Linguistics

The Bachelor of Arts with Honours in the field of Linguistics is a 1 year full-time or 2 years part-time degree.

Overview


The Honour’s degree in Linguistics is a significant opportunity for advanced training and application of theory in the broad field of Linguistics.

Students of Linguistics have now reached the position where they can both gain theoretical training, and apply advanced methodological approaches.

Advanced grounding in Linguistics has been proven to be highly desirable in preparing language professionals for work in translating, interpreting, journalism, publishing, language policy planning and language education.

To find out more about the Linguistics Division, visit our web page.

Curriculum


Courses on offer (subject to change each year):

  • Selected topic in Linguistics
  • Phonology
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Sociolinguistics
  • Syntax
  • Research report

A choice of any 5 units, of which one must be a research report.

As part of the Honour’s degree, students are expected to produce a long research essay. Students should choose issues that contribute to the discipline. The report should be between 9,000 and 10,000 words.

Entry Requirements


  • A bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 65% course mark aggregate in a third year major.
  • At least an upper second class pass in the final undergraduate course in the subject.

Additional entry requirements may apply.

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. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process. Refer to Wits Postgraduate Online Applications Guide for detailed guidelines. 
  • Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
  • 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.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students, please check this section.

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.

University Fees and Funding


Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also 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, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.