POSTGRADUATE INFORMATION

Honours programme

All Honours candidates must complete FOUR modules and attend 75% of the postgraduate seminar programme. All modules are now 30 credits = 120 credits total.

TWO of these modules are compulsory:

• POL701 Research Methodology
• POL706 Research Project

You may pick any other two from the list below. 

Elective Modules: Not all elective modules will be offered every year. The semester that electives are offered in may differ from year to year. The department will advise which modules will be active in a given year.
 

• POL708 Comparative Area Politics
• POL709 International Politics Economy
• POL710 Political Violence
• POL733 Gender and Sexuality
• POL731 Security Studies
• POL730 International Relations Theory
• POL711 Political Philosophy

 
Students may take one module from another cognate department (e.g. the Institute for Social Development, History, and Sociology) with the agreement of both departments involved.

Masters Programme

All candidates must do a structured Masters unless by special application to do a full thesis.

Structured Masters (M.Arts or M.Admin) candidates must complete FIVE modules and attend 75% of the postgraduate seminar programme.

POL803/804 is 60 credits; the four others are 30 credits. This makes 180 credits for the degree.

Two of these modules are compulsory:

• POL811 Research Methodology
• POL803 Mini-Thesis

You may choose any other three from Political Studies offerings, or two from Political Studies with one module from another cognate department (e.g. the Institute for Social Development, History or Sociology) with the agreement of both departments involved.

Elective Modules: Not all elective modules will be offered every year. The semester that electives are offered in may differ from year to year. The department will advise which modules will be active in a given year.
 

• POL822 Democratic Theory & Practice
• POL831 Security Studies
• POL840 International Relations Theory
• POL816 Political Philosophy
• POL813 Comparative Area Politics
• POL814 International Political Economy
• POL815 Political Violence
• POL843 Gender and Sexuality
• POL835 Capita Selecta

 

PHD

All candidates must do a full-thesis PhD under supervision in the Department. Time-frames are three-years full-time and five-years part-time.
 
Not all the postgraduate modules listed are taught every year.

Dr Namhla Matshanda is the Postgraduate Co-ordinator and Mr Ashley Rooks is the Postgraduate Administrator.

Application and Selection

• Minimum criteria for Honours are a relevant degree and a 65% average for third year Political Studies modules.
• Minimum criteria for Masters are a relevant Honours degree and an average of 65% or more.
• Minimum criteria for a PhD are a relevant Master’s degree and an average of 65% or more.

Both Masters and PhD applicants must provide:

• A concept note or proposal on intended research
• A writing sample
• A Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A reference letter
• Relevant academic qualifications (a SAQA certificate of equivalence for non-South African degrees)
• Identity documentation

1. All applicants must apply online through the university application system.
2. Applicants are responsible for their own documentation and funding needs.
3. All applications are subject to a departmental selection process that may involve an interview.
4. Applicants can be declined if they do not meet the minimum requirements or if there is insufficient supervision capacity.

 

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