The Faculty of Humanities is distinguished by the depth and diversity of its research, spanning a wide disciplinary range and grounded in a sustained commitment to socially responsive scholarship. Scholars within the Faculty engage in critical and theoretical work that challenges established paradigms, produce rigorous research that generates new knowledge, and pioneer creative and performative approaches that extend the very boundaries of research practice. This dynamic interplay of empirical depth, theoretical nuance, and methodological experimentation makes the Faculty a vibrant hub of inquiry, reflection, and innovation. 

Interdisciplinary collaboration is a defining strength, fostering intellectual exchange across fields and generating work that is both locally grounded and globally resonant. With an extensive international footprint, our researchers are embedded in networks that extend across continents, amplifying the reach and influence of their work. Its research speaks to urgent public concerns, producing both standard scholarly and unconventional creative outputs whose impact often exceeds the traditional academic matrix – deeply engaging with communities and shaping conversations beyond the university. 

At present, the Faculty is home to, among others, nine acclaimed Research Groups, two prestigious Research Chairs, 65 celebrated NRF-rated scholars and 24 gifted postdoctoral fellows.

Read the Faculty’s Research Strategy document (2020) here.

Research Groups

Research groups in the Faculty of Humanities bring together scholars dedicated to advancing interdisciplinary inquiry on key themes, fostering collaboration across departments and disciplines, mentoring emerging researchers, and contributing to UCT’s mission of producing globally relevant scholarship grounded in African perspectives.

Research Chairs

Research Chairs in the Humanities are prestigious academic positions established to promote advanced scholarship, innovation, and leadership in specific fields of study. They play a key role in supporting sustained research excellence, mentorship of emerging scholars, public engagement, and the development of interdisciplinary collaborations.

The SA-UK SARChI Bilateral Research Chair in Digital Media Sociology: Professor Tanja Bosch

The A C Jordan Chair in the Field of African Studies: Professor Suren Pillay

NRF-rated Researchers

The National Research Foundation’s rating system benchmarks South African researchers against leading international peers, recognising excellence based on the quality and impact of research outputs over the past eight years. It identifies field leaders, promotes high-quality scholarship, and strengthens the country’s global research competitiveness. 

The Faculty of Humanities is home to three A1, two A2, four B1, seventeen B2, two B3, twelve C1, seventeen C2, one C3, one P, two Y1, and four Y2-rated scholars. An alphabetized list of these scholars appears below.

Emeritus Associate Professor Mohamed Adhikari (Department of Historical Studies)

Associate Professor Markus Arnold (School of Languages and Literatures)

Professor Floretta Boonzaier (Department of Psychology)

Professor Tanja Bosch (The Centre for Film and Media Studies)

Associate Professor Sylvia Bruinders (The South African College of Music)

Associate Professor Jean Brundrit (The Michaelis School of Fine Art)

Dr Barbara Burger (School of Languages and Literatures)

Emeritus Professor David Chidester (Department for the Study of Religions)

Emeritus Professor Jim Cochrane (Department for the Study of Religions)

Emeritus Associate Professor Linda Cooper (School of Education)

Professor Imraan Coovadia (School of Languages and Literatures)

Emeritus Professor Jean-Louis Cornille (School of Languages and Literatures)

Emeritus Professor Owen Crankshaw (Department of Sociology)

Dr Ugo Dessi (Department for the Study of Religions)

Associate Professor Martha Evans (The Centre for Film and Media Studies)

Professor Lesley Green (Environmental Humanities South)

Associate Professor Joanne Hardman (School of Education)

Associate Professor Annemarie Hattingh (School of Education)

Professor Adam Haupt (The Centre for Film and Media Studies)

Professor Ursula Hoadley (School of Education)

Emeritus Associate Professor Salma Ismail (School of Education)

Associate Professor Svea Josephy (The Michaelis School of Fine Art)

Associate Professor Debbie Kaminer (Department of Psychology)

Dr Jane Kelly (The Centre for Social Science Research)

Associate Professor Malgorzata Lipinska (Department of Psychology)

Professor Wahbie Long (Department of Psychology)

Dr Sonja Loots (School of Languages and Literatures)

Dr Thierry Luescher (Research Office)

Professor Nomusa Makhubu (The Michaelis School of Fine Art)

Dr Charles Masango (Research Office)

Professor Carolyn McKinney (School of Education)

Emeritus Professor Rajend Mesthrie (Department of African Studies and Linguistics)

Professor Elena Moore (Department of Sociology)

Associate Professor Shannon Morreira (Umthombo Centre for Student Success)

Emeritus Professor Karin Murris (School of Education)

Associate Professor Musawenkosi Ndlovu (The Centre for Film and Media Studies)

Professor Ryan Nefdt (Department of Philosophy)

Professor Dick Ng’ambi (School of Education)

Professor Francis Nyamnjoh (Department of Anthropology)

Associate Professor Christopher Ouma (Department of English Literary Studies)

Dr Michelle P Pentecost (Department of Anthropology)

Associate Professor Elisabetta Porcu (Department for the Study of Religions)

Emeritus Associate Professor Mastin Prinsloo (School of Education)

Professor Jayarani Raju (Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship)

Dr Reggie (Rajandren) Raju (Libraries: Research and Learning)

Professor Fiona Ross (Department of Anthropology)

Emeritus Professor Michael Rossi (The South African College of Music)

Professor Rebekka Sandmeier (The South African College of Music)

Emeritus Professor Chris Saunders (Department of Historical Studies)

Associate Professor Leigh Schrieff-Brown (Department of Psychology)

Professor Sa’diyya Shaikh (Department for the Study of Religions)

Emeritus Professor Milton Shain (Department of Historical Studies)

Dr Mzwandile Muzi Shongwe (Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship)

Professor Mark Solms (Department of Psychology)

Emeritus Professor Crain Soudien (School of Education)

Dr Georgina Spies (Department of Psychology)

Emeritus Professor Abdulkader Tayob (Department for the Study of Religions)

Dr Elona Toska (The Centre for Social Science Research)

Professor Colin Tredoux (Department of Psychology)

Associate Professor Giona Tuccini (School of Languages and Literatures)

Associate Professor Johann van der Schijff (The Michaelis School of Fine Art)

Professor Catherine Ward (Department of Psychology)

Professor David Wardle (School of Languages and Literatures)

Associate Professor Lauren Wild (Department of Psychology)

Professor Sandra Young (Department of English Literary Studies)

Postdoctoral Researchers

Postdoctoral fellows are vital to the intellectual life and research excellence of the Faculty of Humanities. Positioned at the intersection of mentorship and independence, they bring fresh perspectives, methodological innovation, and critical energy to their fields. At present, the faculty hosts twenty-four postdoctoral fellows spread across several academic units: a vibrant community of emerging scholars whose research and creativity animate its intellectual landscape. An alphabetized list follows.

Dr Azza Mustafa Babikir Ahmed, Institute for Humanities in Africa (HUMA)

Dr Geraldin Wanelisa Albert (The Centre for Film and Media Studies)

Dr Ololade Julius Baruwa (The Centre for Social Science Research)

Dr Annchen Bronkowski (The Michaelis School of Fine Arts)

Dr Nicola Davies-Laubscher (The Centre for Film and Media Studies)

Dr Sariana Faure (Department of Knowledge and Information Stewardship)

Dr Maria Elizabeth Geustyn (Department of English Literary Studies)

Dr Tigist Shewarega Hussen (Institute for Humanities in Africa)

Dr Tawanda Jimu (Environmental Humanities South)

Dr Abena Kyere (Institute for Humanities in Africa)

Dr Hlokoma Zimbini Mangqalaza (The Centre for Social Science Research)

Dr Emily Shungu Mashonganyika (Institute for Humanities in Africa)

Dr Shafieka Moos (Department for the Study of Religions)

Dr Tatenda Mugwendere (The Centre for Social Science Research)

Dr Terence Mupangwa (Department for the Study of Religions)

Dr Cecilia Yejide Ojemaye (Environmental Humanities South)

Dr Susan Okeyo (Institute for Humanities in Africa)

Dr Kwasi Sarfo (Institute for Humanities in Africa)

Dr Wade Herbert Seale (Institute for Humanities in Africa)

Dr Hangala Siachiwena (Institute for Democracy, Citizenship and Public Policy in Africa)

Dr Ashley Craig Visagie (School of Education)

Dr Rosette Sifa Vuninga (Department of Historical Studies)

Dr Aleksander Mieczyslaw Wereszczynski (Centre for African Studies)

Dr Egnonnam Sandra Dellya Zannou (Institute for Humanities in Africa)

Last updated: November 2025.