Admission rates fall in wake of protests

Uncertainty as universities, colleges forced to restrict first year intake

THE ONGOING #FeesMustFall protests had a profound effect on admissions at universities for 2017 with many institutions still unsure how many applicants they were able to accommodate. CPUT spokesperson Lauren Kansley said by early December, 19 723 first year applications had been received.

“This is not a reliable indication of how many have been received, as the capturing of applications was disrupted by the #FeesMustFall protests.

“The total number of first year choice applications received for 2016 was 34 168.”

Many students could find themselves without a place to study this year, as universities could only accommodate a lower intake of first year students.

Kansley said CPUT had only made provision for 9 315 first-time undergraduates.

The problem extends to the University of Stellenbosch and UCT too, where a large number of applicants will not be able to be accommodated.

Stellenbosch only has space for 5 000 first years. It had already received 17 500 completed applications.

Spokesperson for the university Martin Viljoen said: “Stellenbosch University has received approximately 22 500 applications, of which the 17 500 are complete and eligible for consideration.

“Based on the set enrolment targets of the university, as well as the minimum requirement and selection criteria for each programme, we then made 10 500 provisional offers.

“This is more or less the same trend as for the previous intake year.”

New undergraduate applicants were informed of their provisional admission status in October last year, and they would need to meet the minimum requirements to register.

UCT’s number of applicants increased this year.

In a statement issued by the university, it said: “In 2016, UCT received 23 321 firstyear applications (19 844 South African and 3 477 international). The University of Cape Town has received 24 416 applications for first-year places in 2017.

“This number comprises 22 470 applications by South Africans and 3 946 by international students.

“Offers for academic places have been made to eligible students. The total number of successful applications will be determined when registration takes place in February.”