<p>This study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation on the ultimate bearing capacity and failure mechanisms of skirted strip footings resting on <i>c-ϕ</i> soil slopes using upper and lower bound finite element limit analysis. The analysis systematically examines the influence of key dimensionless parameters i.e., normalized skirt depth (<i>d/B</i>), embedment ratio (<i>z/B</i>), setback ratio (<i>b/B</i>), and slope inclination (<i>β</i>) on the load-bearing performance and stability of the footing-slope system. To interpret failure evolution, shear dissipation contours were analyzed to identify plastic strain concentration zones and establish the critical failure planes governing load transfer. The results indicate that skirt inclusion significantly enhances footing performance by mobilizing passive resistance along the skirt-soil interface, suppressing shallow sliding, and developing deep-seated confined failure mechanisms. The enhancement in bearing capacity ratio with increasing <i>d/B</i> becomes marginal beyond a critical skirt depth (<i>d/B</i> ≈ 2.5), indicating saturation of the mobilized passive zone. Embedment depth influences the confinement behavior, with moderate embedment depth of skirting (<i>z/B</i> = 1.0-1.5), while setback distance (<i>b/B</i> ≥ 3.0) minimizes the adverse influence of slope geometry on bearing resistance. The findings demonstrate that skirted footings enhance load transfer and slope stability, providing useful design insights for safe foundations on slopes.</p>