Welcome! Wamkelekile! Welkom!

If you’ve just arrived on campus, it might feel like there is a lot to get your head around. Don’t stress – we’re here to help.

First things first. You’ve probably been hearing a bunch of new words and terms. If you don’t know what eduroam, meridian and RAG are, don’t worry! Turn to our handy UCT lingo cheat sheet on page 12 and we’ll bring you up to speed.

Right, now that you know the difference between a tut, a prac and the all-important vacs, you’ll be wondering how to get from your res to the caf. You’ll find a printed, foldable map in these pages that will help you navigate on campus. You can also view them online at www.uct.ac.za/main/contacts/campus-maps. And, if you’re wondering about how you’re going to get from A to B, take a look at page 10 for a whole bunch of options.

Don’t be shy when it comes to asking your OL (OL? Check the lingo cheat sheet!) questions. They will take you through the basics, like what a faculty is and where to sign up for tuts, but if you have other questions don’t hesitate to ask ­– make them work for their money. For other essentials, like where to find free Wi-Fi and good food at fair prices, turn to page 24 and 48, and page 16 for info on how to use your shiny new student card to best advantage.

Once you’ve read up on how to get a library card (it’s the right thing to do) on page 42 and how to get help with writing essays on page 53, it’s time to think about heading to the Jammie plaza to sign up for as many (or few) sports clubs, societies, political groups and leadership bodies as you like.

Of course you’re here to study, but you also have a once-in-a-lifetime chance to indulge your passions while also meeting interesting new people.

So, this is it. Good luck! And take it from us, the best is yet to come.

Campus Life

PS. UCT takes the physical and mental health of students very seriously. If you need help, don’t be afraid to reach out. For emergency contact details of the many campus organisations that provide assistance, look no further than pages 52 to 57.

Page through Campus Life for just about all the information you need to know about studies and life at UCT. It’s an indispensable guide for all first-time students on campus.

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