Program Overview

University Program Information

The university offers a range of programs, including undergraduate and honors qualifications, master's and doctoral degrees, and short learning programs.

Undergraduate and Honors Qualifications

The university provides various undergraduate and honors qualifications, each with its own set of requirements and curriculum.

• Bachelor of Arts
  • Qualification stream: Communication Studies and International Politics
  • Qualification code: 99311 - CSI
  • NQF level: 7
  • Total credits: 360
  • SAQA ID: 14352
  • APS/AS: 20
• Rules:
  • This qualification consists of 29 modules.
  • Students should note that during the course of their studies, they would be required to have access to a computer or laptop, printer, and the internet.
• Purpose statement:
  • To familiarize learners with the content and basic theories of a number of disciplines in the humanities and social sciences, at the basic and intermediate level.
  • To provide them with a deeper grasp of one or more of these disciplines taken at exit level (level 6).
  • To enable them to place new knowledge in context and to use appropriate methods for seeking resolution of problems.
• Curriculum:
  • The curriculum for this qualification is divided into three levels, each with its own set of compulsory and elective modules.
  • Level 1:
    • Group A: Compulsory modules
      • IPC1501 - Fundamentals of International Politics
      • IPC1502 - South Africa in International Politics
    • Group AB: Compulsory modules (select 2)
      • COM1511 - Principles of Decolonial Communication
      • COM1512 - Disruption and Communication
      • COM1513 - Communication in the context of the organisation
      • COM1514 - Fundamentals of Decolonising Media Studies
    • Group B: Fundamentals (select 2)
      • AFC1501 - Isandulelo kwizifundo ngezindlela zokucwaninga ulwazi lwaseThebes/ Afrika
      • AFL1501 - Language Through an African Lens
      • ENG1503 - Academic Language and Literacy in English
    • Group C: Electives (select 2)
      • AFK1501 - Voetspore: Op reis deur die Afrikaanse Letterkunde
      • AFK1502 - Inleiding tot teksontwerp in Afrikaans
      • AFK1503 - Afrikaans Vandag: Taalkunde en skriftelike kommunikasie
      • AFL1502 - African Language and Culture in Practice
  • Level 2:
    • Group A: Compulsory modules
      • IPC2601 - International Organisations
      • IPC2602 - International Political Dynamics
      • PSC2601 - South African Politics
      • RSC2601 - Research in Social Sciences
      • TEX2601 - Writing Skills for the Communication Industry
    • Group AB: Compulsory modules (select 4)
      • COM2611 - Applied Organisational Communication
      • COM2612 - Brand Communication
      • COM2613 - Communication Campaigns
      • COM2614 - Decolonising Communication Studies
      • COM2615 - Media Audiences
      • COM2616 - Media Content
    • Group B: Fundamentals (select 3)
      • EWS2601 - Engaging with Society: Meeting the Challenges of a Changing World
      • HRV1601 - Human Rights, Values and Social Transformation
      • PLS2601 - Critical Reasoning
      • PYC2615 - HIV/AIDS Care and Counselling in an African context
  • Level 3:
    • Group A: Compulsory modules
      • COM3714 - Decolonising Communication Research (Offered from 2026)
      • IPC3701 - International Political Theory
      • IPC3702 - International Political Economy
      • IPC3703 - Diplomacy
      • PSC3702 - Political Conflict and Conflict Resolution
      • PSC3703 - Political Knowledge
    • Group AB: Compulsory modules (select 3)
      • COM3711 - Communication for Social Change: Health, development and intercultural perspectives (Offered from 2026)
      • COM3712 - Communication Policy (Offered from 2026)
      • COM3713 - Critical Organisational Communication (Offered from 2026)
      • COM3715 - Global Communication (Offered from 2026)
      • COM3716 - Media Industries and Institutional Culture (Offered from 2026)
      • COM3717 - Political and Government Communication (Offered from 2026)

Admission Criteria

To be eligible for admission to the Bachelor of Arts program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Applicants (new applicants and Unisa students who applied for admission to a new qualification) may only register if they have received an offer of placement from Unisa and have accepted the offer online.
• Re-registering students may register for the 2026 academic year once the registration period opens.

Registration Process

The registration process for the Bachelor of Arts program involves the following steps:

1. Find your qualification and choose your modules.
2. Calculate your study fees.
3. Complete and submit your registration.
4. Pay your study fees.
5. After registration, students will receive further instructions on how to access their study materials and participate in online activities.

Research Areas

The university offers various research areas, including:

• International Politics
• Communication Studies
• Social Sciences
• Humanities

Colleges

The university has several colleges, each offering a range of programs and research areas:

• College of Accounting Sciences
• College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
• College of Economic and Management Sciences
• College of Education
• College of Human Sciences
• College of Law
• College of Science, Engineering, and Technology
• College of Graduate Studies

Each college has its own set of departments, schools, and research centers, offering a range of undergraduate and postgraduate programs.