Program Overview

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, professional skills, and applied competence in their chosen field.

Registration and Admission

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 students will receive confirmation via the email address provided during the application process.

• Applicants may only register once they have received confirmation from Unisa.
• 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.
• Should a student wish to start a new qualification, they must apply for admission during the next application period and check whether the qualification is on the list of available programs.

Registration Periods

Registration opens and closes on specific dates for different qualifications:

• Master's & doctoral qualifications: Registration opens on 7 January 2026 and closes on 31 March 2026.
• MCompt, Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Business Leadership (MBL) qualifications: Registration opens on 7 January 2026 and closes on 21 February 2026.

Time Limits for Degrees

All master's and doctoral qualifications have defined time limits:

• 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:

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

Students interested in any of these areas should discuss incorporating one or more CNAs into their studies with their supervisor.

PhD by Publication

A doctoral student may elect to complete their doctoral degree by publication. This involves several peer-reviewed publications written as an introduction, discussion, and conclusion, contributing to a unified research theme within a specific field. Each academic college has its own criteria for considering such a request, and students must discuss this option with their supervisor from the outset.

Curriculum

The curriculum for master's and doctoral degrees varies by program but typically includes a combination of coursework, research, and dissertation or thesis requirements. For example, the Doctor of Education (DEd) in Curriculum Studies includes:

• A thesis that incorporates a research proposal, an oral defence (viva voce), and two manuscripts submitted for publication to a recognized accredited journal.
• Proof of manuscript submission is a compulsory condition for the degree to be conferred.

Purpose Statement

The primary purpose of the DEd qualification is to attain highly advanced knowledge, professional skills, and applied competence in the field of Education Training and Development. Graduates will experience continued personal growth, opportunities for gainful employment as highly advanced and specialized educationists, and the ability to contribute creatively to educational research and development in society.

Doctor of Education (DEd)

Qualification Details

• Qualification stream: Curriculum Studies
• Qualification code: 90038 - CUS
• Qualification type: Full Research
• NQF level: 10
• Total credits: 360
• SAQA ID: 5917

Rules

The curriculum consists of a thesis that incorporates a research proposal, an oral defence (viva voce), and two manuscripts based on the candidate's research, submitted for publication to a recognized accredited journal. Proof of manuscript submission is a compulsory condition for the degree to be conferred.

Purpose Statement

The primary purpose of the DEd qualification is the attainment of highly advanced knowledge, professional skills, and applied competence (by means of educational research) 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. A second purpose of the DEd qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with DEd graduates in the field of Education, Training, and Development to form a strong advanced scholarship and leadership base for the educational sector in society. A third purpose of the DEd qualification is to provide South Africa (and other countries) with educationists who understand the constructive and reconstructive developmental roles they need to play as high-level thinkers and leaders in the field of Education, Training, and Development and who are empowered and dispositioned to play those roles creatively in the educational sphere.