In addition to meeting the requirements for Faculty admission (set out in the Humanities Faculty Postgraduate Handbook), admission to graduate study in the Philosophy Department is at the discretion of the Head of Department. This decision is made in consultation with a departmental committee established to consider such applications, and decisions are primarily based on academic performance thus far. In normal circumstances, a necessary prerequisite for admission to a philosophy programme at any rank is a high level of academic performance in studies at a previous rank. For example, a high level of performance in a  major in Philosophy, or its equivalent, is a necessary prerequisite for admission to the Honours programme.

In order to be considered for admission to a postgraduate programme, you need to complete a formal UCT application form.  This form is available on the UCT website. The application form needs to be completed and submitted online. The admissions office processes and forwards the application to the Humanities Faculty, who then pass it on to the Philosophy Department. 

In addition, we request that all applicants email the following material directly to the department:

• a sample of academic writing

• a brief CV and covering letter stating your intention to apply

• If you are applying for a research-based Masters or the PhD programme, the application should also include a research proposal

External candidates – those who are either not currently a postgraduate in the Philosophy Department or those who have not completed (or are not currently completing) their major in Philosophy at UCT – will also be asked to include the following:

• certified copies of their degree certificate/s

• certified copies of their full academic transcript/s

• names and contact details of two referees

Please note that consideration of the application will only begin once we have received a completed application package. Once a complete application package is received, it is considered by the departmental postgraduate committee and a decision is forwarded to the applicant via the Humanities Faculty. In normal circumstances, the turnabout from submission to decision is around 3-4 weeks. Incomplete application packages will not be considered and adds significantly to this turnaround time.

The formal closing date is 31 October (for South Africans) and 30 September (for non-South Africans). Late applications may be considered where capacity allows for this.