Program Overview

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Geography and Environmental Studies

The MSc by dissertation is a 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time degree offered in Geography and Environmental Studies.

Overview

The aim of the MSc (and MA) degree is to offer advanced professional training at the postgraduate level in the fields of earth, atmospheric, hydro-environmental, global change and other environmental Sciences (e.g. disaster risk reduction, environmental management, environmental governance etc), as well as studies concerned with human environments (urban, rural, social), and to promote inter-disciplinary exchange between various arts and science disciplines.

With a strong tradition in both academic and applied research, the School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies is ideally placed to prepare students for the environmental and human challenges that face this and other countries on the African continent.

The University of the Witwatersrand also has the infrastructure and the expertise to support the intellectual development of students interested in geographic studies, and most recently has a strategic focus on Global Change.

The School is interested in attracting students from all over the world who will be able to participate in research work in a country that is undergoing rapid transformation and change.

Part-time Studies

Part-time students are not eligible for bursary funding from the university. Students registered for the part-time degree and who are employed on a full-time basis are strongly encouraged to negotiate a regular period of time off to consult with their supervisor, visit the library to collect readings and to do research.

Curriculum

Research.

Entry Requirements

• A Bachelor of Science Honours in a related field with a minimum weighted average of 65%.
• A supervisor from the School must be identified and approached prior to application.

Applications for admission are considered throughout the year.

For admission to a Masters degree the applicant should normally have at least 65% in Geography Honours.

Students from other institutions, according to the discretion of the Head of School, may need some background before being accepted to do a Masters degree. Students without Geography Honours may, at the discretion of the Head of Department, be admitted to do a Masters if they have an Honours equivalent in a suitable discipline. Please note that students applying from outside of the University of the Witwatersrand will be required to submit examples of written work before their application will be considered.

University Application Process

• Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment.
• Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application.
• Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
• Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Note

Meeting the entry requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

University Fees and Funding

The Fees site provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, the University's Postgraduate Funding portal is a database of scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities available to Wits postgraduate students. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities.

Programme Details

• Programme Code: SRA00
• Faculty: Science
• School: Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies
• Qualification: MSc
• Duration: 1 - 2 years
• Study Mode: Full-time; Part-time

Closing Date

Offered throughout the year with multiple intakes.

Programme Coordinator

Dr Serge Kubanza

Postgraduate Administrator

Sindiswa Tilane