| Qualification code: | 98573 |
| Qualification type: | Full Research |
| NQF level: | 9 |
| Total credits: | 180 |
| SAQA ID: | 20925 |
Purpose statement:
1. Primary purpose: The primary purpose of the qualification is to enable graduates to become specialists in the field of the visual arts or a multidisciplinary or arts-related field by gaining in-depth, abstract knowledge in a complex area of study. 2. Secondary purposes: 2.1 The MVA degree provides South Africa (and other countries) with graduates who can synthesise information autonomously in the field of the visual arts or a multidisciplinary or arts-related field and with leaders who can handle contradictions and evaluate highly complex problems independently. 2.2 The MVA degree provides South Africa (and other countries) with people who can demonstrate specialised and/or multidisciplinary leadership, self-reflexivity and adaptability in their society and who are empowered to play that role. 2.3 The MVA degree provides the South African, African and global communities with graduates who will meet the requirements to register for a variety of professional qualifications with the relevant statutory body.
An appropriate bachelor honours degree in visual arts, or an appropriate postgraduate diploma in visual arts, or a 480 credit bachelor's degree in Visual Arts with a minimum of 96 credits at NQF level 8 or the Advanced University Diploma in Visual Arts with an average of 60%. A student who is admitted on the strength of a postgraduate diploma or a 480 credit bachelor's degree with a minimum of 96 credits at level 8 and who has not completed a module in research methodology may be required to complete such a module (HRHMV81) at NQF level 8 for NDP before he/she will be allowed to register for the dissertation. Applicants must submit a digitised portfolio of their practical art before registration can take place. Students may contact the department directly with regards to the selection criteria.
All students with foreign qualifications, including those with qualifications from African countries, must have their qualifications evaluated at SAQA. (www.saqa.org.za)
In addition to the above requirements, applicants must submit a transcript or an academic record, as well as a document describing their intended research. Students will be accepted on the following criteria:
Suitability and viability of the intended research;
adequate supervisory capacity and research expertise in the discipline or department.
There is an approved selection procedure which is in line with Unisa's policies on equality and diversity in the discipline or department.
Applicants who would like to apply for admission through recognition of prior learning (RPL) must be at least 35 years old; and have at least eight years' relevant work, and research experience in the study field in which they would like to apply for admission to a qualification. For more information on RPL criteria visit: www.unisa.ac.za/rpl
All master's and doctoral qualifications are structured over a defined period. Refer to sections 4.12 and 4.13 in the Procedures for master’s and doctoral degrees.
A student registered for a 180-credit structured research master’s degree must complete the study programme within three years. A student may make application to their supervisor for one additional year of study. The supervisor will consult with the Executive Dean of the College in which the student is registered.
A research master's degree comprises a dissertation on an approved topic. You will be expected to have a research proposal approved in the first year of study.
Please note: If you do not complete a research proposal in the first year of study, you will not be permitted to continue with the qualification. You will also be excluded from applying for admission to the same college for a period of two years.
Click here to view a list of departments and research focus areas for the College of Human Sciences.
Unisa’s admission policy has changed and you are now required to submit a detailed research outline for the 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:
Your research outline must align with one of the departmental research focus areas. Please also take note of Unisa's Catalytic Niche Areas; you should strive to incorporate at least one of the Catalytic Niche Areas (CNAs) into your research. These include the following:
You can join the CGS-facilitated CNA working groups for the next series of meetings. For more information, visit www.unisa.ac.za/cgs
Click here for the guidelines on how to prepare a research outline.
Plagiarism of any form is unacceptable. Please take note of Unisa's Policy for Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism.
Pay the online application fee of R150,00 once you have received your Unisa student number.
Please note:
An application for a student number does not constitute an application for admission. After you receive your student number, you must still complete the online application for admission process and upload the compulsory supporting documents.
Click here for the 2025 student fee information. The fee information for the 2026 academic year will be available at the time of registration.
Students registering for qualifications through the Graduate School of Business Leadership (SBL) should visit the SBL website for fee information, as the SBL uses a different fee structure.
Click here for student funding/bursary opportunities.
Application are online only! Apply for admission to master's or doctoral qualifications for the 2026 academic year between 2 September and 21 November 2025..
Click here to apply for a student number and apply for admission.
Please ensure that you apply for a Unisa student number (if applicable), apply for admission and upload all the supporting documents during the application period. If you already have a Unisa student number, you proceed to apply for admission and upload all the supporting documents.
You have 10 working days to upload all the supporting documents during the application period. If you do not comply with this requirement, your application will be declined and you will have to re-apply for admission during the current/next application period.
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 2026 academic year. Coursework master's degree students must await the official approval of their research proposal module, before attempting to re-register for the next academic year. Students with outstanding fees or a Library block on their accounts, will not be able to register online until these issues have been resolved. No printed registration forms will be accepted.
Click here for registration information.