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How to become a Journalist / Communications Professional

Researches, writes and reports - in news, media, PR or international affairs.

What does a Journalist / Communications Professional actually do?

More about this career

A 3-year BA, BPolSci or similar degree (journalism, media studies, international relations or a general humanities major with strong writing) is the usual route in – there’s no legal registration gate the way there is for law or medicine. What matters most in practice is a strong portfolio of published or produced work, often built through internships and student publications while still studying, since the degree name itself matters less than your writing and reporting ability.

Where this degree can take you

  • News Reporter
  • Public Relations / Communications Officer
  • Foreign Correspondent
  • Broadcast Journalist

This is our general description of the role and related jobs, not from an official source – it’s here to give you a fuller picture, not as a careers-counselling guarantee.

Not from an official source

Subjects that usually help

  • English (strong)
  • History, Geography or a language (helpful)

This is our general guidance about which school subjects suit this career. It is not an admission requirement and not from an official source – the real requirements are on the degrees below.

Not from an official source

Where to check this yourself

Degrees that lead here

4 degrees at 4 universities. More are added as we verify them.

University of Cape Town

Not fully verified

BA / BSocSc (with a media/communications-related major)

Humanities · 3 years

No points cut-off published for this one – see the note below.

  • English: 50% if it is your Home Language, 60% if it is your First Additional Language
  • Life Orientation: 50%
  • NBT – An NBT Academic Literacy result of Lower Intermediate or Basic normally rules an applicant out.

UCT does not list Journalism as its own admission line - you’re admitted to the general BA/BSocSc and choose your major from second year. Confirm which specific major UCT offers in this area before relying on it. The numeric FPS cut-off was in the section of the prospectus our research pass could not read.

Source: View the official page (uct.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of KwaZulu-Natal

From an older documentNot fully verified

BA / BSocSc (with a media/communications-related major)

Humanities · 3 years

UKZN APS 28 points out of 48

  • English: level 4 (50% or more)
  • Life Orientation: level 4 (50% or more)
  • One listed subject – One subject from UKZN’s designated list at level 5.

UKZN does not list Journalism as its own admission line - you’re admitted to the general BA/BSocSc and choose your major from second year. Confirm which specific major UKZN offers in this area before relying on it. The published APS range is 48-28. This comes from the Study@UKZN 2026 brochure, the most recent official source we could find. UKZN had not published a 2027 table when we checked, so treat these as 2026 figures pending a 2027 update. Applications go through the CAO.

Source: View the official page (studyatukzn.ukzn.ac.za) (opens the official page)

University of Pretoria

Not fully verified

BA (with a Journalism/Communications-related major)

Humanities

UP APS 30 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language

UP’s official table does not list Journalism as its own admission line - you’re admitted to the general BA (shown here) and choose your major from second year. Confirm which specific major UP offers in this area before relying on it. Most UP closing dates are 30 June; Veterinary Science closes 31 May. Grade 12 applicants apply with their final Grade 11 results.

Source: View the official page (drupalwebprod-files.up.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

University of the Witwatersrand

From an older documentNot fully verified

BA (General, with a media/communications-related major)

Humanities · 3 years

Wits APS 36 points

  • English: level 5 if it is your Home Language, level 5 if it is your First Additional Language

Wits does not list Journalism as its own admission line - you’re admitted to the general BA (shown here) and choose your major from second year. Confirm which specific major Wits offers in this area before relying on it. This figure comes from the Wits schools-liaison Grade 12 guide, which is headed for 2026 entry. We have not yet found a 2027 course-finder page confirming it, so treat it as the most recent official figure rather than a confirmed 2027 one.

Source: View the official page (wits.ac.za) (opens the official page) · 2027 intake

Are your marks enough?

Put your subjects in once and we’ll check them against every degree above – scored each university’s own way.

What do I qualify for?