Program Overview

Programme: BPolSci International Studies

The purpose of this programme is to provide students with an in-depth knowledge and understanding of contemporary world politics and related changes in the international system. This will enable them, once they are employed in the public or private sector, to respond in an innovative and proactive manner to the problems and challenges of globalisation.

Programme Information

• Code: Faculty of Humanities
• Credits: 370
• Duration: 3 years
• NQF level: 07

Admission Requirements

• Candidates are advised to apply early, as space is limited in all programmes.
• The following candidates will be considered for admission:
  • A candidate who is in possession of a certificate that is deemed by the University to be equivalent to the required National Senior Certificate (NSC) with university endorsement.
  • A candidate who is a graduate from another recognised tertiary institution or has been granted the status of a graduate of such an institution.
  • A candidate who is a graduate of another faculty at the University of Pretoria.
• Candidates who have completed the National Senior Certificate with admission to degree studies or a certificate of conditional exemption on the basis of a candidate's international ("foreign") qualifications, the so-called "Immigrant" or "Foreign Conditional Exemption".
• The only condition for the "Foreign Conditional Exemption" that is accepted is: 'completion of the degree course'.
• The exemption certificate is obtainable from Universities South Africa (USAf).

Minimum Requirements

• Achievement level: NSC/IEB: 5, AS Level: C
• APS: 30

Other Programme-Specific Information

• First year of study - FUNDAMENTAL MODULES: Students who are deemed to be at risk of their level of academic literacy are compelled to take ALL 110 and ALL 125.
• Elective modules:
  • Year level 1: Select four disciplines. Do two semester modules (or the credit value thereof) from each of these disciplines.
  • Year level 2: Select two semester modules (or the credit value thereof) from the same discipline as for year level 1; or select two Economics semester modules at year level 2.
  • Year level 3: Select two semester modules (or the credit value thereof) either from the same discipline as for year level 2; or from Political Science or from Economics.

Core Modules

• Year 1:
  • PTO 101: Politics 101
• Year 2:
  • IPL 210: International relations 210
  • IPL 220: International relations 220
  • STL 210: Political science 210
  • STL 220: Political science 220
• Year 3:
  • IPL 310: International relations 310
  • IPL 320: International relations 320
  • STL 310: Political science 310
  • STL 320: Political science 320

Elective Modules

• A wide range of elective modules are available across various disciplines, including Anthropology, Economics, English, French, Geography, History, Philosophy, Religion, Sociology, and Spanish.

Fundamental Modules

• AIM 101: Academic information management 101
• AIM 111: Academic information management 111
• AIM 121: Academic information management 121
• ALL 110: Academic literacy 110
• ALL 125: Academic literacy for Humanities 125
• UPO 101: Academic orientation 101

Academic Literacy

• The academic literacy of all students who enrol at the University of Pretoria for the first time and all new students enrolling with the Faculty of Humanities for the first time will be assessed at the start of the academic year by means of their NSC marks.
• Students following a degree programme: The NSC Grade 12 English mark will be used to determine whether students in the Faculty of Humanities should register for the academic literacy modules (ALL 110 and ALL 125).