Journalism is one of the few professional fields in South Africa with no licensing requirement and no compulsory qualification. Anyone may practise it. What gets people hired is demonstrable work — published pieces, a portfolio, evidence that you can report accurately and write to deadline.
That does not make a qualification pointless. A good journalism programme teaches media law, ethics and craft, and provides the internships that lead to first jobs. It does mean the portfolio matters at least as much as the certificate.
Entry Requirements at a Glance
Requirements depend on the level and institution.
- For a degree in journalism, media studies or communication: A National Senior Certificate with admission to bachelor’s degree study requires at least 40% in your home language, at least 50% in four subjects from the designated subject list, and at least 30% in two further subjects.
- For a diploma at a university of technology: A National Senior Certificate with admission to diploma study requires at least 40% in your home language, at least 40% in four other subjects and at least 30% in two further subjects.
- English at a strong level — this is the subject that matters most, and institutions often set a specific minimum
- Mathematics or Mathematical Literacy — Mathematical Literacy is usually accepted
- An APS meeting the programme minimum
- A South African ID, or a passport and study visa for international applicants
Academic and Minimum Admission Requirements
Beyond English, the school subjects that help are the ones that build general knowledge: History, Geography, Economics and a second language. Journalism rewards knowing things, and South African newsrooms particularly value reporters who can work in more than one language.
The portfolio is the requirement nobody sets formally. Start now, whatever stage you are at. Write for the school or campus publication, start a blog or newsletter, cover local council meetings, pitch to community papers. Editors hire on evidence of work, and a first-year student with published clippings is ahead of a graduate without.
Media law and ethics are the professional substance. A journalist working in South Africa needs to understand defamation, contempt of court, the protection of sources, the Promotion of Access to Information Act, the Protection of Personal Information Act, and the codes of the Press Council and the Broadcasting Complaints Commission. Getting these wrong is how journalists and publications end up in court.
Verify accreditation if you are considering a private college. The institution must be registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training and the qualification registered on the NQF — confirm with SAQA before paying.
Subjects, APS and Qualification Requirements
Most South African universities calculate an Admission Point Score (APS) from your best six 20-credit NSC subjects on a seven-point scale, giving a maximum of 42. Life Orientation is excluded at most institutions, and level 1 subjects generally do not count. Each university publishes its own APS table and programme minimums, revised annually, so confirm the figure for your intake year with the institution itself.
Be clear-eyed about the industry. South African newsrooms have contracted substantially over the past two decades. Permanent staff positions are fewer, freelancing is more common, and pay at entry level is modest. This is worth knowing before committing, and any programme that does not tell you is not being straight with you.
That said, the skills travel. Communications, content, corporate publishing, non-profit and government communication, podcasting and independent publishing all draw on journalism training, and many journalism graduates work in those fields.
Specialisation is what creates value. Data journalism, investigative reporting, financial and business journalism, health and science reporting, and legal reporting are all areas where competent people are scarce. Building genuine expertise in a subject alongside the journalism is the most reliable way to be employable.
Internships are the practical bridge. Ask any programme which newsrooms it places students with, and how many of its graduates were employed by their placement. That answer tells you more than the curriculum does.
Documents and Application Requirements
Applications run through each institution’s own system.
- Certified copy of your South African ID, or passport for international applicants
- Grade 11 final results and Grade 12 mid-year results when applying
- Final National Senior Certificate once available
- Proof of payment of the application fee where one is charged
- A portfolio of written work, where the programme requires or accepts one
- A motivation letter, where required
Selection, Intake and Eligibility Considerations
Journalism programmes are generally accessible, so the competition is for internships and jobs rather than for places. That makes what you do during the degree far more important than which institution admits you.
Community and student media are the best training available and cost nothing. Newsrooms notice people who have already been doing the work.
- Build a portfolio from now, whatever stage you are at
- Work on student and community media throughout your studies
- Learn media law and ethics properly — they are the professional substance
- Develop a second language, especially a South African one
- Specialise in a subject: data, finance, health, law, investigations
- Ask programmes where they place interns and how many are hired
- Verify accreditation with SAQA before paying a private college
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a journalism degree to be a journalist?
No. There is no licensing requirement and no compulsory qualification. Editors hire on demonstrable work, though a good programme provides craft, media law and internships.
What school subject matters most?
English. Institutions often set a specific minimum, and the work itself is writing. History, Geography, Economics and a second language all help.
Is journalism a viable career in South Africa?
Newsrooms have contracted and entry-level pay is modest, but the skills transfer widely into communications, content and specialist reporting. Specialisation is what creates durable value.
When should I start building a portfolio?
Immediately. School and campus publications, blogs, community papers and local council coverage all count, and published work outweighs a qualification at hiring.
Entry requirements, accreditation and placement arrangements differ by institution and change. Confirm current requirements with the institution, and verify private college accreditation with SAQA.