Philosophy and Classics Postgraduate Studies 

All students that apply for postgraduate studies in the Department of Philosophy and Classics will be subject to the Research Protocol of the department.

Unless otherwise specified, the following admission requirements will apply to all postgraduate studies in the Department of Philosophy and Classics. In addition to the requirements as presented in 1.4 under General Information in the UFS Rule Book for The Humanities, the additional requirements will be detailed under each postgraduate degree.

Bachelor of Arts Honours with Specialisation in Philosophy

(i)  Admission to the Bachelor Honours degree in Philosophy is subject to approval by the academic head of department.

(ii)  Students must have obtained a three-year Bachelor’s degree (NQF Level 7 qualification) with a major in Philosophy or equivalent qualification. In the case of an equivalent qualification, an additional assessment may be required before admission.

(iii)  Students must have obtained an average of at least 65% for their third-year Philosophy modules as their major during their undergraduate studies.

In addition to their formal studies, students are expected to take part in conferences, seminars, and lectures by visiting speakers.

 

CODE

NAME OF MODULE

Compulsory

FILR6800

Research Report: Philosophy (Bachelor Honours)

Philosophy

FILC6814

Cognitive and Cultural Philosophy

FILR6814

Philosophy of Rationality, Action, and Mind

FILP6824

A Philosophical Text Study

FILT6824

Philosophy and Theology

Bachelor of Arts Honours with Specialisation in Classical Studies

(i). Students with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification containing related modules at NQF Level 7 (e.g. Classical Studies or any other relevant module) may, with the approval of the academic head of department, be admitted.

(ii)  Students must have obtained an average of at least 65% for their third-year Classical Studies modules as their major during their undergraduate studies. A competency interview before admission may be required

(iii)  Depending on prior learning, additional modules in Classical Studies may be required.

(iv)  Students must have modules in Latin or Greek at least on/equivalent to NQF level 6 to their credit (depending on the field of specialisation).

(v)  A reading knowledge of German and/or French is strongly recommended.


 

CODE

MODULE

Compulsory

CSHS6808

Research Report: Classical Studies

Classical Studies

CSHS6816

Graeco-Roman Religion / Philosophy

CSHS6826

Graeco-Roman Art, Architecture and Archaeology

CSHS6836

Graeco-Roman Literature

CSHS6846

Graeco-Roman History

Bachelor of Arts Honours with Specialisation in Classical Languages

(i). Students with a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualification containing related modules at NQF Level 7 (e.g. Classical Languages, Greek or Latin) may, with the approval of the academic head of department, be admitted.

(ii)  Students must have obtained an average of at least 65% for their third-year Classical Language, Greek or Latin modules as their major during their undergraduate studies. A competency interview before admission may be required.

(iii)  A reading knowledge of Latin (when specialising in Greek) or Greek (when specialising in Latin) or German and/or French in general is strongly recommended.


 

CODE

MODULE

Compulsory

CLHS6848

Research Report: Classical Languages

Greek

CLGR6818

Advanced Hellenistic Greek Literature

CLGR6828

Advanced Classical Greek Literature

CLGR6838

Advanced Greek Rhetoric

Or

For Latin

CLLT6818

Advanced Study of Latin Authors from the Golden Age

CLLT6828

Advanced Study of a Latin Genre from the Golden or Silver Age

CLLT6838

Advanced Study of Latin Authors from the Silver Age

Master of Arts with Specialisation in Philosophy

(i)  Admission to the Master’s degree in philosophy is subject to the approval of the academic head of department.

(ii)  Students must hold at least a Bachelor Honours (NQF Level 8) qualification with a major in Philosophy or equivalent qualification. In the case of an equivalent qualification, an additional evaluation for admission may be required.

A dissertation (module code FILM8900) on a research topic selected by the candidate, in consultation with a supervisor in the department. The dissertation must be a demonstration of independent research, clear formulation, and insight into the discipline.

Assessment in the Master’s program comprises of both internal and external evaluation and moderation.

CODE

NAME OF MODULE

FILM8900

Dissertation: Philosophy (Research Masters)


The degree will be awarded after successful completion and assessment of the dissertation by a panel of internal and external assessors.

Master of Arts with Specialisation in Classical Studies

(i)  Students with a Bachelor Honours degree in Classical Studies or equivalent qualification may, with the permission of the academic head of department, be admitted to the Master’s degree with specialisation in Classical Studies.

(ii)  Students must have modules in Latin or Greek at least on/equivalent to NQF level 6 to their credit (depending on the field of specialisation). A competency interview before admission may be required.

(iii)  A reading knowledge of German and/or French is strongly recommended.

A dissertation (module code CSMA8900) on a research topic selected by the candidate, in consultation with a supervisor in the department. The dissertation must be a demonstration of independent research, clear formulation, and insight into the discipline.

Assessment in the Master’s program comprises of both internal and external evaluation and moderation.


CODE

MODULE

CSMA8900

Dissertation: Classical Studies (Research Masters)


The degree will be awarded after successful completion and assessment of the dissertation by a panel of internal and external assessors.

Master of Arts with Specialisation in Classical Languages

(i) With the permission of the academic head of department, students with a Bachelor Honours degree or equivalent qualification in a related discipline may be admitted to the MA with specialisation in Classical Languages.

(ii) Students must have modules in Latin or Greek at least on/equivalent to NQF level 8 to their credit (depending on the field of specialisation). A competency interview before admission may be required.

(iii) A reading knowledge of German and/or French is strongly recommended.

A dissertation (module code CLMA8900) on a research topic selected by the candidate, in consultation with a supervisor in the department. The dissertation must be a demonstration of independent research, clear formulation, and insight into the discipline.

Assessment in the Master’s program comprises of both internal and external evaluation and moderation.

CODE

MODULE

CLMA8900

Dissertation: Greek and/or Latin (Research Masters)


The degree will be awarded after successful completion and assessment of the dissertation by a panel of internal and external assessors.

Doctor of Philosophy with Specialisation in Philosophy

(i) Admission to the PhD in Philosophy is subject to the approval of the academic head of department.

(ii) Students must hold a Master's (NQF Level 9) qualification in Philosophy or any other Master’s (NQF Level 9) qualification. In the latter case, an additional assessment for admission may be required.

(iii) The final admission of an applicant is subject to the successful completion of an oral examination on applicable topics and themes.

A thesis (Module code FILT9100) on a research topic chosen by the candidate in consultation with the promoter. The thesis must demonstrate independent, penetrating research, which will make an original scholarly contribution to existing knowledge in the discipline.

During the doctoral study and before the thesis is submitted, the candidate must present at least two departmental seminars on the chosen research topic.

CODE

MODULE

FILT9100

Thesis: Philosophy (PhD)


The degree will be awarded after successful completion and assessment of the thesis by a panel of internal and external assessors.

Doctor of Philosophy with Specialisation in Classical Studies

(i) Students with a MA degree or equivalent qualification may, with the permission of the academic head of department, be admitted to the PhD with specialisation in Classical Studies.

(ii) Candidates must have modules in Latin or Greek at least on/equivalent to NQF level 6 to their credit (depending on the field of specialisation). A competency interview before admission may be required.

(iii) A reading knowledge of German and/or French is strongly recommended.

During the doctoral study and before the thesis is submitted, the candidate must present at least two departmental seminars on the chosen research topic.

CODE

MODULE

CSPD9100

Thesis: Classical Studies (PhD)


The degree will be awarded after successful completion and assessment of the thesis by a panel of internal and external assessors.

Doctor of Philosophy with Specialisation in Classical Language

(i)  Applicants must have modules in Latin or Greek at least on/equivalent to NQF level 8 to their credit (depending on the field of specialisation). A competency interview before admission may be required.

(ii)  A reading knowledge of German and/or French is strongly recommended.

A thesis (Module code CLPD9100) on a research topic chosen by the candidate in consultation with the promoter. The thesis must demonstrate independent, penetrating research, which will make an original scholarly contribution to existing knowledge in the discipline.

During the doctoral study and before the thesis is submitted, the candidate must present at least two departmental seminars on the chosen research topic.

CODE

MODULE

CLPD9100

Thesis: Greek and/or Latin (PhD)


The degree will be awarded after successful completion and assessment of the thesis by a panel of internal and external assessors.

Research Protocol: Department of Philosophy and Classics

Principles for Supervision

Permanent full-time academic staff may be approached to supervise postgraduate students in their areas of specialisation. It must be clearly understood that no supervision will be allowed to study in a field in which no staff member of the department has the expertise to lead the prospective student. In rare cases, consideration may be given to make use of an outside expert to supervise a student in the department if the necessary expertise is not available in the department.

Study guidance/supervision will be limited to a combination of three (3) higher-level postgraduate students on PhD and/or MA level. Supervision of honours students will be limited to a maximum of two students per supervisor.

Extra-curricular academic activities

While it stands to reason that postgraduate students will likely choose to partake of extra-curricular activities to build their academic profile, earn additional income or maintain exposure, said activities should be curtailed to the absolute minimum. These activities must be negotiated with the supervisor and Academic Head of Department, as the focus of the students should be on their postgraduate studies.

Application process

Due to the fact that some potential postgraduate students might not be adequately prepared for the rigours of postgraduate research and writing, the Department of Philosophy and Classics requires the implementation of a protocol, which would protect both the department and the prospective student.

The proposed protocol would entail the following:

  • Enquiry
    When a potential student enquires about the possibility of continuing with postgraduate studies in philosophy, classics, or classical languages, the first point of call would be to identify an academic specialising in the area of the proposed study and whether it can be accommodated in the department.

    If not, the student will be sent a polite letter of rejection. YES, it will have to be determined whether the department can accommodate the potential student. This will allow the process to continue.
  • Application process
    The potential student will supply the department with a CV and a basic research proposal, which will be submitted to the department for discussion. Based on this discussion, the applicant will be sent a polite letter of rejection or allowed to continue with the process.
  • Submission of Proposal
    The applicant must, on receipt of his preliminary acceptance letter, be prepared to present and defend his/her proposed topic in front of a departmental committee. Only if this process is successful, will the student be allowed to continue to the next phase.
  • Assignment
    After successfully defending their work, the applicant will be given 72 hours to complete an essay on a topic to be decided on by the department, which also has to be discussed and defended.
  • Decision
    After successful completion of this assignment, a collective decision by the department will allow the student into the postgraduate program of the Department of Philosophy and Classics at the UFS.
  • Acceptance

    Should the prospective student accept the decision and recommendations of the department, the student will be expected to sign a contract.
  • Contract

    The contract with the student will include, but will not be limited to, the following:

1. Permissions
Any proposed extra-curricular activities must be specified, negotiated on and receive permission to be allowed during the period of study.

2. Meeting schedule
This will include set meetings with supervisor / study leader

3. Submission schedule
Agreement on work schedule and regular submissions of completed work

4. Ethics clearance
The proposal and ethics clearance needs to be completed within the first three months of study to enable the student to continue with less stress and more focus.

5. Postgraduate Seminars
The potential student will be expected to present a seminar at least once every six months but must attend at least 80% of the postgraduate seminars in the department.

6. Bursary commitments
Should the student be a recipient of a departmental or UFS bursary, the exclusions and stipulations will be included.

7. Other
Should any specific conditions apply to a student, these will be included as well.


FACULTY CONTACT

T: +27 51 401 2240 or humanities@ufs.ac.za

Postgraduate:
Marizanne Cloete: +27 51 401 2592

Undergraduate:
Neliswa Emeni-Tientcheu: +27 51 401 2536
Phyllis Masilo: +27 51 401 9683

Humanities photo next to contact block

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