You need to be a graduate in any field, wanting to become a journalist, with an average of at least 65% in your final year. If you already have more than three years’ working experience in journalism, then please refer to the Mid-Career Honours.

We encourage applicants whose first degrees are in a range of areas, including the humanities, economics, arts, science and law.

Only 24 students per year are accepted in the Career-Entry Honours on the basis of their academic record, writing skills and commitment to the profession of journalism. Students who have worked in any media (such as campus or community outlets) will be favoured. Prospective students must take a writing test and sit an interview.

This is a one-year, full-time degree and is not available part-time. Given the workload of this course, it is impossible for students to work part-time or to take additional courses. Students are required to be available to work in the mid-year study break and to complete their In-Depth Reporting Project during November.

 

Programme Requirements

This degree consists of five courses that provide a thorough grounding in the practical print and online skills necessary for a journalist, as well as the theory, knowledge and command of journalism issues needed to operate effectively in the profession.

Students will be involved in producing regular media, which ensures they get the hands-on practical experience which will enable them to operate effectively in newsrooms when they graduate. They will be involved in a weekly campus newspaper, an online newspaper, radio programming for campus broadcast, television news production and social media.

All our teaching is done by experienced professionals and the curriculum includes regular workshops and seminars with leading journalists and professionals from the media industry.

Students do four compulsory courses and choose a fifth in television, radio or photography.

Fees, Financial Assitance and Internship programme

Through partnerships with Media24, Reuters, Independent Newspapers, Bloomberg, Newstrack and CNBC Africa, we offer up to ten scholarships and internship opportunities to facilitate students’ entry into the workplace. Students are invited to apply during the acceptance process.

 

For details of fees, consult the Fees Office. For general financial assistance, including university merit awards and loans, please contact the Financial Aid Office.

 

International students: Please pick up an International Students handbook from the Graduate School Reception or the International Office. For further information, please contact the Programme Administrator or call (011) 717-4028.

Applications for 2020

When to apply: September, 30

Complete an online application form.

For information on Mid-career Honours, please click here. 

Course Requirements

Complete four compulsory courses:

  • Journalism Practice A
  • Journalism Practice B
  • Journalism Studies A
  • Journalism Studies B or the In-Depth Reporting Project

Complete one of the following mid-year courses:

  • Television Journalism:  On this course, you will learn to research, write and produce some television journalism.You will learn skills in writing for television and how to tell stories using pictures. You will gain an understanding of the entire production and editorial process involved in producing television news and current affairs. The course is practical and includes a limited camera and video-editing training. It will require an additional time commitment of at least two weeks. Co-ordinator is Indra de Lanerolle

 

  • Radio Journalism:This course offers a practical introduction to the skills needed in radio journalism, covering everything from fast-paced bulletin work to the richness and depth of longer packages – the features of the airwaves. The course includes live broadcasting experience on campus. Full-time over two weeks, followed by requirements for further practical work in students’ own time. Course co-ordinator is Nazeem Dramat.

 

  • Photojournalism:This course targets mid-career journalists who want to learn the techniques and language of photography. The course will combine hands-on workshops, reading and discussions. Alongside practical work, students will learn how to engage with the issue of representation and its significance in photojournalism. Students will learn not only how to take newsworthy pictures, but also how to read and analyse images.  The course coordinator is still to be confirmed.

 

Mid-year courses run full-time for two to three weeks during the June-July break.