UNISA Doctor of Philosophy Science Education (90040 – SCE)

Admission requirements

An appropriate master’s degree on NQF level 9 with an average of 60% in the discipline that a student wishes to do their research. Applicants must first contact the relevant academic department and the potential supervisor. Topics and supervisors appear in the CSET M&D admissions policy document. Acceptance is based on viability of the intended research and available supervisory capacity. Competitive positions are filled on the basis of an approved selection procedure aligned with Unisa’s policies on equality and diversity. Applicants need to demonstrate adequate mastery of academic English (TOEFL minimum score of 88 for the Internet-based test or a minimum score of 570 for the paper-based test or completion of prior degrees at a university where English is the prime language of instruction). Adequate exposure to appropriate research methods and methodologies in previous qualifications is required. Residency requirements apply for applicants who need to do laboratory work. Foreign applicants need to submit SAQA evaluation of their qualifications (South African NQF level 9 qualification equivalent is required). Applicants with degree structures that are different from South African degrees or with applicable experience that may be relevant for admission will be required to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).

Doctoral degree

A doctoral degree will require you to undertake research at the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis. Coursework may be required as preparation or value addition to the research, but does not contribute to the credit value of the qualification. The defining characteristic of this qualification is that you will be required to demonstrate high-level research capability and make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of the discipline or field. This work must be of a quality to satisfy peer review and merit publication.

Research focus areas

Click here to view a list of departments and research focus areas for the College of Science, Engineering and Technology.

Research outline

Unisa’s admission policy has changed and you are now required to submit a detailed research outline for each master’s and doctoral 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:

• Title
• Summary of topic
• Short literature review
• Expected contribution of the study
• Methodology to be followed
• Availability of the data
• List of references
• Reasons why you are interested in the topic

Student fees and funding your studies

Application fee

Pay the online application fee of R105,00 once you have received your Unisa student number. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable even if you decide not to study through Unisa or do not qualify for admission to Unisa.

Apply for a student number and apply for admission

Who must apply for a Unisa student number?

• You must apply for a Unisa student number if you have never before studied towards a formal qualification at Unisa. Student numbers issued for Unisa’s short learning programmes are not valid for formal qualifications. Your formal Unisa student number will be your permanent Unisa student number.
• If you are applying for admission to a Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) qualification, please apply for a Unisa student number, unless you previously studied at Unisa towards a formal qualification.
• If you are applying for admission to a selection degree, you must apply for a Unisa student number if you have never before studied towards a formal qualification at Unisa. If you do not have a formal Unisa student number and are selected for admission to one of the selection degrees, you will not be able to register for the next academic year. Please ensure that you apply for a Unisa student number, apply for admission and upload all the supporting documents.

Please note:

• You do not need re-apply for a student number if you already have a student number for a formal qualification.
• No application for admission to the next academic year will be processed without a valid student number.
• An application for a Unisa student number is NOT an application for admission to a qualification.

How to apply for a Unisa student number?

• Apply online for a student number for a formal qualification at Unisa. 
• Pay the non-refundable application fee of R105,00 (some exceptions may apply). Your application for a student number will only be finalised upon receipt of the application fee. The application fee is non-refundable even if you decide not to study through Unisa or do not qualify for admission to your qualification of choice.
• Upload a copy of your ID / passport.

Who should apply for admission?

• Everyone wanting to start a new master’s or doctoral degree must apply for admission. This includes
  • first-time Unisa applicants
  • Unisa students changing to a new qualification
  • applicants in their final year of a postgraduate diploma, honours degree or master’s degree who wish to continue with further postgraduate studies
• You must re-apply for admission if you previously applied for admission to a master’s or doctoral degree and received feedback, but did not register for any reason.
• You must re-apply for admission if you are a previously registered master’s or doctoral student, but did not register for the current academic year and now wish to continue with master’s or doctoral studies in the next academic year. This excludes students who applied for and were granted a formal deferment.

How to apply for admission

1. You must apply for each new qualification even if you already have a Unisa student number.
2. You must have a Unisa student number for a formal qualification before you can apply for admission.
3. You must then apply online for admission and upload the required documents.

Application dates: September – November with the exceptions listed below

You may apply for the following qualifications outside the prescribed application dates:

Registration

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 next academic year. No printed registration forms will be accepted.
Click here for registration information.