Undergraduate

1. BA Humanities

The world is undergoing radical change and the ongoing technological revolution needs critical thinkers who can work with a range of cognitive skills and from across multiple knowledge domains to find solutions to today’s highly complex problems. In response to this reality, the Faculty of Humanities offers an exciting new interdisciplinary and highly customisable degree offering. Now you can register for a BA in which you choose your own preferred combinations of Humanities subjects. In other words, you can create your own BA from the 17 Humanities subjects that are available at UJ. In addition to this flexibility, you will even be able to combine them with subjects selected from other faculties. As one of your majors, Politics and International Relations can be combined with other subjects such as Sociology, Development Studies, Anthropology, History, or Philosophy.

A major in Politics and International Relations prepares graduates to meet the complex demands of a world increasingly shaped by international forces and interdependence. Graduates are equipped not only to interpret and respond to global developments critically but also to pursue dynamic careers in diplomacy, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, policy research institutions, and transnational sectors such as telecommunications and journalism. By integrating theory, analysis, and practical application, the programme ensures that students are well-positioned to contribute meaningfully to the work of global and regional institutions such as the United Nations, World Trade Organization, and the Southern African Development Community. The degree also provides a strong academic foundation for postgraduate study, offering a pathway into honours-level specialization in Politics and International Relations.

2. BA with specialisation in Politics, Economics and Technology (BA PET)

The BA PET is a forward-thinking, multidisciplinary three-year degree designed to cultivate a new generation of graduates capable of navigating the increasingly complex interplay between society, governance, economic systems, and technological innovation. Rooted in the recognition that the Fourth Industrial Revolution – particularly developments in artificial intelligence (AI) – is reshaping every aspect of contemporary life, the programme emphasises the development of higher-order analytical, critical, and integrative skills. Through a carefully curated selection of 22 semester-long modules spanning Politics, Economics, and Technology, students are immersed in an intellectually diverse curriculum that fosters both disciplinary depth and cross-disciplinary fluency.

This holistic educational framework enables students to critically interrogate and respond to the emergent challenges and opportunities of a rapidly transforming global landscape. Whether addressing the political ramifications of digital governance, the economic implications of technological disruption, or the ethical concerns underpinning AI-driven systems, graduates emerge equipped with the versatility and insight demanded by today’s dynamic professional environments.

For more information on our undergraduate degrees, including the admission requirements, please visit this link.

Contact persons:

1. Dr Mancha Sekgololo (undergraduate coordinator): manchajohanness@uj.ac.za
2. Mr Aphiwe Somabhele (faculty officer): aphiwes@uj.ac.za