Yes. You must re-register (if you showed sufficient progress during the 2024 academic year) and pay your fees every year until you complete your studies. Please remember to register online and pay the prescribed fees during the registration period of 8 January to 30 April 2025 (some exceptions apply). You have to re-register and pay annually until you complete your studies.
From 2023, the loose-standing research proposal module no longer forms part of the curriculum of a research master's or doctoral degree. Students are expected to complete a research proposal in their first year of study as part of the dissertation / thesis. You should take note of the maximum number of years you have to complete the qualification. Refer to the Procedures for master's and doctoral degrees.
The registration dates for Unisa's master's and doctoral degrees are 8 January to 30 April 2025 (some exceptions apply). MCompt, MBA and MBL students must register by 21 February 2025. MBA and MBL students must be registered before attending the compulsory study schools.
If you did not apply for a formal deferment, you will have to re-apply for admission as spaces are limited for each year (some exceptions apply). Please visit the master's and doctoral application website to see if your qualification appears on the list of qualifications (as part of the exceptions). If it is still available, you may apply online for the 2025 academic year. If your qualification of choice is not available, you will have to wait for the next application period.
This could mean that the qualification for which you were previously registered has been phased out and is no longer available. Please send an e-mail to the Master's and Doctoral Administration Support Section (MandD@unisa.ac.za) to apply to re-register (as an exceptional case) or to find out to which qualification you can transfer your studies.
Please visit the master's and doctoral application website to see if your qualification appears on the list of qualifications (as part of the exceptions). If it is still available, you may apply online for the 2025 academic year until the end of June 2025. If your qualification of choice is not available, you will have to wait for the next application period.
There are four very important steps you must follow:
If you have any problems accessing myUnisa or your myLife e-mail address, please send an e-mail to myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za or myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za. Remember to include your student number in the subject line of your e-mail.
All correspondence is e-mailed to your myLife e-mail address. Unisa will not send e-mails to your personal e-mail address. All registered Unisa students must claim their free myLife e-mail account. Important information, notices and updates are sent exclusively to this account, so it's very important that you check it regularly. If you have any problems accessing myUnisa or your myLife e-mail account, please send an e-mail to myUnisaHelp@unisa.ac.za or myLifeHelp@unisa.ac.za. Remember to always include your student number in the subject line of your e-mails to Unisa.
No printed study material is available for master’s and doctoral candidates. You must register on myUnisa to download your study material (where applicable). Information on the proposal module is linked per department under "resources". If there are no information on myUnisa, please contact your supervisor / contact person.
If you are registered for a GSBL qualification (MBA, MBL or DBL), you will download your study material from Moodle (the SBL student portal). Please note that you must also register on myUnisa and check your myLife e-mail account regularly.
It is your responsibility to contact your supervisor / contact person in order to access departmental requirements. The outcome of the research proposal module (coursework qualifications) is an acceptable title and research proposal.
Master’s and doctoral study material (if applicable) is only available online. Once you are registered, you must register on myUnisa to access your study material / tutorial letters online.
If you are registered for a GSBL qualification (MBA, MBL or DBL), you will download your study material from Moodle (the SBL student portal). Please note that you must also register on myUnisa.
You can only request credit for coursework modules if Unisa offers the specific qualification by coursework. Students may not be granted credits from study units obtained on grounds of a completed qualification. Credits will only be considered for study units of incomplete qualifications at master's degree level.
You may apply for credits on the basis of courses passed at another university. Note, however, that you may not be granted more than 50% of the modules for the qualification concerned. No credits/exemptions will be considered for a research proposal module.
Yes, but it is highly unlikely as certain pre-requisites are set for each qualification, for example: You must pass at least two modules before you may register for the research proposal. The research proposal must be accepted before you may register for the mini-dissertation. Should you wish to add the mini-dissertation after the registration closing date, you will have to contact the Master's and Doctoral Administration Support Section on MandD@unisa.ac.za for assistance.
Yes.
No. A doctoral student must be registered for at least two academic years before submitting the thesis for examination. This is a requirement of the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).
You will be allocated a supervisor on acceptance of your admission. If not, you will be provided with a contact person. You may discuss the possibility of your own identified supervisor with the contact person. An extensive CV of the proposed external supervisor will have to be submitted if it is agreed that you may provide the information for consideration. If the person is accepted, Unisa will enter into a contract with and pay the external supervisor.
Your supervisor is integral to your studies and will assist you in planning your academic year, ensuring that you are aware of all critical milestones and detailing both your and their responsibilities during the course of your studies. Both you and your supervisor will sign a Code of Conduct/Supervisor Agreement that governs the conditions of your relationship. The support and guidance of your supervisor will be invaluable during the course of your studies. Both you and your supervisor are responsible to ensure that you complete your studies within the approved duration for your qualification. Refer to the Procedure for master's and doctoral degrees. Should you experience any problems in contacting your supervisor or contact person, please contact the Chair of Department.
You must receive a formal letter / e-mail from the Master's and Doctoral Administration Support Section informing you of the outcome of your research proposal module before you may register online for the mini-dissertation if the registration period is still open. Otherwise you will register online for the mini-dissertation for the next academic year. You will have full access to your supervisor and the Unisa Library in this period until the close of the next registration period. If you do not receive confirmation within two weeks of your supervisor informing you of the outcome, please contact the Master’s and Doctoral Administration Support Section (MandD@unisa.ac.za). Please note that your confirmation of completion will be sent to your myLife e-mail account.
Yes, you may cancel your modules or studies. Please note, however, that the normal rules with regard to the forfeiture of fees apply.
Unisa accepts candidates from other universities, except if the candidate was excluded / suspended from another higher education institution on grounds of misconduct. If you are applying to transfer from another university, please provide Unisa with a declaration from the previous institution that you did not submit your master’s / doctoral dissertation / thesis for examination at that institution. If you do not have a Unisa student number, please first apply for a student number during the next application period. Once you have received your student / reference number, apply for admission, upload the relevant supporting documents and pay the once-off application fee. Please note that applying for a student number is only the first step in the application process. After receiving your student number, you must apply online for admission using your student number and upload your supporting documents.
You can only be registered at one South African university for a formal qualification. If you want to study simultaneously, you will have to register for a formal degree at one university and for non-degree purposes (NDP) at the other university (rules for the NDP registration apply). Unisa will only accept you for non-degree purposes on condition that you have written permission from the other university allowing concurrent registration. You will be required to upload the written permission from the other university as part of your application for admission.
No. You may not register concurrently for two formal qualifications at Unisa.
You can request your academic record via myUnisa. Login to myUnisa. Click on "Academic record" and "Code". Your academic record will be sent to your myLife e-mail account. Due to the POPIA Act, requests from personal e-mail addresses (ie any e-mail address other than your myLife e-mail address) will not be attended to.
In 2008, the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) Act No 67 replaced the South African Qualifications Authority Act No 58 of 1995.
In line with the NQF Act, there are now 10 levels on the NQF, which means that all qualifications changed from the 8-level framework to the 10-level framework, for example: A master's degree was previously placed on NQF level 8. and is now on NQF level 9. Click here for more information.
Please note: Qualifications with the old NQF levels will continue to receive the same recognition as qualifications awarded in terms of the new NQF levels and the Higher Education Qualification Sub-Framework alignment.
Doctoral students who registered for the first time in 2020 must submit a thesis for examination and submit proof of two manuscripts before the degree will be conferred. You do not have to do the oral exam (viva voce), as it only applies to doctoral students who registered for the first time in 2022.
Click here for more information about the Standard Operating Procedures for Doctoral Oral Examination (viva voce).
Click here for more information on the PhD by Publication. You must discuss this option with your supervisor as soon as you are registered. Each college has their own guidelines in this regard.
If you submit your dissertation / thesis by 15 June and are successful, you will probably receive your qualification at a Spring graduation ceremony (September / October). If you submit your thesis by 15 November and are successful, you will probably receive your qualification at an Autumn graduation ceremony (April / May) of the following year. If submission takes place after the end of January, you can expect to graduate in September of the same year and will have to re-register and pay the full tuition fees.
Doctoral students who registered for the first time from 2020 are required to submit two manuscripts for publication to a peer reviewed accredited journal as part of their curriculums (some exceptions apply). Proof of the submission for both manuscripts must accompany the submission of the examination copy. However, doctoral students who registered for the first time from 2022 will also be required to deliver an oral defence (viva voce) of their thesis.
Please note: The graduation timeframes listed above are estimates, since you may be required to make substantial corrections before the result is formally approved / released. Also note that the submission dates are for the actual submission of your dissertation / thesis and not the submission of the intention to submit.
If you are registered for a master’s degree, you may also register in the same academic year for two undergraduate modules or for one honours paper or the corresponding number of modules on the same level for non-degree purposes (NDP).
If you are registered for a doctoral qualification, you may also register in the same academic year for two undergraduate modules or for one honours paper or one master’s paper or the corresponding number of modules on the same level for non-degree purposes (NDP).
You will only be allowed to register for an honours or a master’s paper / module(s) if you comply with the prescribed admission requirements for the honours or master’s qualification concerned. An application for concurrent registration must be submitted online on the prescribed form at least three weeks before the closing date of registration for the NDP paper / module(s).
Students that were not admitted to master's or doctoral studies may not request NDP registration to circumvent master's or doctoral registration.
A student may pay their study fees in three instalments. Your registration will be activated on receipt of the initial minimum payment. The rest of the instalments must be paid by the relevant payment due dates. Where relevant, international students must also pay the foreign levy in full at the time of registration.
Prior to 2024, students had to pay their fees in full at the time of registration. Click here for the fees for the 2025 academic year reflecting the three instalments. For the 2025 fees for the MBA, MBL and DBL qualifications, please contact the SBL via e-mail (sblfinance@unisa.ac.za) or visit the SBL website, as they have their own financial fee structure.
Remember that you must register and pay every year until you have completed your studies.
Click here for the fees for the 2025 academic year reflecting the three instalments. You can also use the fee quotation link on the Unisa website to obtain a total fee quotation for the cost of the modules that you have selected. The quotation already reflect the minimum payment payable on registration.
You can pay online via the secure link: http://www.unisa.ac.za/feepayment
International students are advised to make use of Flywire to make their payments.
If you wish to defer your studies to the next academic year, please complete and submit the request for deferment form before the relevant closing date for re-registration. Deferments are only granted a year at a time and for a maximum of two years during the course of study for a particular qualification. One additional year will be considered in exceptional cases only. The deferment request form must be e-mailed directly to your supervisor / contact person, who will assist with the sign off process and forward your request to the Master's and Doctoral Administration Support Section. You will receive official communication in this regard. It is crucial that you remember to re-register online for the next academic year. You will not receive a reminder from Unisa.
Please note: No deferments will be considered once your registration for an academic year has been finalised. Any requests for deferments after your registration has been finalised will be treated as a request for cancellation. It is crucial that you remember to re-register online for the next academic year. You will not receive a reminder from Unisa.
Yes, you may. Rules with regard to the forfeiture of fees apply.
No. You must apply for admission and provide written approval from the other university that you may continue with your studies at Unisa using the same research topic and proposal, if applicable. The fact that your proposal was accepted at another university does not mean that Unisa will accept the proposal. You will also have to re-apply for ethics approval at Unisa if you continue with the same title at Unisa.
Exemption towards the research proposal module is not automatic and must be aligned to the discipline. You should discuss this with your supervisor. Your supervisor will indicate whether certain aspects of the previous proposal may be used for the new research proposal module. You will also have to apply for ethics approval for the new study.
If you receive your result before the closing date for registrations, you can add the mini-dissertation to your current registration. If registrations have already closed, however, you will have to wait for the next registration period (normally from January to March). You will have full access to the Library and to your supervisor until registrations re-open for the next academic year. If you experience problems at the Library, please contact the Master's and Doctoral Administration Support Section (mandd@unisa.ac.za) for assistance.
Unisa’s Advocacy and Resource Centre for Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) will assist and support students with disabilities. If you require assistance, please indicate the nature of your disability on the online registration form and contact ARCSWiD as soon as possible after registration. This will enable ARCSWiD to plan the measures necessary to support your needs.
Click here for more information.
There are a limited number of bursaries available for master’s and doctoral students who have completed the research proposal module of the specific master’s or doctoral qualification. Please visit the Unisa Student Funding website for bursary information for master's and doctoral qualifications.
Enquiries about bursary applications can be sent via e-mail to CGS-pgb@unisa.ac.za
For bursary pay-out enquiries, please send an e-mail to DSF-Postgrd@unisa.ac.za
Please do not send multiple e-mails or an e-mail to more than one e-mail address. Do not send e-mails to the Offices of the Principal or Vice-Principals, as this may result in a delay in your problem being resolved. Follow the steps as indicated above. It is important to use your myLife e-mail account when corresponding with the university.
For enquiries about master's and doctoral research examinations, please send an e-mail to resexcoord@unisa.ac.za
If you need assistance in applying for a bursary, please contact the DSF-PGB Application Section.
Contact DSF-POSTGRD@unisa.ac.za for enquiries relating to the processing of bursary refunds/allowances and the payment of funds, and to ensure that you submit your bursary contract as instructed in the outcome/awarding communication.
Last modified: 2025/03/26