Purpose statement
The purpose of the Master of Education qualification is to prepare researchers who can contribute to the development of knowledge in the field of education, including knowledge about professional practice at an advanced level. The qualification would take the form of a discrete research project, culminating in a full dissertation. The purpose of this qualification is to equip learners with the academic and intellectual skills required to conduct independent research on a problematic phenomenon in language education. Learners would develop the competency to conduct a comprehensive review of current, research in language education. This would include the ability to read scholarly texts critically with insight; represent the opinions, arguments and theories of other researchers, particularly African researchers with a high degree of precision; identify and analyse significant language education problems; and critically appraise and construct possible interventions and practical solutions to such problems, taking the unique African values, world-views, beliefs and multicultural realities into consideration. The purpose would further be to equip learners to communicate their research, as well as evidence-based solutions and possible interventions for improvement, in an academically sound dissertation. The dissertation should preferably make an original academic contribution to the knowledge in the field of language education and propose possible solutions to challenges related to language education in multicultural and multilingual societies. Learners will acquire the following attributes: This qualification will produce learners who will use their specialist knowledge and insight into language learning theories to deal systematically and creatively, in an ethical, professional and culturally sensitive way with complex issues encountered in language education. Learners will be able to critique current literature on research or practices and engage in research in the field, discipline or practice of language education. They will make sound judgements, using the data and information at their disposal, and be able to communicate their conclusions clearly to specialist and non-specialist audiences; demonstrate self-direction and originality in identifying, conceptualising, analysing and solving complex practical and theoretical problems by implementing suitable methods of inquiry; act autonomously in planning and implementing tasks at a professional level; and continue to advance their knowledge, understanding and skills. Apart from gaining research experience, they would also receive opportunities in terms of professional renewal and career development. Learners would thus be able to provide academic leadership in addressing language education-related problems.
| Qualification code: | 90202 |
| Qualification type: | Full Research |
| NQF level: | 9 |
| Total credits: | 180 |
| SAQA ID: | 125798 |
An appropriate Bachelor of Education Honours Degree with 120 credits at NQF Level 8, or a Postgraduate Diploma in Language Education with 120 credits at NQF Level 8, with an average mark of 60% or more from an accredited institution of learning.
A student who is admitted on the strength of a Postgraduate Diploma and who has not completed a module in research methodology will be required to complete such a module at NQF level 8 for NDP before he/she will be allowed to register for the module in research methodology of which the outcome is the research proposal.
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, applicants would need to submit a full academic transcript, an updated CV, as well as a brief research outline (the requirements for this appear on the website). Students would be accepted according to the following criteria: suitability and viability of the intended research and adequate supervisory capacity and research expertise in the discipline or department.
Applicants who would like to apply for admission through recognition of prior learning (RPL) must be at least 23 years old; have achieved an overall final mark of between 50-59% from their previous Bachelor of Education Honours Degree, or in an appropriate postgraduate diploma; and have at least five years relevant teaching 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: http://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 Chair of Department in 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 Education.
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 R160,00 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 2026 student fee information. The fee information for the 2027 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.
Apply for a master's or doctoral qualification between 1 September and 20 November 2026. The MCom IOP (90042) will be open from 14 August to 14 September 2026 (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. If applications for your chosen qualification are still open, you may submit a new application during the current application period. If not, you will need to wait until the 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 2027 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.
The curriculum information for this qualification will be available closer to the registration phase.