Program Overview

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Master's & Doctoral Degrees

The University of South Africa (Unisa) offers a range of master's and doctoral degrees across various colleges and departments. These programs are designed to provide students with advanced knowledge and skills in their chosen field, as well as the opportunity to contribute to the existing body of knowledge through original research.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to a master's or doctoral degree at Unisa, students must meet the following requirements:

• An appropriate bachelor's degree or postgraduate diploma
• A minimum of 96 credits at NQF level 8 in the relevant field
• An average of 60% or higher in the relevant field
• Students with foreign qualifications must have their qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA)

Student Fees and Funding

The application fee for master's and doctoral degrees at Unisa is R150.00. Student fees vary depending on the program and the student's residency status. International students are advised to use the Flywire payment option.

Application for Admission

Applications for master's and doctoral degrees at Unisa are open until December 19, 2025. Students must apply for a Unisa student number and upload all supporting documents during the application period.

Registration

Only students whose application for admission was approved and re-registering students who made sufficient progress during the current academic year will be allowed to register online within the approved registration period for the 2026 academic year.

Curriculum

The curriculum for master's and doctoral degrees at Unisa varies depending on the program. Students can find more information on the Unisa website.

Master of Arts in English Studies

The Master of Arts in English Studies is a full research degree that provides students with advanced knowledge and skills in English literature and language.

Purpose Statement

The primary purpose of the Master of Arts in English Studies is to enable graduates to become specialists in a particular discipline or within an interdisciplinary framework by gaining in-depth knowledge in a complex area of study.

Qualification Code and Type

The qualification code for the Master of Arts in English Studies is 98519, and the qualification type is Full Research.

NQF Level and Total Credits

The NQF level for the Master of Arts in English Studies is 9, and the total credits required for the degree are 180.

SAQA ID

The SAQA ID for the Master of Arts in English Studies is 5395.

Admission Requirements

To be eligible for admission to the Master of Arts in English Studies, students must meet the following requirements:

• An appropriate bachelor's degree or postgraduate diploma
• A minimum of 96 credits at NQF level 8 in English with an average of 60%
• Students with foreign qualifications must have their qualifications evaluated by SAQA

Time Limits for this Degree

The time limit for completing the Master of Arts in English Studies is three years. Students may apply for an additional year of study, but they must have a research proposal approved in the first year of study.

Research Master's Degree

The Master of Arts in English Studies is a research master's degree that comprises a dissertation on an approved topic.

Research Focus Areas

The research focus areas for the Master of Arts in English Studies include:

• Marine studies
• Aviation and aeronautical studies
• Automotive
• Energy
• Space study and square kilometre array
• Fourth IR and digitalisation
• Natural sciences (biotechnological studies)
• Health studies/medicine
• Feminist, womanist and bosadi theorisations
• Student support and co-curricular activities

Research Outline

Students must submit a detailed research outline as part of their application for admission. The research outline must include:

• Title
• Summary of topic
• Short literature review
• Expected contribution of the study
• Methodology to be followed
• Availability of the data
• List of references
• Reasons why you are interested in the topic

Colleges and Departments

Unisa has several colleges and departments that offer master's and doctoral degrees, including:

• College of Accounting Sciences
• College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
• College of Economic and Management Sciences
• College of Education
• College of Human Sciences
• College of Law
• College of Science, Engineering and Technology
• College of Graduate Studies

Each college and department has its own research focus areas and admission requirements. Students can find more information on the Unisa website.