MORE ABOUT YOUR HOST

The Faculty of Arts & Design boasts five departments, namely Fashion Design, Fine & Studio Arts, Interior Design, Performing Arts and Visual Communication which offer the following twelve programmes:  Fashion Design & Technology; Fine & Applied Arts; Jewellery Design and Manufacture; Interior Design; Higher Certificate in Music; Dance; Music (Jazz & Opera); Theatre Arts & Design with a Technical Theatre & Design or Theatre Arts & Performance elective; Commercial Photography; Integrated Communication Design and Motion Picture Production. Our programmes equip students with the knowledge and creativity needed to build meaningful careers and to generate new opportunities as future employers in global contexts.

All programmes have career-focused progression possibilities – from Higher Certificate and Diplomas at entry-level, to Advanced Diplomas, Postgraduate Diplomas, Master’s and Doctoral degrees. The Higher Certificate offers basic practical skills and knowledge in a particular discipline, while our Diploma programmes lay solid foundations for you to enter the world of work confidently and competently. The Advanced Diplomas give you a deeper understanding of a specific area of specialisation in your discipline. The Postgraduate Diplomas prepare you for the professional world, academia and provide entry to a Master’s degree and later Doctoral studies.
 
Entrepreneurship, Critical Thinking, Decolonisation and the Africanisation of education in the creative industries are key and central aims of our programmes. Localised and context-specific knowledge systems are embedded in every programme and provide this purposeful focus on visual art, design, dance, film, music, photography, theatre and performance. It is worth noting that TUT programmes aim to keep abreast with international trends and global influences, thereby ensuring success.

MEET OUR PARTNERS

Student Affairs and Extracurricular Development (SAED) partnered with the Research Niche Area Artivism as a tool to combat Gender-Based Violence(s), Faculty of Arts and Design, to present the third Annual GBVF symposium. This pivotal initiative addresses one of South Africa’s most pressing social crises. From a Student Affairs perspective in higher education, this event underscores the critical role of universities in fostering safe, inclusive environments and driving transformative change to eradicate GBV&F.
 
Higher education institutions are microcosms of society, where students from diverse backgrounds converge to learn, grow, and shape their futures. However, GBV&F remains a pervasive issue on campuses, undermining students’ safety, mental health, and academic success. By hosting this symposium, SAED and the Faculty of Arts and Design create a platform for dialogue, awareness, and action, empowering students, staff, and faculty to confront and dismantle the systemic roots of GBV&F. This collaboration harnesses the creative and intellectual strengths of the arts and design disciplines to challenge harmful norms, amplify marginalized voices, and reimagine solutions through innovative, interdisciplinary approaches.
 
The event provides a space for students to engage with survivors, activists, policymakers, and scholars, fostering a deeper understanding of GBV&F’s impact and the intersectionality of gender, race, and socioeconomic factors. Through workshops, panel discussions, and creative exhibitions, the symposium encourages critical reflection and equips students with tools to advocate for change within and beyond the campus. Student Affairs plays a vital role in this process by facilitating holistic student development, promoting gender equity, and embedding values of respect and accountability in campus culture.
 
Moreover, the symposium aligns with higher education’s mandate to produce socially responsible graduates who can lead efforts to eradicate GBV&F in their communities. By integrating arts and design, the event leverages storytelling, visual media, and performance to humanize the issue, making it relatable and urgent. This approach not only raises awareness but also inspires collective action, encouraging students to become agents of change.
 
Ultimately, this symposium is a crucial step toward creating safer campuses and a society free from GBV&F. It reinforces the role of Student Affairs in cultivating environments where students thrive, empowered to challenge injustice and build a future rooted in equality and dignity.