Program Overview

Master's and Doctoral Degrees

The University of South Africa (Unisa) offers a range of master's and doctoral degrees across various colleges, including Accounting Sciences, Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Human Sciences, Law, Science, Engineering and Technology, and the College of Graduate Studies.

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 Unisa students will receive confirmation via the email address they 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 for 2026.
• Should you wish to start a new qualification, please apply for admission during the next application period and check whether the qualification for which you intend to apply is on the list of qualifications that you can apply for until the end of June 2026.

Registration Periods

Registration opens on specific dates for different qualifications:

• Master's and 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 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:

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

PhD by Publication

A doctoral student may elect to complete their doctoral degree by publication. A PhD by Publication refers to a doctoral degree that comprises several peer-reviewed publications written as an introduction, discussion, and conclusion that has been put together as separate chapters, contributing to a unified research theme within a specific field.

Curriculum

The curriculum for master's and doctoral degrees varies by college and qualification. For example, the Doctor of Philosophy in Political Sciences includes a thesis that incorporates a research proposal, an oral defense (viva voce), and two manuscripts based on the candidate's research, submitted for publication to a recognized accredited journal.

Doctor of Philosophy in Political Sciences

• Qualification stream: African Politics
• Qualification code: 90034 - APL
• Qualification type: Full Research
• NQF level: 10
• Total credits: 360
• Purpose statement: The primary purpose of the qualification is to facilitate D Phil graduates in using their highly specialized knowledge, specific skills, and applied competencies in the development of the specific discipline for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity, and valuable contributions to society.