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What Humanities undergraduate and postgraduate students need to know!

Why should I choose to study at Wits?

Please take a look at the Facts about Wits, and check out our achievements and awards.

 

Why choose a Bachelor of Arts degree?
  • The BA degree encourages critical and independant thinking, and is challenging and thought provoking.
  • The BA degree offers students a wide range of subjects.
  • The flexibility of a BA allows you more choice in the construction of your degree.
  • BA study can lead to postgraduate qualifications - Hons, MA and PHD, including a PDM or MBA.
  • You can pursue a professional degree within a BA degree (for example, Law).
  • Courses within a BA degree are relevant in the workplace.
  • The BA degree prepares students for a large range of jobs, and gives students many different skills.
How much is my first year of study in the Faculty of Humanities going to cost me?

Visit the fees and funding website for information about tuition fees, scholarships and funding sources.

 

Are any awards available to help fund postgraduate studies?

Yes, for more information see the Postgraduate Merit Award

Where do I get help with my Academic work at Wits?
  • The Wits Writing Centre.Tel: 011 717-4125
  • Faculty Teaching & Learning Advisors Tel: 011 717-4091
Who can help me to choose the best curriculum for my needs?

The Teaching & Learning Unit in the Faculty of Humanities
Dr Lindiwe Tshuma (lindiwe.tshuma@wits.ac.za) or Ms Nompumelelo Bhengu (nompumelelo.bhengu@wits.ac.za)
The Unit is located on East Campus in the South West Engineering building, Ground Floor, Rooms 2 and 3.

Who can I speak to if I have personal problems that are not related to my degree?

The Counselling and Careers Unit gives support to students in a crisis or needing help for all problems. Telephone: 011 717 9140/32

 

Registration Enquiries

When does registration take place for returning students?

Registration takes place during January of each year.  Please check your iWits email account in November/December for the Registration letter specifying which dates has been allocated to you for the following year. 

 

Can I register a course in another Faculty for non-degree purposes?

Yes. You can submit an application to do so by filling in a Download Special Concession Form  for approval by the Faculty. 

 

If I want to change Faculties, what do I have to do?

You need to submit a new application online or via the Student Enrolment Centre. The application form must be submitted before the 30 September* of the year preceeding intended study. *Subject to change dependant on individual department requirements and Local vs International applications as well as Online vs Paper applications.

 

How do I access my examination results?

All results are loaded to the Student Self-Service Portal for your accessing. 

Your exam results are emailed to your iWits Student email address at the end of each year.  Use your student number as the user name, and your ID number or passport number as the password. Alternatively, you can call this number 083 123 3333 for your results. 

I have a letter saying results withheld. What does that mean?

This means that there is a hold on your account (either fees outstanding or a disciplinary issue against your name). You need to either pay your fees or visit the Legal Office on the 5th Floor, Solomon Mahlangu House, to clear the hold. They will issue you with a clearance certificate, which you then take to the Faculty Office. The staff will then order your results,  which will be available for collection 2 days after you have submitted the clearance certificate to the Faculty.

I have a 'W' on my clearance certificate. What does it mean?

This means that you are a student on financial aid and that the Fees Office has given the go ahead to have your results released. 

 

Additional FAQ statements:

  • You must submit a copy of your national ID, if South African, or copy of your passport, if you are an international student, to the Faculty Office as it is a national requirement.
  • Wits will only send electronic communication to your Wits email account or self-service portal in adherence to the university policy.
  • Mid-year and end-of-year results will be published to the self-service portal.  If you have outstanding fees you will not be able to view your results.
  • Course amendments and deregistration from a degree will incur cancellation charges. Cancellation charges can be found in the fees booklet.
  • Wits’ academic year ends in December; this means that students must re-register each January, regardless of the intake period they first registered.
  • Submission of Masters and PhD research takes place on 15 February each year; students only enrol as awaiting examiners on the day of submission.
  • Masters and PhD proposals must be submitted to the Faculty for final approval within six months of registration for full time students, and within twelve months of registration for part time students.  All submission dates are indicated in the Postgraduate Application to Graduation guide.
  • Students who do not attend classes regularly may be in violation of the minimum course requirements set out by a department. Students may be issued with satisfactory performance warnings or a refusal letter which prevents students from writing an examination for a particular course.
  • All information pertaining to examination and graduation is available on the Examinations and Graduation Office’s website.
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