Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Philosophy in Education

The primary purpose of the DEd qualification is the attainment of highly advanced knowledge, professional skills, and applied competence in the field of Education Training and Development. Graduates will experience continued personal growth in terms of high-level intellectual development and research capacity, opportunities for gainful employment as highly advanced and specialized educationists, and they will be able to contribute creatively to educational research and development in society.

Qualification Details

• Qualification stream: History of Education
• Qualification code: 90019 - HED
• Qualification type: Full Research
• NQF level: 10
• Total credits: 360
• SAQA ID: 96477

Admission Requirements

An appropriate Master of Education Degree with an average of 60%. In addition to the above requirements, applicants must submit a transcript or an academic record, as well as a document describing their intended research. Students will be accepted on the following criteria:

• Suitability and viability of the intended research
• Adequate supervisory capacity and research expertise in the discipline or department
• An approved selection procedure which is in line with Unisa's policies on equality and diversity in the discipline or department

Time Limits for This Degree

All master's and doctoral qualifications are structured over a defined period. A student registered for a research doctoral programme must complete the study programme within six years. A student may make application to the Registrar for one additional year of study, who will only consider the application if it is recommended by the Executive Dean of the College in which the student is registered.

Doctoral Degree

A doctoral degree will require you to undertake research at the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment, and acceptance of a thesis. Coursework may be required as preparation or value addition to the research, but does not contribute to the credit value of the qualification. The defining characteristic of this qualification is that you will be required to demonstrate high-level research capability and make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of the discipline or field.

Research Focus Areas

Research focus areas for the College of Education include various departments and research groups. A detailed list of these areas can be found within the college's research focus areas documentation.

Research Outline

Unisa's admission policy requires the submission of a detailed research outline for the qualification applied for. This outline should 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

The research outline must align with one of the departmental research focus areas and should incorporate at least one of Unisa's Catalytic Niche Areas, which include:

1. Marine studies
2. Aviation and aeronautical studies
3. Automotive
4. Energy
5. Space study and square kilometre array
6. Fourth IR and digitalisation
7. Natural sciences (biotechnological studies)
8. Health studies/medicine
9. Feminist, womanist and bosadi theorisations
10. Student support and co-curricular activities

Student Fees and Funding Your Studies

Application Fee

An online application fee of R150.00 must be paid once a Unisa student number has been received.

Student Fees

Student fee information for the 2025 academic year is available, and fees for the 2026 academic year will be announced at the time of registration. Students registering for qualifications through the Graduate School of Business Leadership should consult the SBL website for specific fee information.

Apply for a Student Number and Apply for Admission

Applications for master's and doctoral qualifications are accepted until a specified date. To apply, one must first apply for a Unisa student number (if not already in possession of one) and then apply for admission, uploading all required supporting documents within the specified timeframe.

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

Registration and curriculum information for the Doctor of Philosophy in Education can be found through the official Unisa channels, providing details on the structure and content of the program.