Purpose statement
The Master of Arts in Public Policy in International Affairs is intended to prepare qualifying learners who could contribute to the development of knowledge in the fields of Public Policy and International Affairs at an advanced level. The qualifying learners should demonstrate specialist knowledge and engagement with, and critique of current research or practices, as well as advanced scholarship or research in Public Policy and International Affairs. The qualification will take the form of a distinct research project, culminating in a full dissertation. The dissertation will make an original, theoretically sound and empirically based academic contribution to the knowledge in Public Policy and International Affairs. By employing futuristic thinking, the dissertation will present and propose possible solutions to challenges related to the cross-cutting sub-fields of Citizenship, Public Leadership, Peace and Conflict, Government Affairs, Urban and Rural Affairs, Simulation and Futuristic Studies, Security and Intelligence, Sustainable Livelihoods and Resource Management, as well as International and Diplomacy Affairs.
| Qualification code: | 90192 |
| Qualification type: | Full Research |
| NQF level: | 9 |
| Total credits: | 180 |
| SAQA ID: | 124565 |
An appropriate bachelor honours degree, or an appropriate postgraduate diploma, or a 480 credit bachelor's degree at NQF level 8 with an average of at least 60%.
Applicants who would like to apply for admission through recognition of prior learning (RPL) without an appropriate Honours Degree should submit a portfolio of evidence of relevant work and research experience in the study field in which they would like to apply for admission to the qualification. The portfolio of evidence will be assessed according to the specific outcomes and assessment criteria of the Master of Arts in Public Policy in International Affairs.
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.
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.
Applications re-open for master's & doctoral qualifications until 19 December 2025 (some exceptions apply)
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.