MPhil (Higher Education)
The Master of Philosophy in Higher Education Studies equips you with the knowledge, skills and attitudes to be able to function effectively in higher education institutions as a lecturer, learning facilitator or higher education professional.
The programme also equips you with the research skills to do further advanced study at doctoral level and to be able to undertake research in the field of higher education. This aim includes the capacity to function as a researcher in your professional context.
Contact information
Programme overview
More information
When applying
Please note that selection for postgraduate programmes is highly competitive. Meeting the minimum admission requirements does not guarantee admission to the programme.
Minimum admission requirements
For admission to the MPhil (Higher Education Studies) programme, you must:
• have an appropriate honours degree (with an average of at least 65%) and have been employed in a higher education environment for at least two years;
or
have completed another academic-professional study combination equivalent to an honours degree, which Senate deems suitable for admission to this programme, and have been employed in a higher education environment for at least two years;
or
• have attained a level of competence in higher education, demonstrated through the process of evaluation of prior learning, which Senate deems sufficient for this purpose.
Selection
The programme will be offered if a specified minimum number of students can be admitted. The number is determined by the Department of Curriculum Studies.
Supporting application documents
Departmental form
Download and fill in the following departmental form, and submit with your application:
https://files.su.ac.za/public/postgraduate-studies/documents/2026-03/cu…
Document placeholder name on application portal:
Departmental form
Programme structure
Duration and presentation structure of the programme
• The programme is presented over at least two academic years.
• The programme entails a combination of contact and other forms of teaching.
• There are two contact sessions per year, one at the beginning of the year and one in the middle.
Each session is a week long.
• For the rest of the year, you do preparatory study, assignments and projects by means of blended
learning, online group-work assignments, structured study guides, self-study packages and other
forms of directed self-study.
Assessment and examination
• Taught modules:
o The modules count 33.33% of your final mark.
o You must complete an assignment for every taught module.
o You need a minimum of 50% in every module to pass the programme.
• Research thesis:
o The topic of the thesis falls in the field of higher education studies
o The thesis counts 66.66% of your final mark.
o You may also submit your thesis for examination in the form of examined or reviewed publishable articles.
Your final mark is calculated as the average for your assignments in all of the taught modules (33.33%), plus
your research thesis (66.66%).
Anchor module
Higher Education 879(180)
You must do the following four compulsory modules of which the research thesis is one. The topic of the thesis must fall within the field of higher education studies and you must consult with you appointed supervisor when choosing your topic.
Compulsory modules
Learning in Higher Education 875(20)
Perspectives on Higher Education 875(20)
Research in Higher Education* 875(20)
Research Thesis 874(120)
* Research in Higher Education is presented with a view to formulating the research proposal for your MPhil thesis.