Honours in Political Communication

Political Communication is not on offer in 2025. Applicants are invited to apply for Media Theory & Practice, which may offer some electives from the Political Communication programme.

Convenor

A/Prof. Musawenkosi Ndlovu

The University of Cape Town is the only tertiary institution to offer postgraduate degrees in political communication. The honours degree introduces students to the intersection between media and politics within the African context, focusing on topics such as election reporting, political branding, populism, political reporting and crisis communication. The degree combines insights from various disciplines (political science, communication and marketing, media studies, history and rhetoric studies) and provides students with an understanding of how politicians interact with the media, taking South Africa as the central reference point. 

Admission requirements

(a) Faculty requirements are set out under rules FH3.

(b) Specialisation requirements:

• Completion of a first degree with appropriate courses in Political Science, Media and Writing or closely related disciplines.
• Applicants should score an average of seventy percent (70%) for their media studies major or for a major from a cognate discipline, or at the discretion of the HOD.
• Students transferring from other universities and/or who do not have a background in Media and Writing or Political Science may apply to the Convenor. The programme committee will consider such applicants on an individual basis for their suitability to the programme.

Prescribed curriculum:

The curriculum comprises four taught courses and a research essay/project at HEQSF level 8 (4000-level).

Prescribed curriculum:

The curriculum comprises four taught courses and a research essay/project at HEQSF level 8 (4000-level)

And any other cognate course from the Humanities faculty (with the convenor's permission).