University of Cape Town campus

Arts & Humanities

Master's specialising in Historical Studies at University of Cape Town

University of Cape Town, South Africa

Programme overview

The MA specialising in Historical Studies is a coursework master's of 192 NQF credits combining one compulsory course, three electives and a minor dissertation.

Faculty: Faculty of Humanities  |  Department: Historical Studies  |  Duration: Coursework in the first year, with the dissertation completed within the following year (192 NQF credits)  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

What you will study

Core components are the Minor Dissertation (96 credits) and History in Public Life (24 credits). Candidates choose three electives from options such as Oral History, Histories of Land and Labour in South Africa, Writing and History, Racism, Colonialism and Genocide, Themes in Everyday History, Materiality and Power, Histories of Crisis: The Indian Ocean World Since 1800 and Advanced Historical Methods and Approaches. A cognate-department elective may replace listed electives with approval.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

An overall average of at least 65% in an Honours degree in Historical Studies or a related discipline. Acceptance is on the recommendation of the departmental Postgraduate Committee and at the discretion of the Head of Department.

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

The application fee is R100 for undergraduate and postgraduate applications from South Africa and the SADC region, and R300 for applications from outside the SADC region; it is non-refundable and payable by direct deposit, EFT or credit card (online). UCT students and graduates are exempt except for GSB programmes.

Apply through the official page: https://applyonline.uct.ac.za

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