University of Cape Town campus

Arts & Humanities

Honours specialising in Political Studies at University of Cape Town

University of Cape Town, South Africa

Programme overview

The BA/BSocSc Honours specialising in Political Studies (126 NQF credits, plan POL01) develops skills in political research, primarily the study of national political processes, through coursework and a research project.

Faculty: Faculty of Humanities  |  Department: Department of Political Studies  |  Duration: One year of full-time study (Faculty of Humanities Honours rule).  |  Study mode: full-time  |  Location: Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa

What you will study

Compulsory courses in African Political Theory, Comparative Politics and Government, Global Politics, Research Methods in Politics (24 credits each) and a 30-credit Research Project.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Political Studies (Honours): a major in Political Studies or a strong academic background in a related discipline (such as Public Administration, Sociology, Psychology, Economics, Criminology, Law, History or Philosophy). Admission is selective; applicants submit a letter of motivation and an academic writing sample. UCT applicants are considered on at least 65% for the overall undergraduate degree and for third-year courses (with attention to Politics courses), an upward trend in grades, and the Head of Department's discretion; non-UCT applicants are assessed on the same criteria with the writing samples a determining factor. Faculty of Humanities (Honours): applicants hold a Bachelor's degree with the equivalent of a major in the Honours subject, from UCT or another university recognised by Senate, and meet any additional programme requirements.

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

Explore more study programmes

View all study programmes →

Ready to start your study abroad journey?

Book a free consultation with our expert counsellors and take the first step towards your dream university.

Copyrights © 2026 StudyMapped. All rights reserved.