UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA UNISA S NEW APPLICATION AND REGISTRATION PHASES APPLICATION PHASE First-time students at UNISA must apply for admission on the prescribed form which is to be submitted together with the correct application fees, as well as the documents required for registration. Apply on-line: http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.asp? Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=16832 or contact the UNISA Contact Centre at 0861670411 / 0116709000. Once the data has been recorded the system will allocate a student number which will be confirmed via e-mail, sms or mail depending on the contact details indicated on your application form. A registration package containing the relevant information brochure(s) and registration form will be mailed to you. Students who already have a UNISA student number proceed directly to the registration phase. REGISTRATION PHASE Once a student number has been allocated to an individual, this student number will remain his/her student number at UNISA for all formal qualifications Honours students may apply on-line for registration after the registration period for the particular academic year has opened. However, master s and doctoral students cannot apply on-line and are advised to submit their applications directly to UNISA Muckleneuk Campus, P O Box 392, UNISA, 0003. Regional offices can only forward master s and doctoral applications to the Muckleneuk Campus.
The registration form together with the minimum instalment required for registration must be submitted before the relevant closing date. Students must please take note that certain degrees are by selection and have earlier closing dates than the normal registration closing dates. Any documents required for registration submitted must be included here, if not previously submitted. Kindly note that only original transcripts of academic records issued by the Registrar of the University/Institution concerned are accepted for registration purposes. Degree certificates should not be submitted. All applications for master s and doctoral degrees will be referred to the Section: Senior Qualifications where they will be assessed before being referred to the relevant academic department where the Executive Committee will rule on admission. If approved, students who have submitted their complete application (i.e. all required documents and minimum fees) will automatically be registered after admission has been approved. Other students will be informed of any remaining conditions to be complied with in order to finalise their registration. All other students will be informed of the outcome of their applications and, where applicable, the minimum study fees paid will be refunded. The process outlined above may be time consuming in some cases, especially when we approach the various closing dates when most applications are invariably submitted. It is, therefore, essential that prospective students apply well in advance, especially where deadlines set by employers and sponsors have to be met. ii
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK MASTER S AND DOCTOR S DEGREES 2010 I N D E X Page 1 CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE UNIVERSITY... 1 2 STUDIES FOR A MASTER'S DEGREE... 2 2.1 The Research Masters degree in Social Work.. 3 2.1.1 Admission requirements... 3 2.1.2 Curriculum... 3 3. STUDIES FOR A DOCTOR S DEGREE... 4 3.1 Admission requirements... 4 3.2 Thesis... 4 iii
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK This brochure contains information on Master's and Doctor s degrees in Social Work which prospective students should read carefully before applying for registration. Consult Part 1 of the Calendar and the Information Brochure regarding the general rules for admission to postgraduate studies, documents which must accompany an application for admission, re-registration, duration of study, applications for cancellation, etcetera. 1 CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE UNIVERSITY All correspondence in connection with registration, tutorial matters, fees, examinations, change of address and related matters should be addressed to The University Registrar (Student Admission and Registrations). Correspondence on purely academic matters such as problems encountered in your studies, assignments, and appointments with lecturers, the syllabus and related matters should be addressed to The Chairperson, Department of Social Work. Correspondence in connection with library matters should be addressed to The Director, Department of Library Services.
In all cases the address is: The Registrar Student Admissions and Registrations University of South Africa P O Box 392 UNISA 0003 Telephone: +27 12 441-5702 Fax: 012 429 4150 E-mail: mandd@unisa.ac.za ALL CORRESPONDENCE SHOULD INDICATE YOUR STUDENT NUMBER, YOUR INITIALS AND SURNAME IN CAPITAL LETTERS. 2 STUDIES FOR A MASTER'S DEGREE Please note that your qualification does not automatically give access to a Master's degree. Since the Department can only accommodate a certain number of students, prospective master's student s research proposals are subjected to a strict evaluation procedures in which the following criteria play a role: (a) Academic performance at undergraduate level. (b) The extent to which research proposals adhere to criteria as set out in the guideline for proposals. (b) The field of research and the capacity of the Department to accommodate students. ADMISSION TO MASTER'S STUDIES CANNOT BE GUARANTEED TO ANY STUDENT. 2
2.1 THE RESEARCH MASTERS DEGREE IN SOCIAL WORK (MA(SS) in Social Work (Degree Code: 06424) 2.1.1 Admission requirement: An accredited 4-year BA or accredited Honours degree in Social Work, or an approved equivalent of these qualifications. 2.1.2 Curriculum The curriculum comprises a dissertation on an approved topic, based on the student's own research. Prospective students must submit a research outline describing the nature of their intended research, to be approved by the Department before the student's registration can be finalised and before the research is started. Registration depends on the quality of the research outline. Requirements for registration and guidelines for compiling a research proposal are provided in a guideline obtainable from the Department of Social Work. To pass, candidates must obtain at least 50% for the dissertation. To be awarded the degree with distinction, candidates must obtain at least 75%. A scientific article must be submitted with the dissertation. From January 2010 all master's and doctoral students are required to register for and complete a research module before registration for the dissertation/thesis can be finalised. 3
Applications should be sent to: The Research Coordinator MA in Research Social Work Department of Social Work University of South Africa PO Box 392 UNISA 0003 E-mail: alpasah@unisa.ac.za Tel: (012) 429-6739 3 STUDIES FOR A DOCTOR'S DEGREE DPhil in Social Work (Degree code: 08400) 3.1 Admission requirements An accredited MA degree in Social Work Persons in foreign countries must motivate why they want to study at UNISA and must bear in mind that, depending on the nature of the research, a co-supervisor must be appointed in the country where the study will be undertaken. 3.2 Thesis As is the case with the master s degree by dissertation only, this programme involves planning and executing a research project under the supervision of the Department. The research is written in the form of a thesis. This degree does not include a course work component and is therefore available on a distance learning basis. The student registers when a supervisor, who has accepted his/her research outline, has been secured. 4
From January 2010 all master's and doctoral students are required to register for and complete a research module before registration for the dissertation/thesis can be finalised. After successful completion of the thesis, a doctorate in Social Work is conferred. A scientific article must be submitted with the thesis. Applications should be sent to: The Research Coordinator DPhil in Social Work Department of Social Work University of South Africa PO Box 392 UNISA 0003 E-mail: alpasah@unisa.ac.za Tel: (012) 429-6739 UNISA 5