.

Acting Registrar, Nikile Ntsababa, recently issued a memorandum to staff and students, advising that all international students that have applied for their study permits, not issued by the DHA during the registration period, should be allowed to register during the late registration period from 1 to 24 February 2012. Students, however, will have to provide a valid receipt from the DHA, indicating that they have applied for the study permit.

Quoting a message sent by Acting Chief Director: Permits at the DHA, Jack Shimane Monedi, with regard to the processing of study permits for international students, the Registrar's memo states: “For 2012, the Department of Home Affairs wants to process all work and study permits for universities by the 15th of March 2012 and in order to do that the department is setting-up a dedicated centre to adjudicate these permits centralized in my office in a project management approach.”

The DHA's message further reads: “Applications will still be lodged at nearest home affairs offices but adjudication will still be done in Pretoria. This project starts on the 16th January 2012 and ends on the 15th March 2012.”

Based on the above message, the Registrar's Office, in consultation with the International Office, developed the Memorandum, which spells out the procedure for assisting international students who were accepted at CPUT but are without a study permit. 

Ntsababa explained that he would consult with the Registrars Forum and the DHA to seek permission to provisionally register students with valid DHA receipts should their study permits not be issued during the late-registration period. Thereafter, his office will communicate the outcomes of the consultation to all stakeholders.

"Please be advised that this situation developed due to the centralization of study permit at the DHA and is no fault of the students", says Ntsababa.

OFFERING ASSISTANCE: The Office of International Affairs on the Bellville and Cape Town campuses are currently assisting students who are unable to complete their registration, due to unprocessed study permits. 

International Relations Officer and BTech Management graduate in 2011 has had firsthand experience with registration challenges, having been an international student at CPUT.

"In our time, we have never experienced major problems, but I believe the centralisation of all the issuing of study permits in Pretoria complicate things for international students,” says Ngoy.

The Acting Registrar and Director: International Affairs, Merle Hodges, along with stakeholders from other academic institutions, have been invited to meet with the Chief Director of DHA to discuss this issue. Following this meeting, clear guidelines on a way forward will be communicated.

Those concerned parties are urged to consult the International Office or the Registrar's Office should they require clarity or further information on this matter.

By: Thando J. Moiloa

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Below please find information pertaining to International Students from the Department of Home Affairs.

International Students who need assistance with their immigration letters should contact Thandi Jiba or Hombakazi Mbolekwa.

Bellville Campus
Thandi Jiba
Tel: +27 21 959 6085
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cape Town Campus
Hombakazi Mbolekwa
Tel: +27 21 460 8390
Eail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

After thoughtful consideration of the most recent events of violence, intimidation and destruction on our campuses, the national situation, and our concern for the safety of students, staff and visitors on our campuses, we have convened an urgent Special Meeting of the Senate Executive Committee to consider the way forward that will allow us to complete the 2016 academic year.

Unfortunately we had to concede that the situation on campus has deteriorated to such an extent that it is impossible to continue with face-to-face academic engagement without compromising the safety of students and staff.

We had several fruitful engagements with leaders from the student community and decided more than once on a date to resume classes. Unfortunately this has not realized until now, quite often due to circumstances beyond our control.

We have now reached the point of no return to save the 2016 academic year. We are aware that the extent of completion of the formal teaching programme varies from completed to nearly completed modules. Faculties indicated that they are in a position to start preparing for formal examinations and set credible assessments depending on the extent of completion. 

After careful consideration of all the above-mentioned facts, the Senate Executive Committee, at a meeting held yesterday afternoon, took the following decisions regarding the completion of the 2016 academic year:

1. All face-to-face classes on campusses are suspended for 2016.
2. The modalities of the completion of the academic programme, where needed, will be faculty and discipline-specific and managed by Deans and Heads of Departments.
3. All departments and modules that are ready will continue with final integrated summative assessments during November/ December 2016. Students will be advised shortly of the new assessment timetable and venues. Priority will be given to exit level modules.
4. Where significant portions of the delivery of the modules are still outstanding, the final integrated summative assessment will be in the second half of January 2017. Faculties will communicate the assessment timetable in due time. Deans and Heads of Departments will decide on the completion of the outstanding work.
5. Deferred, outstanding and re-assessments will all take place in January 2017.
6. Options for postgraduate student assessment and completion will be considered by the Senate Higher Degrees Committee and will be communicated to students via their respective Faculties.
7. Students that do not write their final assessments in November/ December are encouraged to go home for their own safety.

Whilst we recognise that this is not ideal, we need to appreciate that this is the only viable option to complete the academic year. We therefore ask for the understanding and support of students, parents and staff.

Faculties, via the Deans’ offices, will communicate with students and staff regarding the completion of programmes and the continuation of faculty operations. If students have any queries they are welcome to contact their respective faculties via e-mail. 

Further information will be provided to residence students via Residence Administration and for students with disabilities via the Disability Unit.

International students who have enquiries are encouraged to contact the International Affairs Office via e-mail. 

During this period we are committed to our engagement with student leadership and student structures in an attempt to stabilise the situation at CPUT and to find solutions going forward.

We thank all our students, parents and staff for their patience as we try to resolve the situation on campus.

Thank you

Prof Louis Fourie
Acting Vice Chancellor

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Late applications are being accepted for select courses for 2015.

All faculties are accepting late applications for selected courses.

Space for courses in the Business faculty will be announced if they become available.

Applications for international students however is closed and no exceptions will be made.

Click here for a list of the programmes with space available

The closing date for late applications is Friday, 31 October 2014 and the late application fee is R150.

Written by Lauren Kansley
Tel: +27 21 953 8646
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Liaises with the media and writes press releases about interesting developments at CPUT.

With over 3 000 international students registered at CPUT annually, from more than 74 countries, speaking over 100 languages, CPUT is a thriving cosmopolitan centre for cultural, social and political exchange.

International students at CPUT are well supported by the Office of International Affairs which is responsible for assisting international students with applications and orientating new students to campus and city life.

The Office of International Affairs works closely with the admissions office, academic departments, and support services at CPUT to ensure that international students receive an outstanding educational experience.

Services include:

• assistance with applications
• assistance and advice on visas and study permits
• assistance with finding accommodation
• assistance with academic matters

The Office of International Affairs Guideline offers comprehensive information to international students who want to study at CPUT.

Visit the Office of International Affairs on the Bellville Campus on the ground floor of the Administration Building, or on the second floor of the Administration Building on the Cape Town Campus. You can also join their Facebook page or follow them on Twitter.

More contact details for the Office of International Affairs:

Bellville
Tel: +27 21 959 6504 / 6085 / 6048
Fax: +27 21 959 6918
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cape Town
Tel: +27 21 460 3955 / 8390 / 3984
Fax: +27 21 460 3921
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Written by CPUT News
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

The Strategic Initiatives and Partnerships Directorate (SIP) recently hosted an informative orientation session for international students.
The event also marked the launch of the Association of International Students (AIS) and provided students with important information to support them on their journey at CPUT.

It included presentations by the Admissions and Registration Centre which, amongst other things, focused on the renewal of study permits, while staff from the Division of Student Affairs and the Centre for Diversity, Inclusivity, and Social Change outlined their services, programmes and activities to students. Students were also introduced to the CPUT BRICS Student Commission.

External stakeholders, including Standard Bank and Momentum Medical Scheme also conducted presentations followed by lively question and answer sessions.

Students were welcomed by Dr Tasmeera Singh, Manager: International Relations, who encouraged the students to interact, learn and take advantage of the opportunities that will come their way.

Thato Masonganye, International Relations Officer for the Central Student Representative Council, also encouraged the students to seize every opportunity to engage with CPUT’s diverse community, both inside and outside the classroom.

“We recognise the challenges that may come with studying away from home but rest assured: you are not alone. Our university is committed to providing you with all the support and resources necessary to thrive academically, socially and personally.”

The second half of the event consisted of the launch of the AIS and Mathias Shimwetheleni, AIS executive member for Bellville Campus, outlined its mission and vision.

“Our mission for AIS is to preserve the fundamental values of peace, love, unity, diversity and democracy.

He said AIS wanted to build sustainable relationships with both local and international institutions.

“Our vision is very straightforward. We really just want to be the ambassadors of our respective branches and the international community at large and, through our actions and the initiatives, we seek to promote understanding and tolerance and unity among all members of the academic community.”

To achieve this vision, AIS outlined some objectives which include: advocating for international students’ rights at the highest levels of the institution; collaborating with various stakeholders to support the universities, vision of internationalisation and fostering social and cultural tolerance among our peers.

“But perhaps the most important one is we're here to support each and every international student, academically, intellectually and socially.”

He extended the association’s gratitude to the SIP Directorate for organising the event.

Dr Elma Maleka, Research Uptake. Manager at SIP, thanked all internal and external stakeholders for their contributions to making the day a success.

Written by Ilse Fredericks
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.