Postgraduate

1. BA(Hons) in Politics and International Relations

This one-year programme serves as a bridging qualification for students wanting to study for a master’s degree. The programme consists of two compulsory modules (Research Methodology and Research Essay) and three elective modules selected from a pool of modules covering a variety of topics in politics and international relations, including South African politics, Political Risk Analysis, Gender and Politics, Political Philosophy, Theory and Practice of Diplomacy, International Organization, and International Political Economy.

Admission requirements:

To be admitted to the honours programme, applicants must hold a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and International Relations or related disciplines, with an average of 65% in the final year. Given the competitive nature of the programme, additional requirements may be requested by the department during the selection process. Applicants with a qualification obtained from an institution outside of South Africa must submit a Certificate of Evaluation from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before their application can be considered.

Contact persons:

1. Prof Elias Phaahla (programme coordinator): eliasp@uj.ac.za
2. Mr Aphiwe Somabhele (faculty officer): aphiwes@uj.ac.za

2. MA(Research) in Politics and International Relations

This is a research-based master’s degree that must be completed within two years. Part-time students are allowed another one year to complete their degree, if required. The minimum period of registration for the degree is one year. To be awarded this qualification, a student must demonstrate evidence of independent research and critical analysis, in the form of a dissertation that will be prepared under the guidance of an academic supervisor assigned by the department. Master’s students are expected to submit a research proposal for approval by the Departmental Higher Degrees Committee (DHDC) within six months of their first registration. Faculty rules dictate that at least one manuscript from the study, which is ready for publication has to be submitted along with the dissertation.

Admission requirements:

To be admitted to the research master’s programme, applicants must hold an honours degree in Political Science and International Relations or related disciplines, with an average of 65%. A research concept note, which succinctly outlines the research problem and associated questions and objectives, the methodology, as well as the study’s theoretical or conceptual orientation, should form part of the application for this programme. A writing sample, preferably your honours research essay, must also be submitted. Applicants with a qualification obtained from an institution outside of South Africa must submit a Certificate of Evaluation from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before their application can be considered.

Contact persons:

1. Dr Buntu Siwisa (programme coordinator): siwisab@uj.ac.za
2. Mr Aphiwe Somabhele (faculty officer): aphiwes@uj.ac.za

3. MA(Coursework and minor dissertation) in Development Studies

This coursework master’s degree is jointly offered with the University of the West Indies (UWI) and focuses on Global Africa in the twenty-first century, addressing historical and contemporary developmental, political, and socio-economic issues in Africa and the Caribbean. Although it is housed in the Department of Politics and International Relations, it is administered by the Institute for Global African Affairs (IGAA), co-founded by UJ and the UWI. The maximum duration of the programme is two years full time and three years part time.  To obtain the qualification, students must register and pass four compulsory modules the first year (Pan-African Thought, Research Methodology, Critical Development Theories, and Social Policy), as well as write a minor dissertation on a topic of their choice in the second year of the programme.

Admission requirements:

To be admitted to the programme, applicants must hold an honours degree in the Humanities, Economics or any related field, with an average of 70%. A writing sample, preferably your honours research essay, should be submitted as part of your application. Applicants with a qualification obtained from an institution outside of South Africa must submit a Certificate of Evaluation from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before their application can be considered.

Contact persons:

1. Prof Adeoye Akinola (programme coordinator): aoakinola@uj.ac.za
2. Mr Aphiwe Somabhele (faculty officer): aphiwes@uj.ac.za

4. PhD in Development Studies

This doctoral degree is by research only and must be completed within three years. Part time students are allowed another one to complete their degree, if required. The minimum period of registration for the degree is two years. To be awarded this qualification, a student must demonstrate evidence of independent research and critical analysis, in the form of a thesis that will be prepared under the guidance of an academic supervisor assigned by the department. Doctoral theses must also make an original scientific contribution to the relevant literature and discourse. Doctoral students are expected to submit a research proposal for approval by the Departmental Higher Degrees Committee (DHDC) within nine months of their first registration. Faculty rules dictate that at least two manuscripts from the study, which are ready for publication have to be submitted along with the thesis.

Admission requirements:

To be admitted to the doctoral programme, applicants must hold a master’s degree in Political Science and International Relations or related disciplines, with an average of 65%. A research concept note, which succinctly outlines the research problem and associated questions and objectives, the methodology, as well as the study’s theoretical or conceptual orientation, should form part of the application for this programme. Concept notes for admission to the doctoral programme are also required to clarify the nature of the original knowledge contribution that the study seeks to make. A writing sample, preferably your master’s dissertation, must also be submitted. Applicants with a qualification obtained from an institution outside of South Africa must submit a Certificate of Evaluation from the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) before their application can be considered.

Please note that for admission to our doctoral programme, the department will prioritise applications from prospective students who have made use of the University of Johannesburg’s pre-registration mechanism. This allows prospective doctoral students to prepare a research proposal within without formal admission and registration, while having access to a supervisor and other academic resources available in the university. The pre-registration period commences in the beginning of the second semester preceding the academic year in which the candidate would like to be enrolled for the degree.

Contact persons:

1. Prof Isaac Khambule (programme coordinator): ikhambule@uj.ac.za
2. Mr Aphiwe Somabhele (faculty officer): aphiwes@uj.ac.za