INSTITUTE FOR POVERTY, LAND AND AGRARIAN STUDIES (PLAAS) APPLICATION LETTER FOR 2012 ACADEMIC YEAR POSTGRADUATE DIPLOMA AND MPHIL (COURSEWORK) IN LAND AND AGRARIAN STUDIES Dear Prospective Student, Thank you for your interest in the Postgraduate Diploma and MPhil Coursework in Land and Agrarian Studies. Please read the following guidelines carefully to assist you in your application process. The below process flow indicates the application process. In order to be accepted to the programme, your application needs to be considered and approved by the PLAAS Selection Committee. We will pre-select students on a monthly bases from July 2011. 1. Complete UWC Online Application 2. Pay Application Fee 3. Complete SOG-PLAAS Application Form 4. Complete the Motivational Letter 5. Complete the review ew of PLAAS research report 36 6. Submit all required documentation (matric certificate, academic transcripts, ID/passport and references) 7. Pre-selection takes place 8. Final selection takes place It is strongly recommended that you complete the UWC online application form as this speeds up the application process. However if this is not possible, you can complete the postgraduate UWC hard-copy application form, which can be obtained from the Postgraduate Senior Administrator or Student Administration. In your UWC application, please make sure that you apply for the correct course as follows: Course: Postgraduate Diploma in Land and Agrarian Studies or MPhil in Land and Agrarian Studies Department: SOG-PLAAS Faculty: Economic and Management Sciences (EMS) Kindly contact the Postgraduate Senior Administrator should you require further clarification. 1. Guidelines for the UWC Online Application Please keep ALL your academic records, ID document, etc. ready and close to the computer before applying online. Please pay the once-off off application fee of R 100.00 at ABSA bank details below. Please ensure that your application number is your surname, name and reference number.
Fax the deposit slip/proof of payment to: Patricia Norman 021-959-1556 Carla Henry: 021-959-3732 You may call Student Administration to verify the payment and receipt of fax on: 021-959-2478/3348/2910/3392/27062478/3348/2910/3392/2706 The payment would take approximately two days to reflect onto the University system. 1.1. Instructions for the UWC Online Application 1. Find Website on Internet Explorer: http://www.uwc.ac.za/ 2. Click on Online Services 3. Click on Online Applications 4. If you are applying for the first time, click on New Application 5. If you are returning to complete or correct your application, click on Edit Application 6. Complete all the necessary fields on the form & click Submit each time 7. Once the application is complete Read Terms and Conditions 8. Type Agree 9. Click on Submit 10. An Application Number would be generated. Use this number for all correspondence to the University. 11. Once your application is complete, you are required to pay the application fee of R100.00 into the University s banking account. 2. Banking Details of UWC Institution Name of Account Branch Address Branch Code Account Number Swift Code ABSA Bank U.W.C STUDENT DEPOSIT ACCOUNT Public Sector Western Cape 1st Floor, Tygerpark 4, Willie van Schoor Drive, Bellville, 7530 632005 4049604740 ABSAZAJJ South African Applicants Beneficiary/Recipient/Deposit Reference Foreign Applicants Your Reference/Remittance Information
Namibian Applicants Description Details of reference Number on beneficiary s account 3. SOG-PLAAS Application Form In order to complete the SOG-PLAAS application form, you would be required to submit the following documentation along with your application. It must be personally signed by the applicant and posted to the address below, along with the other required documents. A certified copy of your identity document/passport A certified copy of your matric results Certified copies of your academic transcripts and certificates Reviewed PLAAS research report 36 Two reference letters (preferably from academics or a character reference) Proof of application fee payment SAQA certificate of evaluation for all international students Electronic communication is vital with respect to this programme. Please ensure that all e-mail addresses are clear and correct. Should you have an alternate e-mail address where you can be reached, please supply us with the alternate e-mail address as well. It would be greatly appreciated if all e-mail communication is confirmed as a means of tracking. As is stipulated in the application forms, no applications will be considered if all the required documents have not been certified and included in one complete package. 3.1. Certificate of Evaluation for Foreign Qualifications Prospective students (international and South Africans) who obtained qualifications from foreign universities, the University requires a Certificate of Foreign Qualifications Evaluation from the SAQA offices. The purpose of the evaluation is to compare foreign qualifications with South African qualifications and to advise on the recognition of the foreign qualifications in South Africa in terms of the National Qualifications Framework (NQF). Please note that this is the applicants responsibility including all costs related to this. Kindly visit the SAQA website (http://www.saqa.org.za) or contact the call centre on +27 12 431 5070 for more information.
3.2. Application for Consideration on the Basis of Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) If you have substantial work experience in land and agrarian reform but do not have an undergraduate degree, you may apply to be considered on the basis of recognition of prior learning (RPL). In addition to the procedures outlined above, please provide a portfolio of yourself which consists of: Detailed curriculum vitae Compile an autobiographical learning history,, outlining relevant work experience and competencies that you have developed which should be aligned with the Programme s objectives (see below). Highlight your research background, publications/articles and conferences/public presentations made. Essay on the importance of agriculture and land reform in your province. Review two articles Complete an internal written exam on land reform in South Africa at PLAAS office. Your work experience and relevant educational qualifications will be taken into account when considering your application. If PLAAS selects you to the programme, your application will need to be endorsed by the University Senate. Programme s Objectives The purpose of the programme is to enhance the capacity of government and civil society organisations to develop and implement policies and programmes of land and agrarian reform that seek to achieve both the redistribution of productive assets and sustainable development. The specific objective is to develop appropriate knowledge and skills which will enable policy makers, planners, managers, researchers and fieldworkers in the sector to: Conceptualise key policy issues of land and agrarian reform Analyse problems of policy formulation and programme design Plan effective programmes and projects Undertake research on important questions of policy and practice Kindly write a motivation letter indicating why you feel you should be accepted onto the Programme. Your letter of motivation for consideration should include your relevant work experiences, community work and career objectives 4. Motivation for Consideration Kindly write a motivation letter indicating why you feel you should be accepted onto the Programme. Your letter of motivation for consideration should include your relevant work experiences, community work and career objectives.
5. Writing Sample You are required to review the PLAAS Research Report 36 entitled Land Redistribution and Poverty Reduction in South Africa by Edward Lahiff, Themba Maluleke, Tshililo Manenzhe and Marc Wegerif. The review should consist of 2-3 type pages, font Times New Roman, font size 12. Enclosed in the application, you would find a PLAAS Research Report 36. The PLAAS Selection Committee would base their decision on your writing sample. Registration Fees for 2012 Please note that if your application is successful, you will need to pay a registration fee of approximately R 900 in January 2012in order to register. You will also need to pay a portion of your course fees, approximately R 4000 to register. Further information would be communicated to the successful candidates. The expected fees are approximately R 19 400. Please note that all the required documentation needs to be submitted together as one complete application package,, including all the necessary certified documents. PLAAS would be pre-selecting the prospective students monthly and would therefore encourage applicants to submit the application as soon as possible. Only applications complying with these requirements will be considered. Please be advised that, you will be notified by email and a formal letter indicating whether your application has been successful ssful or not. We wish you everything of the best for your application. Sincerely, Ms Carla Henry Postgraduate Senior Administrator Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies Bellville 7535 Tel: +27 219593727 / 3733 Fax:+27 219593732 Email: chenry@uwc.ac.za Website: http://www.plaas.org.za