Heritage by Research
Master of Arts by Research in the field of Heritage by research
Overview
A Master’s degree in the field of Heritage Studies can be undertaken in two different ways: by dissertation only or by coursework and research report. Students enrolled by dissertation are required to work with a supervisor to produce research of 40,000 words. Students enrolled in the programme by coursework and research report are required to complete three coursework units, as well as write a research report of 20,000 words.
With a bias towards the arts, the degree programme is understood to encourage critical thinking around public representations of history, monumentalisation, and the bureaucratization of memory and its politics.
Rather than it being about managing heritage sites and their collections, the degree focuses on conceptual engagements that interrogate how heritage sites work towards constructing perceptions of public culture. In particular, how public cultures impact and/or are impacted by heritage and arts policies. It does this by fostering knowledges of the intersectionality of heritage, race, identity, ethnicity, cultures and the public sphere.
Thinking about the politics of heritage, the degree encourages current/popular debates that may engage contestations of sites of knowledge. It questions what constitutes forms of knowledge, public memory and debates around land, land dispossession and its discontents. Core courses taken within this degree often look at public art, exhibitions, festivals, monuments, and so forth.
Curriculum
The Master of Arts by Research in the field of Heritage by Dissertation is awarded upon successful completion of a dissertation of 40,000 words.
The degree is a one-year full time or two years part time programme.
Entry Requirements
Entry Requirements:
- A bachelor’s degree with honours from Wits or another university with a 65% total mark aggregate.
- A supervisor from the Department must be identified and approached prior to submitting your application.
Documentation required:
- Complete Application
- Transcripts
- Certified copies of qualifications
- Motivation
- CV
- Sample of writing (i.e. honours essay paper)
- 1 page description of intended research
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.
- 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.