| Qualification code: | 98621 |
| Qualification type: | Coursework |
| NQF level: | 9 |
| Total credits: | 180 |
| SAQA ID: | 105774 |
Purpose statement:
This qualification includes the various specialisations in Laws. Please refer to "Notes" for details on the specialisations.
The primary purpose of the qualification is to provide Master of Laws (LLM) graduates with the knowledge, specific skills and applied competence in a number of legal fields to ensure opportunities for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity and valuable contributions to society.
The second purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa and the global community with graduates in a number of learning fields to ensure that the leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activity is widened.
The third purpose of the qualification is to provide South Africa and the global community with graduates who understand the constructive role they need to play as intellectual leaders in their society, and who are empowered and equipped with the required research and analytical skills to play a key role in the continued shaping of the legal dispensation in a just society based on constitutional democracy within a world legal order.
(a) A South African LLB degree, or (b) a foreign LLB degree of minimum 4 years' duration, or (c) a B Proc or (d) a Postgraduate Diploma in Law on NQF level 8 OR (e) a foreign LLB degree of minimum 3 years' duration and 4 LLB modules selected from the NQF level 8 modules in the LLB degree of which one must be the compulsory research module or (f) a foreign LLM.
Candidates may also apply for admission via recognition of prior learning (RPL). Option 1: The minimum requirement to apply for direct access to LLM through RPL is NQF level 8 qualification in cognate discipline (e.g. Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Law, BCom (Honours) in Law, or similar qualification). Applicants should have at least 5 years working experience in the field of law and/or legal practice. Option 2: Applicants who would like to apply for admission through RPL must hold NQF level 7 qualification in cognate discipline (e.g. Diploma in Law, Bachelor of Arts in Law, BCom in Law, or similar qualification) and have at least 10 yearsﾒ relevant work experience (of which 5 years should be at management level) in the field of law and/or legal practice in which they would like to apply for admission to a qualification.For more information on RPL criteria visit: www.unisa.ac.za/rpl
All students with foreign qualifications, including those with qualifications from African countries, must have their qualifications evaluated at SAQA. (www.saqa.org.za)
In addition to the above requirements, applicants must submit a transcript or an academic record. Candidates will be accepted on the following criteria: suitability and viability of the intended research; adequate supervisory capacity and research expertise in the discipline or department, and an approved selection procedure which is in line with Unisa's policies on equality and diversity in the discipline or department.
This programme is compulsory for all research master's and doctoral students. Students registered for honours degrees, postgraduate diplomas and coursework master's degrees are also welcome to register for this programme.
All master's and doctoral qualifications are structured over a defined period. Refer to sections 4.12 and 4.13 in the Procedures for master’s and doctoral degrees.
A student registered for a 180-credit structured coursework master’s degree must complete the study programme within three years. A student may make application to the supervisor for one additional year of study. The supervisor will consult with the Executive Dean of the College in which the student is registered.
A master's degree by coursework requires a high level of theoretical engagement and intellectual dependence, and a research project culminating in the acceptance of a dissertation of limited scope. The curriculum generally comprises subjects where you are required to write examinations, and submit a research proposal module and a mini-dissertation. In most cases, you need to pass at least two modules before you may register for the research proposal module. You will only be able to register for the mini-dissertation if you comply with the requirements of the research proposal module.
Please note: Once you have passed all the modules, but fail the research proposal module, you will not be permitted to continue with the qualification. Refer to the Procedures for master's and doctoral degrees.
Click here to view a list of departments and research focus areas for the College of Law.
Unisa’s admission policy has changed and you are now required to submit a detailed research outline for the qualification for which you apply. No application submitted without a detailed research outline will be considered. Although this research outline may differ for each qualification or academic department, the basic information required is as follows:
Your research outline must align with one of the departmental research focus areas. Please also take note of Unisa's Catalytic Niche Areas; you should strive to incorporate at least one of the Catalytic Niche Areas (CNAs) into your research. These include the following:
You can join the CGS-facilitated CNA working groups for the next series of meetings. For more information, visit www.unisa.ac.za/cgs
Click here for the guidelines on how to prepare a research outline.
Plagiarism of any form is unacceptable. Please take note of Unisa's Policy for Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism.
Pay the online application fee of R150,00 once you have received your Unisa student number.
Please note:
An application for a student number does not constitute an application for admission. After you receive your student number, you must still complete the online application for admission process and upload the compulsory supporting documents.
Click here for the 2025 student fee information. The fee information for the 2026 academic year will be available at the time of registration.
Students registering for qualifications through the Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) should visit the SBL website for fee information, as the SBL uses a different fee structure.
Click here for student funding/bursary opportunities.
Application are online only! Apply for admission to master's or doctoral qualifications for the 2026 academic year between 2 September and 21 November 2025..
Click here to apply for a student number and apply for admission.
Please ensure that you apply for a Unisa student number (if applicable), apply for admission and upload all the supporting documents during the application period. If you already have a Unisa student number, you proceed to apply for admission and upload all the supporting documents.
You have 10 working days to upload all the supporting documents during the application period. If you do not comply with this requirement, your application will be declined and you will have to re-apply for admission during the current/next application period.
Only students whose application for admission was approved and re-registering students (who made sufficient progress during the current academic year) will be allowed to register online within the approved registration period for the 2026 academic year. Coursework master's degree students must await the official approval of their research proposal module, before attempting to re-register for the next academic year. Students with outstanding fees or a Library block on their accounts, will not be able to register online until these issues have been resolved. No printed registration forms will be accepted.
Click here for registration information.