The Film and Television Division within the University of the Witwatersrand’s School of Arts continues to expand its postgraduate study opportunities with a variety of degrees suited to both professional filmmakers and career academics interested in furthering their studies in this field.
Wits University continues to enhance its global reputation and is currently ranked in the top two institutions of higher learning on the African continent in all major published rankings.
Building on its successful undergraduate BA (Film and Television) degree which continues to grow in response to demand from students, the Film and Television division has expanded its postgraduate offerings at various levels of study. The Honours degree allows access to the postgraduate level with the minimum requirement of a Bachelor of Arts degree. Across all degrees, focus is split between practice based research and theoretical enquiry. On the practical side, the Honours degree in Film and Television offers students production experience in Documentary and Experimental films. The course also offers both theoretical and practical components in Screenwriting, Post-production, Cinematography and Sound Design. A diverse range of topics in the form of Research Projects are available including Short Formats for online content, the Fact and Fiction course, as well as, the theoretical option of researching and writing a long essay.
Further study at a Masters (MA) level is suited to early or mid-career professionals who are looking for a deeper theoretical understanding of the field alongside a practical application of the film and television craft. For current students and new applicants interested in furthering their academic studies, the MA degree in the field of Film and Television comprises a variety of options to suit every need. Those focused on a purely theoretical body of research may opt for the straight written dissertation which is conducted with an assigned supervisor in their chosen area of interest. For those looking to combine creative work with critical enquiry, the MA degree by course work offers a wide selection ranging from Narrative Screenwriting, Short Fiction Film to Documentary Production and also includes a written research report.
A successful candidate for the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) degree would be a researcher who is motivated to specialise at the highest level in the study of film and television. Through independent research, also conducted under supervision, Doctoral students may choose between two options. Students with an existing body of recognised creative work to their name may apply to be accepted for the Creative PhD degree. This requires a written theoretical component alongside the production of equivalent creative work. Doctoral students also have the option to apply for the PhD by Dissertation that requires purely written theoretical research. Both options are evaluated at the highest level and are expected to make an original contribution to knowledge in the field of study.
Head of Film and Television, Dr Tanja Sakota points out that the increased focus on postgraduate degrees in the field of Film and Television “is in line with the university’s intention to remain locally relevant while ensuring that our graduate students are also globally competitive through various international collaborations across the African continent and the world.”
In keeping with this goal, the division continues to build on its established international outreach programmes with initiatives aimed at the postgraduate level. Past successes include important inroads in developing an African practice of filmmaking through a Masters filmmaking exchange with the ALLE Arts School at the University of Addis Ababa in Ethiopia.
As of this year, Wits Film and Television students in the Masters and Doctoral programmes will be able to apply to RISE, an international exchange programme focusing on Intercultural Perspectives. Residencies under this project enable research through conferences, exhibitions and creative practice at participating institutions in Poland, South Africa, United Kingdom, Italy and the Czech Republic. Sponsorship for this postgraduate exchange has been secured until 2020.
