Digital Arts

Become a Digital Arts expert. Areas of study include: Game Design, Game Studies, Interactive Narrative, Culture & Technology in Africa, Digital Culture and Decolonisation, Digital Creative Industries. The degree can be taken part-time over two years or full-time in one year.

Overview


Master of Arts by Research Digital Arts Programme Code: ARA00

The Digital Arts Department offers only a Masters by Dissertation (research) or Masters by Dissertation and Creative Work. Enrollment can start in the beginning (February) or the middle (July) of an academic year.

An array of Digital Arts subjects are available for supervision, yet these are dependent on available supervision and will broadly cover subjects in Game Design, Game Studies, Interactive Narrative, Culture & Technology in Africa, Digital Culture and Decolonisation, Digital Creative Industries and more in this range of fields. 

Please see our Digital-Arts-PostGrad-Handbook-2023.pdf for more info on the programme expectations and Department reseach supervisors.

Entry Requirements


1. Previous Degree:

a. NQF level 8

2. Marks Transcript from Previous Degree:

a. Marks 65 % or above.
b. Very good practice portfolio allowing for marks in theory at 60% or above.

3. Cover Letter:

a. Indicating reasons for wanting to undertake an MA with Digital Arts, an overview of previous academic history and what has led them to apply for the MA.

4. Expression of Interest:

a. Indicating the field and/or topic of study they wish to research.
b. Indicating whether they would like to undertake a creative or practice
component (or not) and what the vision for the practice work is.

5. Sample of Academic Writing:

a. Honours paper, research paper or published research article.

6. Creative Portfolio & CV - as a link or as PDF:

a. Evidence of previous degree or experience (in a CV) in Digital Art or Digital Creativity, which may include Animation, Interactivity, Game Design or Interactive Writing.
b. Portfolio of creative work (if creative component is of interest) reflecting a Digital Creative practice, which may include Animation, Interactivity, Game Design or Interactive Writing.

7. Interview May Be Required:

a. If there is a question or need for further information from the applicant concerning their expression of interest.

8. RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning) Applications

Applicants who have extensive industry experience and may not have the pre-request entry degree qualification, or who's degree's were completed a long time ago, can apply for RPL but with the following additional entry requirements: 

RPL applications can only be done in consultation with the Digital Arts Dept. please email the Dept. to confirm an RPL application. 

  1. Applicant should be 26 years old or over.
  2. Requires a bridging year with the following courses (both 65% and above):
    a. Digital Art Theory 4
    b. FVPA 3
  3. Extensive work experience (5 years +) in the field or topic to be researched.

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.