UNISA Postgraduate Studies

The University of South Africa (UNISA) offers honours degrees, postgraduate diplomas, master's degrees and doctorates through distance learning. Master's and doctoral applications have their own application period, separate from undergraduate and honours study. Here is how postgraduate study at UNISA works, based on its official pages.

Master's and doctoral application dates

For the 2027 academic year, UNISA accepted master's and doctoral applications from 1 September to 20 November 2026. Selection degrees and some other qualifications have different dates. UNISA removes qualifications from the application list once all available spaces are filled, so it encourages applicants to apply early.

How to apply

1. Apply for a UNISA student number, if you have never studied towards a formal UNISA qualification. A number from a short learning programme is not valid.
2. Apply for admission online. There are no self-help stations at the regional offices.
3. Upload the compulsory supporting documents, which are shown in red on the upload platform.
4. Pay the R160 application fee, using your student number and the application fee reference number.

You may apply for only one qualification at master's and doctoral level. A second application replaces your first one. If your qualifying degree is from outside South Africa, it must be evaluated by SAQA.

How UNISA selects

Admission is not automatic. UNISA accepts applications based on adequate supervisory capacity and research expertise in the department, and on an approved selection procedure. For 2027, selection for qualifications that closed on the official date took place in January and February, with registration from January to the end of March.

Research proposals

From 2023, the research proposal is no longer a stand-alone module. It now forms part of the dissertation.

The master's and doctoral bursary

UNISA's master's and doctoral bursary helps returning master's and doctoral students with tuition fees and research activities. The 2027 application ran from 21 September to 30 November 2026, online through myUnisa only. Key rules include:

• New applicants must have passed their research proposal, or for coursework master's, two coursework modules, by 31 January 2027
• Master's students must have first registered no more than three years ago, and doctoral students no more than six years ago
• Your supervisor must support your application on the M&D platform by 31 January 2027
• Students who already hold a postgraduate degree at the same or a higher NQF level are not eligible

The bursary's research allowance is limited to R55,000 for a research master's over three years, R25,000 for a coursework master's, and R80,000 for a doctorate over four years, subject to funds.

Honours funding

UNISA also runs a postgraduate diploma and honours bursary, and its Directorate of Student Funding administers donor bursaries and loans.

Related pages

See UNISA fees, UNISA bursaries and how to apply to UNISA.