Visit www.unisa.ac.za/applyMD to choose a qualification based on the offered research focus areas to ensure that departmental expertise is available. More information on departmental expertise can be found in the colleges’ webpages:
The admission requirements for each qualification are available on www.unisa.ac.za/qualificationsMD.
Should you have any enquiries about the Master’s & Doctoral online application process, phone 012 441 5702 (qualifications in CAS, CEDU, CEMS, CHS and CLAW) or 011 471 3296 (qualifications in CAES and CSET) or send an e-mail to MandD@unisa.ac.za.
The RPL process allows for alternative access to a master's or doctoral degree. Applying for direct access to a master’s or doctoral qualification means the following:
Please note that you cannot use the RPL process to be admitted to these qualifications.
This means that you meet the formal admission requirement for the chosen degree, and you should follow the traditional route to apply for a student number and admission.
If you consider an application for direct access to a master's or doctoral qualification through RPL, you are claiming that your prior learning, namely, the learning gained through different contexts of learning, is equivalent to the formal admission requirements of the qualification. To access a master’s or a doctoral degree through RPL, you should demonstrate that you are competent in terms of your prior learning, relevant learning through experience, and research skills.
For full details on the SAQA exit-level outcomes to use for the self-assessment, please click on the link below:
You are strongly advised to reflect on your prior learning and then do a self-assessment exercise before applying for the RPL. You do this by using the exit-level outcomes for an Honours and/or master’s to establish how your prior learning meets the requirement/s.
You should be able to interpret the SAQA exit-level outcomes and transfer this interpretation to a practical situation. Your prior learning should be appropriate to the academic context of the specific qualification, and your learning, as a result of experience, must still be current, valid and applicable.
It is your responsibility to ensure that you apply for each new qualification even if you already have a Unisa student number. You must have applied to the qualification to which you are seeking admission before applying for RPL during August / September, click on the link below for more information:
Please send us your admission application letter showing that you have been denied admission to the Master's or Doctoral degree for the current / next academic year. Once your application has been processed, you will receive an admission application letter (decline letter) from the College of Graduate Studies (no application will be processed unless accompanied by an admission application letter from CGS).
If you want to apply for RPL access to master’s and doctoral studies, you should prepare for your RPL application process by conducting research on the area in which you have relevant experience and prior learning. Before you apply, you need to ensure that your intended research falls within the research area of the department, school and/or college where you intend to register for your qualification.
Explore the possibilities on the research focus areas on www.unisa.ac.za/applyMD, as this will assist you in choosing a research topic.
This means that your prior learning and research experience are not sufficient to meet the requirements of the SAQA exit-level outcomes. We advise that you should follow the traditional route of application and registration to enable you to complete the prerequisite qualification(s).
You are advised to send an e-mail (with application letter showing that you have been denied admission to the Master's or Doctoral degree) to the RPL unit (Ms E Nkhwashu (enkwashu@unisa.ac.za). The RPL unit will send you the RPL application form for completion and outline further instructions.
Your application form should be emailed to the RPL office. Please attach all the required documents as pdf files. Do not provide links to drop boxes or similar cloud repositories.
Please ensure that you keep a copy of the completed application form and all supporting documents for future reference.
Once the assessment panel has considered your application, you will receive feedback.
After the evaluation of your RPL application form, further RPL assessment may be required. This can be in the form of a comprehensive portfolio of evidence and/or a panel interview, or a competency conversation.
If you decide to continue with the further assessment, please confirm this in writing within two weeks of receiving feedback.
You will receive an RPL feedback letter, explaining the full details of the assessment. You may contact the RPL office for further support.
The details will be explained in the RPL feedback letter.
These conditions must be fulfilled within two years of receipt of the letter.
Advise the RPL office in writing that you have fulfilled the conditions as stated in your RPL letter. In addition, attach a copy of the letter and the evidence of the fulfilment of the conditions, such as your formal examination results.
If you receive a letter from the RPL office stating that you are Competent (C), you may go ahead and register for your chosen degree during the next registration cycle. In terms of this decision, you are NOT awarded any of the previous qualifications (honours or master’s). You are merely granted academic standing for access to master’s or doctoral studies.
If you are found Not Yet Competent (NYC), it means that no access can be granted through the RPL process. You will receive a recommendation by the assessment panel on the way forward. The recommendation is usually that you are advised to follow the traditional study route and complete the prerequisite qualification.
Last modified: Thu May 16 08:01:37 SAST 2024