POSTGRADUATE INFORMATION
The department has a vibrant post-graduate programme and we actively foster a supportive post-graduate community. We also collaborate with the University West in Sweden and co-teach on each other’s post-graduate programmes. As such we internationalise our post-graduate programmes at home.
Honours Programme
Students who have completed a 3-year degree, majoring in Political Studies or a cognate discipline can apply for a BA Honours in Political Studies. The minimum selection criteria are a relevant degree and a 65% average for third-year Political Studies modules. The duration of the Honours degree is one year (full-time) and two years (part-time).
Candidates must complete FOUR modules.
Core modules (compulsory):
POL701 Research Methodology
POL706 Research Project
Electives (Select any two from the list below):
Note: Not all elective modules will be offered every year. The semester that electives are offered may differ from year to year. The department will advise which modules will be active in a given year.
POL 708 Comparative Area Politics
POL 709 International Political Economy
POL 733 The Politics of Gender and Sexuality
POL 731 Security Studies
POL 730 International Relations Theory
POL 711 Political Philosophy
POL 723 Democratic Theory and Practice
POL 725 Institutions and Policy making in Regional Community (Africa focused)
Masters Programmes
Students who have completed a BA Honours degree (or a 4-year degree) in Political Studies or a cognate discipline, can apply for a Masters degree in Political Studies. The department offers two structured Masters programmes and a full-thesis Masters.
Structured Masters Programmes
The structured Masters programmes both have a coursework component and a mini-thesis. The minimum requirements for a structured Masters in the department are a BA Honours degree in Political Studies (or a cognate discipline) with an average of 65% for modules completed at this level.
Students can apply for:
Masters of Arts in Political Studies (MA)
This Structured Masters (MA) follows the traditional model of a Masters in Arts. The duration of the programme is two years (full-time) and three years (part-time).
Candidates must complete FIVE modules.
Core modules (compulsory):
POL811 Research Methodology
POL803 Mini-Thesis (25 000 words)
Electives (Select three from the list below):
Note: 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
POL823 Institutions and Policy making in Regional Community
Masters of Arts in Political Studies with Work-Based Learning (MA WBL)
There is a growing recognition of the importance of work-based learning as an approach to higher education with multiple benefits for students and society. We try to bridge the discipline-vocational (or study-work) gap with this Masters programme through research internship placement by Masters candidates with host organisations in civil society and government that do explicit political research. The duration of the programme is two years (full-time) and three years (part-time).
Candidates must complete five modules.
Core Modules (compulsory)
POL811 Research Methodology
POL844 The Theory of Political Studies with WBL
POL845 The Practice of Political Studies with WBL
POL803/4 Political Studies Mini-Thesis (25 000 words)
Electives (select one from the list below)
POL814 International Political Economy
POL822 Contemporary Democratic Theory
POL840 International Relations Theory
POL843 Gender and Sexuality
With approval of the departments involved, an elective from a cognate discipline that fits the theme of the research placement can also be selected
Full-thesis Masters
A full-thesis Masters does not have any course work. Students write a 45 000 word thesis on a topic approved by the university. We advise students to apply for a Structured Masters rather than a full-thesis Masters based on our experience of high drop-out rates from this programme. Applications to do a full-thesis Masters will only be allowed after consultation with the department.
PHD Programme
Candidates accepted to the PhD programme must do a full research thesis (80 000 - 90 000 words) under supervision in the department. The duration of the programme is three years for full-time registered students and five years for part-time students. To be considered for the PhD programme, applicants must have completed a Masters in Political Studies (or a cognate discipline), with 65% average for the modules and/or thesis completed. The department has limited supervision capacity and reserves the right to decline candidates if we do not have the expertise or capacity to supervise on the applicant’s chosen topic. If a candidate is accepted to the programme, a supervisor will be assigned to the candidate based on the topic expressed in the concept note/proposal that was submitted as part of the application.
Application and selection process:
- All applicants must apply online through the university application system
- Applicants must provide the following supporting documentation:
- A certified copy of previous degrees
- A transcript of grades for previous degrees
- 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 – you can apply online for the certificate)
- Identity documentation
- Applicants are responsible for their own documentation and funding needs
- All applications are subject to a departmental selection process that may involve an interview
- Applicants may be provisionally accepted pending their final results
- Applicants can be declined if they do not meet the minimum requirements or if there is insufficient supervision capacity in the department in an application cycle
For any queries about your application, please contact our postgraduate administrator, Mr Ashley Rooks.
Email: arooks@uwc.ac.za
Tel: 021 959 3228