Program Overview

Master's & Doctoral Degrees

The University of South Africa (Unisa) offers a range of master's and doctoral degrees across various disciplines. These programs are designed to provide students with in-depth knowledge and specialized skills in their chosen field of study.

Qualifications

Unisa offers the following types of qualifications:

• Master's degrees
• Doctoral degrees
• Full research qualifications
• Coursework master's degrees

Master of Arts in Religious Studies

The Master of Arts in Religious Studies is a full research qualification that consists of a dissertation incorporating a research proposal to be completed within the first year of study.

• Qualification code: 98487
• Qualification type: Full Research
• NQF level: 9
• Total credits: 180
• SAQA ID: 5395

Purpose Statement

The primary purpose of this qualification 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. The qualification also aims to provide South Africa and other countries with graduates who can synthesize information autonomously in specialized fields of study and demonstrate specialized leadership, self-reflexivity, and adaptability.

Registration

Applicants may only register once they have received confirmation from Unisa that their application for admission has been accepted. Returning students must check their myLife emails for confirmation, while new Unisa students will receive confirmation via the email address they provided at the time of application.

• Re-registering students who made sufficient progress during the current academic year and students who officially deferred their studies must register online during the approved registration period for 2026.

Registration Period

The registration period for master's and doctoral qualifications is from 7 January 2026 to 31 March 2026, with the final date for payment being 31 March 2026.

Time Limits for This Degree

All master's and doctoral qualifications are structured over a defined period.

• Coursework master's degree: A maximum of three years with an option to apply for one additional year.
• Research master's degree: A maximum of three years with an option to apply for one additional year.
• Doctoral degree: A maximum of six years with an option to apply for one additional year.

Catalytic Niche Areas (CNAs)

Unisa has identified 10 Catalytic Niche Areas to be operationalized within the colleges:

• Marine studies
• Aviation and aeronautical studies
• Automotive
• Energy
• Space study and square kilometer array
• Fourth IR and digitalization
• Natural sciences (biotechnological studies)
• Health studies/medicine
• Feminist, womanist, and Bosadi theorizations
• Student support and co-curricular activities

Curriculum

The Master of Arts in Religious Studies curriculum consists of a dissertation that incorporates a research proposal to be completed within the first year of study.

• Module: DFRLS95 - Dissertation: Religious Studies
• Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation: None specified

Research Areas

Students are encouraged to discuss their research interests with their supervisors to incorporate one or more of the Catalytic Niche Areas into their studies.