Master's & doctoral degrees

Master of Business Administration

Qualification code: 90070
Qualification type: Coursework
NQF level: 9
Total credits: 180
SAQA ID: 97385
Rules:
Six foundational modules; two core modules; one electives and the integrated management research project.


Who can register?

  • Applicants may only register once they have received confirmation from Unisa that their application for admission has been accepted. Returning students must please check their myLife e-mails for confirmation. New Unisa students will receive confirmation via the e-mail address they provided at the time of application.
  • Re-registering students (who made sufficient progress during the current academic year) and students who officially deferred their studies must register online during the approved registration period for 2024.
  • Should you wish to start a new qualification, please apply for admission during the next application period.


When can I register?

Registration opens Registration opens Registration closes Final date for payment
Master's & doctoral qualifications 10 January 2024 29 March 2024 29 March 2024 

Master of Business Administration (MBA) and Master of Business Leadership (MBL) qualifications 
* All GSBL students with a 7-series student number should contact the Graduate School of Business Leadership for assistance with re-registration: www.unisa.ac.za/sbl

 10 January 2024 9 February 2024 16 February 2024

Master of Accounting Sciences (98656) -  AUE, FAC, GOV, INT, MAC & TAX options

 10 January 2024 22 March 2024 22 March 2024

The following qualifications have different registration dates for first-time registrations:

  • All qualifications in the College of Science, Engineering and Technology (excluding Computer Science & Information Systems qualifications)
  • Doctor of Philosophy (90040) - SET, MAT, TEC, CHE, COM, LIF, AST, STA, SCE & PHY options
  • Master of Science in Nature Conservation (Full Dissertation) (98022)
  • Qualifications in the Department of Decision Science: Master of Science (98597 - ORE), the PhD in Operations Research (98598) and the MCom in Quantitative Management (98701)

Click here for more information.


Time limits for this degree

All master's and doctoral qualifications are structured over a defined period. Refer to sections 4.13 and 4.14 in the Procedures for master’s and doctoral degrees.

  • Coursework master's degree: A maximum of three years with an option to apply for one additional year.
  • Research master's degree: A maximum of three years with an option to apply for one additional year.
  • Doctoral degree: A maximum of six years with an option to apply for one additional year.

Both you and your supervisor are responsible to ensure that you complete your studies within the approved duration for your qualification.

Catalytic niche areas 

Unisa has identified the following 10 catalytic niche areas to be operationalised within the colleges:

  1. Marine studies      
  2. Aviation and aeronautical studies      
  3. Automotive      
  4. Energy      
  5. Space study and square kilometre array      
  6. Fourth IR and digitalisation      
  7. Natural sciences (biotechnological studies)      
  8. Health studies/medicine      
  9. Feminist, womanist and bosadi theorisations      
  10. Student support and co-curricular activities      

If you are interested in any of these areas, please discuss it with your supervisor to incorporate it into your studies. 


Curriculum

Please click on the modules below to see further information (eg semester/year module, NQF level)

Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Semester 1: Compulsory
MBA4801 - Economics for Managers Co-requisite:MBA4807, MBA5926, MBA5904
MBA4807 - Accounting for Managers Co-requisite:MBA4801, MBA5926, MBA4807
MBA5904 - Managing Human Capital Co-requisite:MBA4801, MBA4807, MBA5926
MBA5926 - Operations Management Co-requisite:MBA4801, MBA4807, MBA5904
Group B. Semester 2: Compulsory
MBA5903 - Strategic Financial Management Pre-requisite:MBA4807
Co-requisite:MBA5910, MBA5944; MBA5945
MBA5910 - Sustainability Marketing Co-requisite:MBA5903, MBA5944, MBA5945
MBA5944 - Business Research Co-requisite:MBA5903, MBA5910, MBA5945
MBA5945 - Management of Digital Technologies Co-requisite:MBA5903, MBA5944, MBA5910
Module (Please click on the module to see further information) Pre-requisite/Co-requisite/Recommendation
Group A. Semester 1: Compulsory
MBA5902 - Ethical Leadership & Governance Co-requisite:MBA5905 & (MBA5907 OR MBA5909 OR MBA5946 OR MBA5948)
MBA5905 - Strategic Management Co-requisite:MBA5902 & (MBA5907 OR, MBA5909 OR MBA5946 OR MBA5948)
Group B. Semester 1: Choose one elective from the following (NB: Where an elective is undersubscribed, it may not be offered)
MBA5907 - Strategy in a Global Context
MBA5909 - Strategic Project Management
MBA5946 - Digital Supply Chains
MBA5948 - Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Group C. Semester 1 & 2: Compulsory
MBA5929 - Integrated Management Project Pre-requisite:MBA5944