The programme starts with a compulsory orientation in the first or second week of February. During the orientation, students get more information about the programme.

The degree comprises two components, coursework (BUS4006W) and research (BUS4030H). Students enrolled in the programme will also be required to tutor undergraduate students. Tutoring allows you to gain work experience and refine skills and competencies relevant to the work of a practitioner.  

Coursework: BUS4006W
Students can expect to cover some of the following content in the coursework component (this is not an exhaustive list):

Organisational Change: You will be introduced to the theoretical aspects of organisational change (specific typologies and models of change) and the competencies required for managing change. You will examine the context of change, the organisational responses to change initiatives, and organisational redesign as a change intervention.

Research Methods: You will gain the skills and knowledge to plan and execute a research project and make sense of the collected data. The ability to conduct research based on scientifically sound practices is a fundamental requirement for a professional working in change management, as it increases the chances for success of any change process.

Psychometrics: You will learn how testing and assessment practices can be used as diagnostic tools or as part of interventions for organisational change. The module presents contemporary workplace assessment practices against the backdrop of scientific principles and normative professional and industry guidelines that guide psychological assessment in the workplace.

Change and Organisational Culture: You will examine the value of corporate culture for change agents. We consider both theoretical insights and practical issues as we develop a shared sense of the possibilities and challenges that understanding corporate culture presents to change agents. Culture is a powerful lens with which to understand much that is subtle but important in the ‘way things work’ in organisations and the complexity of enacted behaviours in these human systems.

* Modules and their content may differ slightly each year. At the discretion of the Head of the Section, modules may be added or withdrawn.

Research Report: BUS4030H
During orientation, students are randomly assigned to a research group. Each research group is allocated a supervisor in the Section. Supervisors choose a topic for their group based on their research areas. The research report is aligned with the Research Methods module and designed so students can complete their research within one year. Deadlines are provided at the beginning of the year. Although supervision takes place as a group, students hand in individual submissions.

The minimum admission requirement is a bachelor’s degree with Organisational Psychology or Industrial Psychology as a major, with an average mark of 65% for third-year major courses. Please note that students who have not majored in these subject areas cannot be accepted into the programme.

BBusSc students from UCT may be eligible for enrolment in their fourth year of study‚ but must meet the minimum requirements.  

Please note that admission is by selection only. 

No, the programme is only presented as a one-year full-time programme.

The programme starts at the beginning of February and runs until the end of November.

Applications must be completed using UCT’s online application portal. During your application:

• If you have a BA or BSocSc degree, please select the Humanities Faculty.
• If you have a BCom degree, please select the Commerce Faculty.

Applications open on 1 April and close on 31 October of the year preceding study.

Apply Here

Please consult the Fees Handbook for the cost of the programme under the relevant course codes (BUS4006W and BUS4030H).

Limited financial support is available through scholarships, bursaries, and student loans. Please contact the Postgraduate Funding Office for more information. 

Please note that some scholarships require application by June of the year preceding study. You are advised to apply in June even if you do not know by then whether you have been selected into the programme. International students should note that funding is limited and are advised to apply for sponsorship in their own countries.

If you want to know about student housing, please contact res@uct.ac.za.

Please contact the programme convener, Ameeta Jaga.

For more information, please refer to the Commerce or Humanities Postgraduate Handbook.