Overview
Our Postgraduate Diploma in Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies is the only accredited programme in the land and agrarian studies field at a South African university. Through the University of the Western Cape, we offer students a unique, world-class curriculum. This programme is designed for passionate and committed working professionals such as policymakers, planners, managers and fieldworkers working in national and local government departments and bodies, non-governmental organisations, private sector companies, and consultancies. The programme offers knowledge from the continent’s leading academics, researchers, and experts with established teaching, learning, and research expertise in poverty, land and agrarian studies. The Postgraduate Diploma is an independent qualification, while at the same time creates a cohort of potential Masters of Philosophy in Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies students.
University of the Western Cape faculty
Economic and Management Sciences
Programme duration
One year, with six weeks of contact time, set in two convenient blocks
Number of graduations to date
252
What are the benefits of our Postgraduate Diploma?
- Strategise your next career move with an accredited university qualification through South Africa’s Higher Education Department on National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 8, learning from internationally renowned African lecturers with established teaching, learning, and research expertise in poverty, land and agrarian studies.
- Build a solid understanding of key concepts in poverty, land, agrarian reform, ecosystem management, and climate change.
- Get ahead in your profession by learning historically accurate and timely critical engagement with land and related policies in Southern Africa to make real-time interventions in your context.
Entry requirements
- Applicants must have an undergraduate degree, with an average of 60% in the final assessment of the exit-modules in relevant courses such as Sociology, History, Economics, Political Science, Agriculture, Public Administration, Geography and/or Environmental Studies, together with at least three years’ relevant experience in the areas of poverty, land reform and sustainable natural resources management.
- Applicants without a first degree should have at least 10 years of work experience in land and agrarian reform, rural development, natural resource management and/or gender issues to qualify for recognition of prior learning, on approval from the University of the Western Cape procedures.
- Learners must be able to communicate effectively in English with peers and the wider community, through writing and oral presentations.
Teaching
Programme structure (120 credits)
LAS711
Structural Poverty and Marginalised Livelihoods in Southern African
Agro-Food Systems
(30 credits)
LAS712
The Political Economy of Land and Agrarian Reform in
Southern Africa
(30 credits)
LAS713
The Economics of Farming and Food Systems
(30 credits)
LAS714
Social and Ecological Dimensions of Ecosystems Management
(30 credits)
Format
Contact time with lecturers and self-learning through extensive reading, analysis, and discussion with lecturers and the class cohort is combined with written assignments, film screenings, workshops, and skills development projects. Students are required to complete four taught modules and be in full attendance as this is the only contact time they have with lecturers. Should a student not attend the block sessions, they will forfeit the module.
Lecturers
Our lectures are delivered by the following academics in the poverty, land, and agrarian sectors. Guest lectures will include renowned scholars from the African continent. All our lecturers are established researchers involved in practice on socially relevant and innovative research.
Assessment
Various means of assessment, such as written tests, group debates, pre-contact assignments and post-contact assignments, together with structured teaching, ensure that the teaching and learning outcomes of the programme are achieved.
How to apply
Apply via the University of the Western Cape. Please read this application information page before beginning your application.
For students with a relevant undergraduate degree:
- Complete the UWC online application
- Upload the required supporting documents below.
- Updated CV
- Motivation letter
- Certified copies of academic transcripts
- Certified copy of ID/passport
- SAQA certificate (for qualifications from outside South Africa)
Students can apply for recognition of prior learning through the University of the Western Cape Recognition of Prior Learning Office.
Email address: rplenquiries@uwc.ac.za
Contact number: +27 21 959 2799
Tuition fees
Approximately R45 000 tuition fees
Applicants may generate online quotations and pro-forma invoices via the University’s website https://quote.uwc.ac.za/default. Kindly indicate the modules LAS711, LAS712, LAS713 and LAS714 when requesting a quotation.
Deadline
30 September 2026
Applicants are encouraged to submit at their earliest convenience. You will be notified by email whether your application has been successful or not. Information regarding the registration procedures will only be provided to successful candidates.
Start Date
Semester one: February/March 2027 over three weeks
Semester two: July/August 2027 over three weeks
Enquiries
Enquires may be directed to Ms Carla Henry, the Postgraduate Programme Administrator.
- Institute for Poverty, Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS)
- Email: postgraduates@plaas.org.za
- Tel: +27 21 959 3727/3733
- Fax: +27 21 959 3732
- University of the Western Cape, Private Bag X17, Bellville, 7353, Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA