The University of Cape Town (UCT) is strongly committed to advancing gender equality, especially by empowering women through access schemes, leadership development, and targeted support. In 2024 UCT launched and expanded female-centred mentoring, financial assistance, and community and student society programmes that build confidence, opportunity, and representation in traditionally under-represented fields.
Mentoring and leadership programmes
- The Student Women Economic Empowerment Programme (SWEEP) was established at UCT in early 2024 as a women-student society that provides mentoring/coaching, workshops, motivational talks, and entrepreneurship support — especially for those impacted by gender-based violence.
- UCT’s GSB Executive Education offers a “Developing Women in Leadership” course that aims to equip aspiring women leaders with skills in negotiation, coaching, feedback, and networking to transform organisations and overcome leadership barriers.
Scholarships and financial support
- In the Faculty of Law, the Alexander Burman Memorial Grant offers a postgraduate PhD funding opportunity specifically for women (South African citizens or permanent residents) entering socio-legal research, with preferential consideration for previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
- The Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships and UCT’s financial aid offerings (GAP funding, scholarships, entrance and merit awards) in 2024 include criteria and allocations that aim to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including women.
Support and inspiration
- The Humanities Faculty Mentorship Programme (HFMP) assigns senior or postgraduate student mentors to first-year students (automatically at the beginning of semester), helping with academic, social and adaptation challenges. While not exclusively for women, many participants likely benefit; the structure supports more inclusive access.
- UCT hosted a Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Conference in October 2024 under the SWEEP society, bringing together voices from survivors, activists, technology innovators and community leaders. This event not only raises awareness but also builds support networks and mentorship-style inspiration.
Here are some specific 2024-oriented UCT initiatives aimed at improving access for women into STEM / Engineering / other under-represented fields, including scholarships, recruitment-oriented programmes, and faculty policies. Some are explicitly women-focused; others are broader but include gender-diversity in their criteria.
UCT Initiatives to Recruit / Support Women in Engineering & STEM (2024)
STEM MentHER (UCT Division, established 2024)
STEM MentHER is a mentorship programme established in 2024. It is designed to inspire and empower Grade 12 female learners to pursue STEM careers and to help with the school-to-university transition. It pairs learners with female academics and postgraduate students at universities, including UCT. Each high school principal may nominate up to 12 female learners in their final years of high school. This is a targeted access initiative for women in STEM, helping with exposure, guidance, and motivation.
Faculty entrance scholarships in Engineering & the Built Environment (EBE) with gender-diversity encouragement
In UCT’s Entrance Scholarships scheme for first-time undergraduate students in the Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment, 60% of Entrance Merit Scholarship allocation is used to encourage gender diversity. This means that a majority portion of those scholarships are targeted (or preferential) for gender balance, which supports women applicants. This provides a financial incentive / support for women applying to engineering programmes, making entry more accessible. In addition, the Metacon Foundation Bursary Programme is offered exclusively for women in ICT or Engineering fields.
Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships (2024 criteria related to top achievement in STEM / Olympiads)
The Vice-Chancellor’s Scholarships in UCT are awarded to top performers in Mathematics, English or Computer Science Olympiads in 2024, including those from schools outside the Western Cape or WCED schools, and independent schools. These criteria favour high STEM performance, which can encourage female high school students who excel in these areas by providing strong scholarships. These scholarships are competitive and prestige-oriented, helping to attract high-achieving students in STEM (including women) into UCT.
Faculty of Science funding and entrance scholarships
The Science Faculty offers Entrance Scholarships to top-performing first-year applicants, based on NSC exam performance; and Faculty Scholarships for subsequent years. While not exclusively women-only, these entrance awards are one route via which high-achieving female STEM learners can gain support and access. The strategy of reserving entrance scholarships based on merit helps draw strong female candidates in STEM to apply and enrol.