WELCOME TO THE FACULTY OF ENGINEERING & THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT (EBE)

At EBE, we are driven by a commitment to excellence, innovation, and sustainability. Our approach is caring and collaborative, focusing on integrating research and teaching in all our relevant areas. We emphasize skills-focused and fundamentals-driven learning, ensuring that our curricula are inclusive and responsive to both local and global challenges. 

EBE acknowledges that to advance the future, engineering and built environment professionals must understand how technology impacts the industry. You will be encouraged to comprehend the diverse needs of the world we live in. This perspective is key to imagining, creating, and sustaining a future that serves generations to come.
 
Interdisciplinary collaboration is at the heart of our teaching and research. The faculty is dedicated to providing customised learning experiences and AI-driven solutions, supported by creative spaces and resources. Your journey with us will focus on digital equality and seamless connectivity, combined with streamlined and efficient administrative systems, ensures that we lead in both technological and educational advancements.
 
You will join a community that always strives to build connections and maintain a collaborative environment, preparing our students and staff to lead and innovate both today and in the future. The work in the faculty ranges from health to energy, sustainable housing, circular economy, robotics and AI, water scarcity, and so much more.

 VIEW THE FACULTY'S VISION 2050 
 

A day in the life of an EBE student

Join us on a virtual tour adventure through UCT's EBE facilities

Dive into an exciting 360° virtual adventure, immersing yourself in the dynamic centre of innovation at the renowned University of Cape Town's Faculty of Engineering & the Built Environment (EBE).

EBE degree accreditations

  • Our Engineering degrees are accredited through the Washington Accord* 
  • The Architecture degrees are accredited through the South African Council for the Architectural Profession.  
  • The Geomatics degree are accredited through the South African Geomatics Council. 
  • Degrees in Construction and Property Studies are accredited through the Chartered Institute of Building and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

*List of Washington Accord countries
Australia, Canada, China, Chinese Taipei, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Pakistan, Peru, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Turkey, United Kingdom, United States 
 

Funding your studies

Financial Assistance for Undergraduate Students
Student Financial Aid is responsible for the administration of financial assistance to eligible students. For more information, please visit the website.   

Student housing & residence Life

Student Housing & Residence Life (SH&RL) at UCT strives to ensure that a living and learning environment is the foundation of its residence culture.

Every effort is made to ensure that students’ residence life experience will foster their holistic development as well as being fully supportive of their academic programme.

Residence life is a special experience. Staying in a UCT residence is an extension of students’ university education, where they can benefit from all the facilities and services such as student learning centres, social and sporting activities, life-skills and peer-tutoring programmes.

A residence is a community in which one meets a range of diverse students and forges life-long friendships.

Housing eligibility criteria for first-time entering undergraduates: first-tier student accommodation

Student highlights

samishka

A journey from the lab to the stove

As a third-year chemical engineering student, Samishka Govender’s problem-solving does not stop when lectures end. This winter, she has swapped theory for thermal analysis as part of an internship with Hydrogen Energy Applications (HYENA)
Read more

Faculty highlights

Frequently asked questions

Open Day Collage

Student support service

Counselling

The faculty has a dedicated student counsellor who is a clinical psychologist and can be contacted for psychological and mental health support.  

Mentoring of first-year students

To assist first-year students settle in and to cope with new challenges, the faculty has implemented a system of mentoring of first year students. Each first-year student will be assigned a mentor from their department.

Expect your mentor to meet with you in the first few weeks of term and arrange how additional meetings will take place. A mentor is not a tutor - academic assistance is handled in class or in tutorials by a lecturer or tutor. Your mentor is there for informal support, advice, information and referral. Whether struggling in class or with a personal issue, it is important to speak to someone. Do not leave any difficulties unattended - resolve them as soon as possible.

Disability Service

The UCT Disability Service works to remove any physical, policy, information and attitude barriers that might prevent students and staff from fulfilling their potential. Read more

Student Wellness

The Student Wellness Service offers a comprehensive outpatient health service by both medical practitioners and nurses, who are dedicated to helping students to remain healthy, and to make the correct life choices while pursuing their academic goals. Read more

Careers Service (CS)

The Careers Service aims to promote student awareness of the importance of cultivating career management skills as an integral part of their university learning experience. Read more