PROGRAMME INFORMATION DOCUMENT ADMISSIONS FOR … · PROGRAMME INFORMATION DOCUMENT ADMISSIONS FOR JANUARY 2020 ADMISSION . ... Copy of National ID (front and back) or Passport biodata

PROGRAMME INFORMATION DOCUMENT

ADMISSIONS

FOR

JANUARY 2020 ADMISSION


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TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 1

2.0 LOCATION .......................................................................................................................................... 1

3.0 COURSE CONTENT ............................................................................................................................. 1

4.0 COURSE TIMINGS .............................................................................................................................. 1

5.0 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................ 2

5.1 PERSONAL STATEMENT ................................................................................................................. 3

6.0 TUITION FEE AND COSTS ................................................................................................................... 3

7.0 FUNDING ........................................................................................................................................... 3

7.1 NEEDS-BASED STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (SAP) ............................................................... 4

7.2 EAC MERIT-BASED MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP FUND (EAC-MSF) ......................................................... 4

8.0 ACCOMMODATION ........................................................................................................................... 4

9.0 MEDICAL INFORMATION ................................................................................................................... 4

10.0 HOW TO APPLY ................................................................................................................................. 5

11.0 SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION ......................................................................................................... 5

11.1 SPECIFICATIONS FOR UPLOADING DOCUMENTS .......................................................................... 6

12.0 APPLICATION FEE .............................................................................................................................. 7

13.0 MODE OF PAYMENT .......................................................................................................................... 7

14.0 REPEAT APPLICATIONS ...................................................................................................................... 8

15.0 PROVISIONAL APPLICATIONS ............................................................................................................ 8


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The Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) invites applicants from across East Africa to

the Masters of Arts in Digital Journalism programme.

Please read the information carefully before filling out the application form.

1.0 INTRODUCTION

The Masters of Arts in Digital Journalism programme is a full-time, two-year graduate programme that combines real-life practice with academic rigor to position early and mid-career journalists as leaders in their field. The programme enables journalists to develop knowledge, skills and professional qualities for success at the highest levels of their profession and gives them an opportunity to work with world-renowned journalists and scholars as they blend practice, critical thinking and theory in their coursework. Applicants are expected to have experience in journalism at the time of application.

2.0 LOCATION

The Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) is located on 7th floor,

9west building, off Ring Road at the Sarit Centre roundabout in Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya.

3.0 COURSE CONTENT

The programme comprises 11 courses that include a specialized reporting project and research thesis

offered over a four-semester period as follows:

Semester 1

Content that sells

Investigation and Analysis

Media Law and Ethics

Past, Present and Future

Semester 2

Advanced Digital Journalism

Media Leadership in Action

Media Development & Social

Impact

Developing your Editorial Specialty

Semester 3

Putting Research into Action

Specialist Reporting Project

Semester 4

Research Thesis

4.0 COURSE TIMINGS

Classes will be conducted in the evenings between 5:30pm and 9:00 pm every day of the week and on

Saturdays between 9:00 am and 3:00 pm.


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The year of study is scheduled as follows:

Year 1

Semester 1

January 20 – 24, 2020 Induction week

January 27, 2020 Semester 1 begins

March 16 -20, 2020 Mid-semester break

March 23, 2020 Semester 1 continues

May 25-29, 2020 End of semester exams

May 29, 2020 End of semester

Semester 2

August 12 – 15, 2020 Pre-semester boot camp

August 19, 2020 Semester 2 begins

October 7 – 11, 2020 Mid-semester break

October 14, 2020 Semester 2 continues

December 16 – 20, 2020 End of semester exams

December 20, 2020 End of semester

Year 2

Semester 1

January 18 – 22, 2021 Pre-semester boot camp

January 25, 2021 Semester 1 begins

March 15 – 19, 2021 Mid-semester break

March 22, 2021 Semester 1 continues

May 24 – 28, 2021 End of semester exams

May 28, 2021 End of semester

Semester 2

August 9 – 13, 2021 Pre-semester boot camp

August 16, 2021 Semester 2 begins

October 4 -8, 2021 Mid-semester break

October 11, 2021 Semester 2 continues

December 13 – 17, 2021 End of semester exams

December 17, 2021 End of semester

5.0 ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

The applicant should be an early to mid-career journalist and media professional. Programme entry

requirements:

A four-year undergraduate degree from an accredited/recognized university, with a minimum

CGPA of 3.00 (on a four-point scale) or its equivalent. Additionally, a minimum of two years of

professional experience in journalism or a related field OR

A four-year undergraduate degree (or equivalent) from an accredited/recognized university with

a minimum CGPA of 2.50 or its equivalent will be considered, provided the candidate has a

minimum of four years of professional experience in journalism or a related field.

Preference will be given to applicants with:

1. Demonstrated academic and intellectual ability to complete post graduate studies.

2. Outstanding written and verbal communication skills in English.

3. Computer literacy and basic digital media production techniques.

4. Broad knowledge of history and current affairs.

5. Relevant work experience as evidenced by a portfolio of work and professional references.

Please note that admission is based on merit and assessed through several criteria including academic

achievements, work experience, portfolio of work and the candidate’s results in the admission test and

interview. Fulfilment of basic eligibility requirements or a high score in any single aspect of the

admission process is not sufficient for selection.


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Applicants who meet minimum eligibility requirements must write the English Test and Journalism

Knowledge Test administered by the University. Successful candidates will be invited to a face-to-face

interview and they will be given a chance to speak to their portfolio of work. Students must present

their original degree certificates for inspection.

5.1 PERSONAL STATEMENT

Applicants must submit a ‘Personal Statement’ not exceeding 1000 words to support their application.

This statement provides the candidate an opportunity to explain why this programme is important to

them.

The personal statement should be typed in English and the following instructions followed:

Explain how your professional experience relates to the programme you wish to pursue,

Clearly state how the graduate studies will impact your future career,

Please ensure that this is your own original work. Do not copy your statement, in whole or in

part, from anybody else’s nor from any other source, including the Internet. If detected this may

lead to your application being invalidated or, if detected at a later stage, dismissal from the

programme. (The University may pass the personal statement through anti-plagiarism

software).

6.0 TUITION FEE AND COSTS

Tuition fees and other costs are subject to change and are determined each year. Students will be

charged a tuition fee of US$10,700 per academic year.

7.0 FUNDING

AKU-GSMC operationalises two student assistance schemes as follows:

7.1 Internal Students Assistance Scheme

a) Needs-based Student Assistance Program (SAP)

7.2 External Students Assistance Scheme

a) EAC Merit-based Media Scholarship Fund (EAC-MSF)

The financial assistance schemes are aimed at assisting high quality and genuinely needy students who

are unable to meet their education expenditure.

Limited funding is available under each program and therefore applicants are encouraged to seek

funding from other sources (loans and scholarships) before applying to AKU-GSMC for financial

assistance. Details of any other financial support sought should be declared when applying for AKU

financial assistance.


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7.1 NEEDS-BASED STUDENT ASSISTANCE PROGRAMME (SAP)

AKU provides financial assistance on proof of genuine fiscal need which include but may not be limited

to:

1) Low income 2) Emergency 3) Illness 4) Change of circumstances 5) Medical condition

The amount of assistance provided will not exceed 25% of tuition fees and it does not provide any travel

or living allowances. This programme is only available to students pursuing AKU academic programmes.

The rationale of SAP is to facilitate access for high quality but economically-disadvantaged candidates

who would otherwise not be able to afford to attend AKU-GSMC.

7.2 EAC MERIT-BASED MEDIA SCHOLARSHIP FUND (EAC-MSF)

The scholarship is available to students from a member country of the East Africa Community (EAC).

EAC-MSF aims at expanding the diversity of the learning community of the GSMC and to foster the

regional perspective of the school.

The fund can provide funding of up to 75% of tuition fees for the M.A in Digital Journalism course and of

up to 100% of living/travel costs, dependent on merit.

The rationale of the MSF is to:

Facilitate access for high quality candidates who would otherwise not be able to afford to attend

AKU-GSMC.

Ensure geographical, gender and institutional diversity within the student cohort.

Support international outreach of AKU-GSMC programs across the EAC.

Application forms and guidelines will be provided as part of the MA application package.

8.0 ACCOMMODATION

The University does not provide accommodation for the MA students. It is the responsibility of each

student to arrange for their own accommodation.

9.0 MEDICAL INFORMATION

All students will be required to produce a doctor’s letter indicating fitness to undertake a rigorous

academic programme. More information will be sent about this to successful candidates.


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10.0 HOW TO APPLY

Candidates are encouraged to apply online. For assistance in completing the online application,

applicants are advised to go through the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) or Understand the Online

Application Process.

Only in situations where the online application is not accessible, candidates may request for a paper-

based application form by emailing the Admission Office at [email protected]

Required documents for upload include:

i) Current curriculum vitae

ii) Recent passport size colour photograph on a white background

iii) Copies of official academic transcripts and certificate

iv) Two letters of reference as per the templates provided; one from a professional referee and the other from an academic referee i.e.; someone who has previously taught you.

v) A personal statement as per the instructions given above

vi) Copies of National ID or passport bio data page for non-Kenyan applicants

vii) Proof of payment of application fees

NB: Shortlisted applicants will be expected to provide their portfolio of work, not more than three years

old, and an accompanying synopsis of the work submitted during the Admissions Test date.

11.0 SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION

Online applications must be submitted by July 3, 2019.

Follow the steps below to apply for an academic programme online:

i) You will need an email account to apply; if you don't have one, please create

ii) Click on our online page www.aku.edu/apply-online

iii) As a new AKU online user, click on "new user"

iv) An acknowledgement email will be sent to your email address.

v) Click on "here" to verify your account and move forward.

vi) Provide personal information

vii) Create new application

viii) Select Country

ix) Select your programme of choice

x) Enter your qualifications. Provide complete details for each qualification

http://www.aku.edu/apply-online


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xi) Enter programme specific details

xii) Review for correctness before submission

xiii) Upload documents according to drop down list. DO NOT FORGET to upload proof of application

fees payment

xiv) Save and submit online application

xv) You will receive an acknowledgement email with a copy of the application form to confirm

receipt of online application

xvi) If shortlisted for interviews, you will receive a copy of your Admit Card on your portal and email,

within two weeks

11.1 SPECIFICATIONS FOR UPLOADING DOCUMENTS

In order to complete your application online, you should upload the following documents:

Documents Uploading Format

Curriculum vitae PDF/ JPEG

Passport size colour photograph showing full face (taken within last week to reflect current appearance)

JPEG

Attested photocopies of academic certificates / official transcripts and other relevant certificates as entered on application form

PDF/ JPEG

Copy of National ID (front and back) or Passport biodata page PDF/ JPEG

Proof of application fee paid (see relevant sections for more details) PDF/ JPEG

*All uploads should not exceed 1 MB in size.

The University does not accept late applications. Please ensure that you have complied with the

instructions provided in this information sheet. Incomplete applications will not be processed. It remains

the responsibility of the candidate to complete the application requirements according to the published

instructions and time schedule. The Admission Office will not send reminders. Once acknowledged, an

application will not be returned.

Aga Khan University reserves the right to admission, to revoke admission and registration if an

application form is discovered to be inaccurate or incomplete, or if supporting documents are

discovered to be fraudulent. Any candidate who presents a fraudulent document in support of an

application for admission may be identified to other universities and colleges.


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12.0 APPLICATION FEE

A non-refundable application fee of Kenya Shillings (KES) 5,000 for Kenyan applicants or USD 50 is

applicable.

13.0 MODE OF PAYMENT

Bank Deposit (Account Details)

Title The Aga Khan Univeristy

Bank Name Diamond Trust Bank Limited

Branch Mwanzi Road Branch, Westlands

Account Numbers: Kenya Shilling Account 0363583001

US Dollar Account 0363583002

Mobile Payment (Safaricom M-PESA)

Business Number 657098

Account Number Enter your name as indicated in the online application profile

Swift Code DTKEKENA

Bank Code 063

Branch Code 070-Mwanzi Road Branch, Westlands

Bank Address P.O Box 66845-00800, Nairobi

INTERMEDIARY BANK STANDARD CHARTERED BANK, NEW YORK 1 MADISON AVENUE, NY 10010, USA SWIFT CODE: SCBLUS33 ABA : 026002561

NB: Personal cheques are not acceptable.


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14.0 REPEAT APPLICATIONS

Applicants not successful in their first attempt may apply again in subsequent years with additional

information supporting their application. A candidate’s most recent formal academic qualification will

be used for evaluation purposes.

A fresh application together with necessary documentation must be submitted for a particular

admission session. The University does not have a policy of automatically carrying forward applications

from one session to the next.

15.0 PROVISIONAL APPLICATIONS

The Aga Khan University will accept provisional applications from candidates who may have documents

pending to be submitted including reference letters or transcripts. Such applications will be evaluated

for admission on a provisional basis. To process an application for final selection, applicants will be

required to submit their (pending) documents in accordance with the minimum eligibility requirements

by the dates specified by the University. In case pending documents are not submitted within the due

dates, the application will stand cancelled.

It is the candidate’s responsibility to ensure that pending documents are received in the Admission Office

according to the published schedule.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: WEDNESDAY, JULY 3, 2019.

For more information, please contact:

Registrar’s Office Aga Khan University

Graduate School of Media and Communications 9West Building, 7th Floor

Mkungu Close, off Parklands Road P.O. Box 30270 - 00100

Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254 20 374 0062/63 Mobile: +254 719 231 530

Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]