6 about cape town & uct one of the most popular destinations in the world, cape town has it all. with beaches, mountains, forests and uct on your doorstep, cape town is an historic, cosmopolitan city with a vibrant contemporary culture of music and art, as well as a host of sport and leisure activities. the university s main campus lies on the lower slopes of devil s peak in the cape peninsula. the peninsula and its environs feature some of the most breathtaking scenery in the world and offer you a unique natural environment to explore during your leisure time. many sports are offered at the university and there is an active cultural life, both on campus and in and around the city. cape town forms the hub of the western cape, and it is the centre of politics, business, industry and services in the region. this region provides an ideal laboratory for much of the university s teaching and research. the university of cape town is the oldest university in south africa and is one of the leading research universities on the african continent. uct has over students, of whom 30% are postgraduate students. some degrees and diplomas are awarded each year in our six faculties: commerce, engineering & the built environment, health sciences, humanities, law, and science. we pride ourself on our diverse student body, which reflects the many cultures and backgrounds of the region. we welcome international students and are currently home to over international students from over 100 countries. uct has a tradition of academic excellence that is respected world--wide and is privileged to have on our staff 33 of the 93 a--rated researchers in south africa, all of whom are recognised as world leaders in their field. past students include five nobel laureates max theiler, alan cormack, sir aaron klug, ralph bunche and, most recently, j m coetzee. 5