Stellenbosch University Department Journalism

Stellenbosch University Department Journalism

The Department of Journalism is conveniently situated on campus in Protea House, a renovated Edwardian building and national monument at 26 Crozier Street. Students are provided with an unparalleled working environment as far as scenic beauty and ambience are concerned, allowing them to pursue their studies with the zest it deserves.

As part of the honours level course, the BA Hons Journalism, aspiring media professionals from diverse academic and cultural backgrounds are afforded the opportunity to spend a whole year gaining invaluable practical journalistic skills, as well as being exposed to the ethical, technological, marketing, managerial, sociological and historical basis of the media. All the action happens in our ultramodern annexe, the MEDIAFRIKA Centre, where students are working almost 24/7 in a converged multimedia newsroom environment. They even have a graffiti wall in their coffee corner (where total freedom of expression reigns).
Our Master’s programme is a modular course, allowing working journalists to pursue an advanced degree. The PhD can either be done through the  Graduate School on a full-time basis or part-time.

 Journalism Courses Entry Requirements

  • Bachelor Courses Admission requirements

Students who wish to apply for admission to Honours in Journalism must either have a bachelor degree or be in their final year of study for such a degree. Only 20 to 25 students are admitted to the course each year.

  • Masters Courses Admission requirements
Because of the multidisciplinary nature of a career in journalism, the requirement for entry is an honours degree in an appropriate area in the humanities, or any other honours degree plus five years practical experience in journalism.
  • PhD Admission and selection requirements

Admission to the PhD programme in Journalism requires the candidate to be in possession of a recognised Master’s degree in Journalism or Communication or an appropriate qualification acceptable and within the guidelines of the University. Admissions to doctoral studies will be considered on the grounds of a research proposal.

How to apply for:

​​BA Honours(Journalism)

Step 1:​​
All students who are registered at Stellenbosch University in the year they want to apply for the course, have to go to Mrs. Babsie van Zyl in Admin A, Office 3003 to fill in a departmental application form.

If you are not a registered student at Stellenbosch University in the year you want to apply, you will have to apply electronically by following the APPLY links on the portal for prospective postgraduate students.

VERY IMPORTANT: if you want to apply electronically, you have to remember the following three things:

  1. ​Remember to sign the form,
  2. Remember to pay the application fee and,
  3. Remember to attach all of your previous years’ academic records. If you do not do these three things, your application will not be processed and in turn not be accepted.
Deadline for all applications: 31 August of every year.
 
Step 2:
All applicants have to write a test that will assess their reference framework and their writing capabilities. Tests can be written at selected venues around the country. Applicants will be notified when and where the tests will be written.
If you do not hear anything from the Department of Journalism by the start of September, please contact them on 021 808 3488 to find out when and where the tests will be written.
Step 3:
If you pass the test, you will be invited to an interview. Applicants have to contact the Department of Journalism after they wrote the test to enquire whether they are invited for an interview.
Step 4:
​Around 25 candidates are annually chosen for the BA Honours (Journalism) course.
After the interview, candidates will have to phone the Department of Journalism to find if they received placement in the course.
The names of the successful candidates will also be published on the webste.

​MA (Journalism)


Step 1:
All students who are registered at Stellenbosch University in the year they want to apply for the course, have to go to Mrs. Babsie van Zyl in Admin A, Office 3003 to fill in a departmental application form.

If you are not a registered student at Stellenbosch University in the year you want to apply, you will have to apply electronically by following the APPLY links on the portal for prospective postgraduate students.

VERY IMPORTANT: if you want to apply electronically, you have to remember the following three things:

  1. ​Remember to sign the form,
  2. Remember to pay the application fee and,
  3. Remember to attach all of your previous years’ academic records. If you do not do these three things, your application will not be processed and in turn not be accepted.
Deadline for all applications: 31 August of every year.​
 
Step 2:
All applicants have to write a test that will assess their reference framework and their writing capabilities. Tests can be written at selected venues around the country. Applicants will be notified when and where the tests will be written.
If you do not hear anything from the Department of Journalism by the start of September, please contact them on 021 808 3488 to find out when and where the tests will be written.
Step 4:
Applicants to the MA(Journalism) course will not have to do an intervews. On a given date they can phone the department (021 808 3488) or email the course convenor, Dr Gawie Botma (gbotma@sun.ac.za) directly to check the status of their applications.

​PhD (Journalism)

Step 1:
Applicants that want to apply for the PhD (Journalism) degree have to do so electronically by following the APPLY links on the portal for prospective postgraduate students​​. Report technical problems to the central administration of the University (info@sun.ac.za or tel: 021 808 9111)

VERY IMPORTANT: if you want to apply electronically, you have to remember the following three things:

  1. ​Remember to sign the form,
  2. Remember to pay the application fee and,
  3. Remember to attach all of your previous years’ academic records. If you do not do these three things, your application will not be processed and in turn not be accepted.
 
Step 2:
​The applicant will be asked to submit a research proposal for his/her PhD (Journalism) thesis. The proposal will have to be written following a pro forma, which can be downloaded by clicking here. Thereafter the applicant will be notified if he/she will be allowed to register for the degree.
Any enquries can be directed to the PhD (Journalism) coordinator, Prof. Lizette Rabe (lrabe@sun.ac.za).​

Contact Information

Visit us on the main campus of Stellenbosch University
26 Crozier Street, Stellenbosch

Postal Address:Department of Journalism
University of Stellenbosch
Private Bag X1
Matieland, 7602Tel: +27 21 808-3488Email:lnewman@sun.ac.za​​

See more details on Journalism in Stellenbosch University below

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