With more than 7000 students, the Faculty of Humanities is the largest faculty at the University of Cape Town. 75% of our student population is at undergraduate level. The Faculty comprises 19 vibrant academic departments located in three main clusters: the Arts, the Social Sciences and the Performing and Creative Arts. Common to all is a focus on the human condition, in all its dimensions.
As the largest faculty on campus, the Faculty of Humanities is home to the majority of Undergraduate and Postgraduate students annually. We attract students and academics from across the globe which means exposure to a rich diversity of knowledge, experience and best practice. The Faculty consists of 3 academic clusters:
There are 18 dynamic departments each offering a wide array of courses and facilities. This diversity gives our students freedom of choice in tailoring their academic experience. We are part of an Afropolitan institution, a centre of excellence on the continent and an intellectual meeting point between Africa and the world.
The Faculty of Humanities has a reputation for demanding excellence from our staff and students. We are home to some of South Africa's most celebrated intellectuals, including: award-winning composers and singers; renowned artistic directors and literary critics; world famous novelists and poets; national policy makers and advisors to government; sought-after economists; and highly respected social science researchers.
We enjoy a strong tradition in research and teaching, producing graduates who actively contribute to advancing new horizons of knowledge.
The Faculty has four NRF Research Chairs who actively promote interdisciplinary research across the Faculty through these research groupings: Institute for Humanities in Africa (HUMA), Centre for Social Science Research (CSSR), Gordon Institute for Performing & Creative Arts (GIPCA), and many more...
Analysis, argumentation, decision making and strong communication skills are valued and developed across all departments. These abilities provide an essential foundation for engaged citizenship and for entry into the world of work.
The Humanities Faculty at UCT produces exceptional scholars who possess imagination, insight, and analytical skills – who are able to impart innovation and leadership to a society grappling with transition and reconstruction. I am proud to say that the Humanities experience at UCT prepares students well for life as a global citizen who can co-exist and engage with the world.
Shose Kessi Dean
