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Unisa College of Graduate Studies - Online


About

University Of South Africa (UNISA) is the largest comprehensive open, distance and e-learning (CODeL) institution in Africa and the longest-standing dedicated distance education university in the world. We enrol nearly one-third of all South African students. The leading CODeL University Whether you’re beginning a new journey with us or staying involved with your alma mater, we commend you on choosing a world-class institution that has been building Africa’s intellectual future for more than 150 years.

The leading CODeL University Whether you’re beginning a new journey with us or staying involved with your alma mater, we commend you on choosing a world-class institution that has been building Africa’s intellectual future for more than 150 years.

Unisa is the largest comprehensive open, distance and e-learning (CODeL) institution in Africa and the longest-standing dedicated distance education university in the world. We enrol nearly one-third of all South African students.

Unisa caters for a multigenerational student body by employing a multimodal approach to teaching and learning, and offers multidisciplinary qualifications, across a truly impressive range of academic disciplines at its eight colleges and one graduate school:

  • College of Accounting Sciences
  • College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences
  • College of Economic and Management Sciences
  • College of Education College of Human Sciences
  • College of Law
  • College of Science, Engineering and Technology
  • College of Graduate Studies
  • Graduate School of Business Leadership
  • Research Niche Areas

Unisa has identified five research niche areas on which to concentrate its research efforts and resources. Drawing on the particular research strengths of the university and its researchers, these areas focus on the challenges facing South Africa and the rest of the continent and lend themselves to transdisciplinary and multidisciplinary research.

The Niche Areas are as follows:

  • Knowledge Production and Capacity Building in Response to the Needs of South Africa and the African Continent
  • The Promotion of Democracy, Human Rights and Responsible Citizenship
  • Innovation in Science and Technology
  • Economic and Environmental Sustainability
  • Open Distance Learning

In addition to the above, Unisa has identified ten catalytic niche areas that will not only activate and enhance the institution’s academic agenda but also enhance academics’ experiences as engaged scholars who refuse to be academic pies in the sky; scholars who will care to address the needs of our society. The catalytic niche areas are as follows:

  • Marine studies
  • Aviation and aeronautical studies
  • Automotive studies
  • Energy studies
  • Space Studies and the Square Kilometre Array
  • The fourth industrial revolution and digitalisation
  • Biotechnological studies
  • Health/Pharmaceutical studies
  • Feminist/Womanist/Bosadi theorisations
  • Student support and co-curricular activities

Undergraduate Qualifications

Applications for admission to undergraduate qualifications for the 2025 academic year are to be open from 21 August to 11 October 2024.

Everyone wanting to start a new qualification must apply for admission. This includes

  • First-time Unisa applicants
  • Unisa students changing to a new qualification and/or specialisation
  • Applicants who previously applied for admission and were not offered a space or who were offered a space accepted the offer and did not register
  • Students completing a higher certificate or any other programme and who wish to continue with further undergraduate studies.

All applications for admission must be submitted during the prescribed application period.

Honours Degrees & Postgraduate Diplomas

Applications for admission to honours degrees and postgraduate diplomas for the 2025 academic year are to be open from 21 August to 11 October 2024.

Everyone wanting to start a new qualification must apply for admission, including first-time Unisa applicants, Unisa students changing to a new qualification and/or changing the specialisation of their current qualification, and applicants in their final year of an undergraduate qualification who wish to continue with postgraduate studies.

  • All applications for admission must be submitted online. No self-help stations will be available for applications at the regional offices
  • Admission to a qualification is not automatic. It will depend on whether you comply with the admission requirements and if space is available
  • Only complete applications (application fee paid, if applicable, and all supporting documents successfully uploaded) will be processed
  • Students who obtained qualifications outside the borders of South Africa must have their qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). You may apply for admission without a SAQA certificate of evaluation. If your application for admission to the 2025 academic year is accepted, you may register, but you will be required to submit your SAQA certificate of evaluation by 15 December 2025.

What Does the Selection Process Entail?

Unisa will assess your application according to the academic admission requirements of your qualification(s) of choice and the final mark obtained for your major subjects at the third-year undergraduate level. If you do not meet these requirements, your application will be declined. You will be provided with the reason why your application was declined and/or a way forward.

Please note that meeting the minimum admission requirements is not a guarantee that you will be admitted to a higher-level qualification (postgraduate diploma or honours degree), as spaces are limited.

Who Must Apply for Admission?

Everyone wanting to start a new qualification must apply for admission. This includes

  • First-time Unisa applicants
  • Unisa students changing to a new qualification and/or changing the specialisation of a current qualification
  • Applicants in their final year of an undergraduate qualification who wish to continue with postgraduate studies.

Please note: You must apply for admission if you previously applied for admission and were offered a space, but did not register for any reason. Should you experience any system error issue when submitting your application, please send an e-mail, together with a screenshot of the error message, to the relevant college e-mail address. Remember to always include your student number in the subject line of your e-mail.

Master's & Doctoral Qualifications

Applications for admission to master's and doctoral degrees for the 2025 academic year are to be open from 2 September to 22 November 2024 (some exceptions apply).
You are encouraged to apply for admission as soon as possible, as qualifications will be removed from the application list once all available spaces for the 2025 academic year have been filled.

Final-year honours, postgraduate diploma and master’s degree students are advised to make use of the opportunity to submit their applications before the closing date if they plan to further their studies in 2025.

Who Must Apply (Some Exceptions Apply)?

  • Everyone wanting to start a new qualification must apply for admission, including first-time Unisa applicants, Unisa students wanting to apply for a new qualification, students in their final year of a qualification wanting to start a master's or doctoral qualification, and previously registered master's and doctoral students who did not register for the 2024 academic year and now wish to continue with their studies.
  • You may only apply for one qualification at the master's and doctoral level. It is imperative, therefore, that you ensure that you meet the minimum admission requirements for your qualification of choice before applying for admission. Should you submit a second application, please note that it will replace your first application.
  • If you are applying for admission to a Graduate School of Business Leadership (GSBL) qualification, please apply for a Unisa student number (unless you previously studied at Unisa towards a formal qualification) and complete the online application process.
  • All master's and doctoral applications and enquiries must be submitted online.

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  • PhD Scholarships for Research Projects on Governing Nature-based Solutions, Prospects for a Just Green Transition in Kenya
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  • Canon Collins Sol Plaatje Postgraduate Scholarships in South Africa
  • NRF-DAAD In-Country Scholarships in South Africa
  • PhD Scholarships in African Regional Postgraduate Programme in Insect Sciences (ARPPIS), Kenya
  • Government Mauritius – 2023 Edition of Mauritius-Africa Scholarship Scheme
  • Pretoria

    Preller Street, Muckleneuk, Pretoria Gauteng, South Africa, 0002, Pretoria

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Unisa College of Graduate Studies - Online