The Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment has earned an outstanding reputation for its high quality postgraduate education. Our postgraduate and postdoctoral research programmes attract a large number of qualifying undergraduates from within the EBE Faculty, as well as an increasingly strong contingent of international students. The range of research specialisations and the breadth of knowledge within the Faculty, contribute to make it a truly unique learning environment.
Researchers within the Engineering & the Built Environment Faculty are regularly commissioned (by industry) to conduct research. Through these partnerships the Faculty earns significant funding for the University. The Faculty enjoys an excellent international reputation for its work in a number of specialist fields, including Minerals Processing, Catalysis, Biotechnology, Power Engineering, Digital Processing, Advanced Fuels Technology, Computational Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics and Project Management.
For further information regarding the postgraduate courses offered in the Engineering & Built Environment Faculty, read the programmes on offer from each Department as detailed on this website.
It is necessary to make a formal application for admission as a postgraduate. The procedure requires that the applicant complete a standard UCT application form. This form must be submitted to the Admissions Office, Kramer Law Building. Advice on application procedures can be obtained from the Faculty Office. However, prospective candidates are also advised to have a discussion with the Head of Department prior to applying formally.
There are a number of potential sources of postgraduate student funding. Students are encouraged to apply to a full range of potential sources early in their final year of undergraduate study or in the year before they wish to initiate the research programme. The Postgraduate Funding Office located on the upper campus (Otto Beit Building), is an important source of information and advice about potential funding sources and the procedures necessary to access these.
Mentoring of postgraduate students is provided within the framework of the various departments and research groups. The research component of taught programmes is normally carried out under the supervision of an assigned academic (the supervisor), who provides academic mentoring and general guidance throughout the work of the thesis or dissertation. The Faculty's booklet, 2013 EBE Research-based Education for Masters and PhD Students: A Handbook , serves as a guide to postgraduate students on all matters of research for higher degrees, and spells out the responsibilities of both students and supervisors.
Within the Faculty, members of the EBE Postgraduate Student Council are elected by fellow postgraduates. The Dean, Deputy Dean (Postgraduate Student Portfolio), the Faculty Representative on the University Board for Graduate Studies, and the Faculty Representative on the University Committee for Postgraduate Funding are ex-officio members. This committee monitors the postgraduate educational environment in the Faculty, and brings to the attention of the Faculty any particular issues of concern for the students. It also has representation on the Faculty Postgraduate Planning and Administration Committee and the University PG Student Representative Council.