Research Resources
International Conference Memberships – SCMS and IAMCR
The Wits Media Studies Department has long-standing memberships with the Society for Cinema and Media Studies (SCMS) and the International Association for Media and Communications Research (IAMCR). Post graduate scholars are strongly encouraged to submit abstracts and/or paper in order to attend these international conferences. They will provide beneficial opportunities and platforms for emerging scholars to disseminate their research as well as to network worth seminal path-breakers in the fields of media, communications and cultural studies research.
Humanities Graduate Centre
Wits’ excellent Grad Centre runs seminars, workshops, conferences and writing retreats for research students. An invaluable and free resource – sign up to their mailing list by sending your email address to gradcentre.humanities@wits.ac.za for frequent updates about what’s on offer.
Scholarship Office
All the information you need on potential university funding for your postgraduate degree. Download the brochure or contact info.finaid@wits.ac.za.
International Students
International students can access important information about applying, paying, arriving and settling in by checking the web page or emailing studysa.international@wits.ac.za.
SAQA
If your degree is from a foreign university you will need to have it certified by the South African Qualifications Authority in order to be accepted ay Wits. SAQA does not follow up with applicants, so if you submit your qualification and don’t hear back, please contact them; your application may be missing vital information that’s holding it up.
Zotero
Open source referencing software that can be used as a standalone programme or within Firefox. Easy to use and organise, saves your citation library online. Free, effective,
SABINET
Online resource accessible from within the Library or using your student number, with excellent archives of South African press, legal and academic material.
Conference Alerts
Sign up by clicking ‘subscribe’ on the top right of the web page, add your interests and personal details and receive email alerts about conferences happening around the world.
H-NET AFRICA
Sign up by clicking ‘subscribe’ on the left of the page, under General Information, and get daily emails from scholars interested in Africa. These are often queries and discussions but sometimes feature calls for papers for conferences or journals and information about fellowships and funding possibilities. More specific lists are also available on H-Net, eg South Africa, West Africa, African Politics.
SACOMM
South African communications studies professional body. Sign up to mailing list for announcements about conferences, scholarships and journals.
MECCSA
The UK Media, Communications and Cultural Studies Association operates a number of lists that you can subscribe to, including a postgraduate network and others that relate to specific interests. Conferences, journals, publication, collaboration and other info.
ECREA
European Communication Research and Education Association. Summer schools, themed networks you can subscribe to. In particular, YECREA is a young scholars’ network designed specifically for postgrads and postdocs.
UPENN
Useful if broad humanities list run by the English department of the University of Pennsylvania in the US. No subscriptions, but check it periodically for calls for papers for conferences and journals.
JOBS.AC.UK
UK academic employment site that often features postgraduate scholarships and postdoctoral fellowships in Britain and elsewhere. Sign up for weekly alerts in your areas of interest and find out about opportunities for postgrad study around the world.