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
• Research master's degrees

Master of Arts in Criminal Justice

The Master of Arts in Criminal Justice is a full research qualification that focuses on corrections management. The qualification code is 98629 - CMA, and it is offered at NQF level 9. The total credits required for completion are 180.

Rules

The curriculum consists of a dissertation that incorporates a research proposal to be completed within the first year of study.

Purpose Statement

The primary purpose of the 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 second purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with graduates who can synthesize information autonomously in specialized fields of study in order to provide leaders who can handle contradictions and evaluate highly complex problems independently. The third purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with people who can demonstrate specialized leadership, self-reflexivity, and adaptability.

Registration

To register for a master's or doctoral degree, applicants must first receive 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.

Registration Period

The registration period for master's and doctoral qualifications opens on 7 January 2026 and closes on 31 March 2026. The final date for payment is also 31 March 2026.

Time Limits for This Degree

All master's and doctoral qualifications are structured over a defined period. The time limits for each type of qualification are as follows:

• 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 (CNAs) 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

Students who are interested in any of these areas can discuss incorporating one or more of the CNAs into their studies with their supervisor.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Master of Arts in Criminal Justice includes a dissertation that focuses on corrections management. The module code is DFCMA91, and there are no pre-requisites or co-requisites.

Research Areas

Unisa offers research opportunities in various areas, including the 10 Catalytic Niche Areas (CNAs) identified by the university. Students can work with their supervisors to incorporate one or more of these areas into their research.