Bachelor of Arts Honours in Ancient Near Eastern Studies

Qualification code:	99402
NQF level:	8
Total credits:	120
SAQA ID:	101068
APS/AS:	60

Maximum time to complete this qualification:

3 years

Purpose statement:
The purpose of the qualification is to unravel the value of the Ancient Near Eastern material culture for the modern civilisation. It provides students with the opportunity to engage with the interpretations, methods and techniques of this ancient material in a responsible manner. It builds on the undergraduate knowledge, skills and competencies enabling the students to intellectual independence. The qualification equips the students to do independent research, developing reading, writing, interpretive and evaluative skills in order to write articles as a preamble towards Master's and Doctoral research. In this manner the students could contribute to expose the modern world to treasures of the ancient world, especially in the Middle Eastern region. Students demonstrate autonomy of learning by showing a capacity to evaluate their own learning and identify their learning needs within a structured learning environment. By means of both formative and summative assessment students are enabled to operate in complex, unfamiliar contexts, requiring personal responsibility and initiative; to accurately self-evaluate and take responsibility for continuing professional and academic development; to manage learning tasks independently, professionally and ethically.

Admission and re-admission requirements

Qualification admission requirements

Please note:

• Your admission to Unisa is dependent on you meeting the specific admission requirements for your chosen qualification.
• Unisa reserves the right to withdraw any offer for admission to the 2026 academic year should it be found that you do not meet the statutory, college and/or minimum admission requirements for the qualification to which you have been admitted. In such a case, the university will refund any registration fees paid towards the said qualification.

An appropriate NQF 7 qualification from an accredited provider of higher education. A minimum of 60% for the major(s), or for a selected number of NQF 7 modules in the qualification.
Unsuccessful applicants may submit an appeal on the application portal at https://www.unisa.ac.za/sites/corporate/default/Apply-for-admission/Apply-for-admission-to-study:-application-tool and will be required to provide a motivation for special admission.
The motivation must incorporate the following:
* academic motivation offering evidence of your ability to study a postgraduate qualification,
* work experience relevant to the qualification and courses completed since graduating with a Bachelor's degree or Advanced Diploma.

These appeals will only be considered if the enrolment target of the qualification has not been met and/or additional enrolment spaces are available.
Applicants who do not meet the admission requirements as indicated above may apply for admission through recognition of prior learning (RPL) provided they are at least 30 years old with a minimum of five years' current, relevant working and research experience in line with the approved qualification's RPL requirements. For more information on RPL criteria visit: http://www.unisa.ac.za/rpl

Student fees and funding your studies

Apply for admission

Apply for admission to honours degrees or postgraduate diplomas for the 2026 academic year between 18 August and 10 October 2025. 

Please note:

• You must apply for each new qualification even if you already have a formal Unisa student number. This includes first-time Unisa applicants, Unisa students changing to a new qualification and/or changing the specialisation of their current qualification, and applicants completing an undergraduate qualification who wish to continue with postgraduate studies.
  * Student numbers issued for short learning programmes and the Graduate School of Business Leadership are not formal Unisa student numbers.
• You may apply for a maximum of two qualifications, ranked in order of preference (although you may only register for one should all of your applications be successful). No changes may be made after the closing date for applications.
• You must accept or decline Unisa's offer within the prescribed period of time.
• You may only accept one offer. If you accept an offer, the other application for admission/offer will automatically fall away.
• If you accept Unisa's offer for the 2026 academic year, you may only register for the qualification and specialisation for which you received an offer. You may also only register for the 2026 academic year. Should you decide not to register for the 2026 academic year for any reason, you will need to apply for admission during the next application period.

Registration

Successful applicants should visit the registration website in January 2026 for updated registration information (eg qualification rules, curriculum/transitional arrangements, pre-requisites and co-requisites): www.unisa.ac.za/register

Curriculum / modules