Unisa Masters Degree In Nursing
Master of Arts in Nursing Science (Full Dissertation)
Qualification code: | 99502 |
NQF level: | 9 |
Total credits: | 180 |
SAQA ID: | 5395 |
Admission requirements
Professional nurses with an appropriate bachelor honours degree or an appropriate postgraduate diploma, or Professional nurses who completed a 4 year basic nursing degree programme or, Professional nurses with a 4 year basic nursing diploma programme or, Professional nurses who completed a 3 year basic nursing diploma with an additional qualification in a post basic field such as Nursing Education, Nursing Management, Community Nursing or any clinical field, and applicants should have obtained an average mark of at least 60% for the latest professional qualification and In the absence of an honours degree or a postgraduate diploma the applicant will be required to complete a one year research methodology module at post graduate level e.g. MNURS1E or PPH4805 (Theory and principles of Health Research) for NDP before he/she will be allowed to register for the research proposal module. In addition to the above requirements, applicants must submit a transcript or an academic record, as well as a document describing their intended research. Students will be accepted on the following criteria:
Suitability and viability of the intended research;
Adequate supervisory capacity and research expertise in the discipline or department.
An approved selection procedure which is in line with Unisa’s policies on equality and diversity in the discipline or department.
Research master’s degree
A research master’s degree comprises either a single advanced research project, culminating in the production and acceptance of a dissertation, or a research proposal module (where the outcome is an acceptable research proposal on a research topic). Once this module is finalised, the student may then proceed to register for the research component (ie a dissertation).
Please note: Once you have passed all the modules, but fail the research proposal module, you will not be permitted to continue with the qualification.
Research focus areas
Click here to view a list of departments and research focus areas for the College of Human Sciences.
Research outline
Unisa’s admission policy has changed and you are now required to submit a detailed research outline for each master’s and doctoral 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:
- Title
- Summary of topic
- Short literature review
- Expected contribution of the study
- Methodology to be followed
- Availability of the data
- List of references
- Reasons why you are interested in the topic
Plagiarism of any form is unacceptable. Please take note of Unisa’s Policy for Copyright Infringement and Plagiarism.
Student fees and funding your studies
Application fee
Pay the online application fee of R105,00 once you have received your Unisa student number. Please note that the application fee is non-refundable even if you decide not to study through Unisa or do not qualify for admission to Unisa.
Student fees
Click here for the 2026 student fee information. The fee information for the 2026 academic year will be available at the time of registration.
Click here for student funding.
Apply for a student number and apply for admission
Who must apply for a Unisa student number?
- You must apply for a Unisa student number if you have never before studied towards a formal qualification at Unisa. Student numbers issued for Unisa’s short learning programmes are not valid for formal qualifications. Your formal Unisa student number will be your permanent Unisa student number.
- If you are applying for admission to a Graduate School of Business Leadership (GSBL) qualification, please apply for a Unisa student number and pay the application fee, unless you previously studied at Unisa towards a formal qualification.
- If you are applying for admission to a selection degree, you must apply for a Unisa student number if you have never before studied towards a formal qualification at Unisa. If you do not have a formal Unisa student number and are selected for admission to one of the selection degrees, you will not be able to register for the 2026 academic year.
- Please ensure that you apply for a Unisa student number, apply for admission and upload all the supporting documents during the application period.
Please note:
- You do not need re-apply for a student number if you already have a student number for a formal qualification.
- No application for admission to the 2026 academic year will be processed without a valid student number.
- You do not need to pay the application fee if you already have a student number for a formal qualification.
- An application for a Unisa student number is NOT an application for admission to a qualification.
How to apply for a Unisa student number
- Apply online for a student number for a formal qualification at Unisa.
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of R105,00 (some exceptions may apply). Your application for a student number will only be finalised upon receipt of the application fee. The application fee is non-refundable even if you decide not to study through Unisa or do not qualify for admission to your qualification of choice.
- Upload a copy of your ID / passport.
Who should apply for admission?
- Everyone wanting to start a new master’s or doctoral degree must apply for admission. This includes
- first-time Unisa applicants
- Unisa students changing to a new qualification
- applicants in their final year of a postgraduate diploma, honours degree or master’s degree who wish to continue with further postgraduate studies
- You must re-apply for admission if you previously applied for admission to a master’s or doctoral degree and received feedback, but did not register for any reason.
- You must re-apply for admission if you are a previously registered master’s or doctoral student, but did not register for the 2026 academic year and now wish to continue with master’s or doctoral studies in 2026. This excludes students who applied for and were granted a formal deferment.
How to apply for admission
- Apply online for a student number for a formal qualification at Unisa (if applicable).
- Pay the non-refundable application fee of R105,00 (some exceptions may apply). Your application for a student number will only be finalised upon receipt of the application fee. The application fee is non-refundable even if you decide not to study through Unisa or do not qualify for admission to your qualification of choice.
- Apply for admission
- Upload your supporting documents (academic records from other universities, research outline, CV or additional information as specified in the departmental research focus areas)
Application dates: 10 September – 23 November 2026 with the exceptions listed below
You may apply for the following qualifications outside the prescribed application dates:
Applicants who wish to pursue a multi, inter or transdisciplinary doctoral degree should apply for the Doctor of Philosophy degree (90040-MIT) | Please contact the Master’s and Doctoral Administration Section for assistance (012 441 5702; mandd@unisa.ac.za). |
College of Science, Engineering and Technology (excluding Computing students) | Please contact the Master’s and Doctoral Administration Section for assistance (012 441 5702; mandd@unisa.ac.za). |
Decision Sciences | Please contact the Master’s and Doctoral Administration Section for assistance (012 441 5702; mandd@unisa.ac.za). |
Master of Science in Nature Conservation (full dissertation) (98022) | Please contact the Master’s and Doctoral Administration Section for assistance (012 441 5702; mandd@unisa.ac.za). |
Selection degrees | Selection degrees have different closing dates for applications and are administered by the respective academic departments. Only a limited number of students are selected per academic year. |
Registration
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. No printed registration forms will be accepted.
Click here for registration information.
Need Information or Confused about Something ?
Ask a QuestionCurriculum
Sponsored Guide
Complete Guide to NSFAS Online Loan Application for South African Students (2025)
If you are a South African student looking to pursue higher education but are facing financial difficulties, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is one of the most accessible funding options available. NSFAS provides financial aid in the form of bursaries and loans to qualifying students at public universities and TVET colleges in South Africa.
This guide will walk you through everything you need to know about the NSFAS loan application process, from eligibility requirements to application steps and frequently asked questions.
📌 What is NSFAS?
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is a government-funded financial aid scheme aimed at helping students from low- and middle-income households to access tertiary education without the burden of upfront fees.
NSFAS offers both bursaries and income-contingent loans:
- Bursaries: For eligible students who meet academic and household income criteria (especially for TVET and university students).
- Loans: For students who do not meet all bursary criteria or who are pursuing postgraduate qualifications not funded under bursary schemes.
✅ Who Qualifies for an NSFAS Loan?
To qualify for an NSFAS loan (especially for postgraduate students or programs not funded under the bursary system), you must:
- Be a South African citizen.
- Be financially needy, with a household income of less than R350,000 per year.
- Have a valid South African ID.
- Be enrolled or accepted to study at a public university or TVET college.
- Not be funded through another bursary program that covers all expenses.
- Maintain satisfactory academic progress (returning students).
📚 Courses Funded by NSFAS
NSFAS primarily funds undergraduate qualifications, but certain postgraduate programs (e.g., PGCE, postgraduate diplomas in education, and professional courses like LLB) may be considered under the NSFAS loan scheme, not bursaries.
If you’re studying:
- Undergraduate degree or diploma: You are likely eligible for a full NSFAS bursary.
- Postgraduate study: You may qualify for a loan, depending on the course and funding availability.
📄 Required Documents for NSFAS Application
When applying, make sure you have the following documents scanned and ready:
- Certified copy of your South African ID or Smart Card.
- Parent(s) or guardian(s) ID documents.
- Proof of income (latest payslips, UIF, or affidavit if unemployed).
- Consent Form signed by your parent(s)/guardian(s) to allow NSFAS to verify income.
- Proof of registration or acceptance at a public institution.
- Academic transcripts (for continuing or postgraduate students).
🖥️ How to Apply for an NSFAS Loan Online
Step-by-Step NSFAS Online Application Process (2025)
-
Visit the NSFAS Website
Go to: https://www.nsfas.org.za
-
Create an Account
- Click on “MyNSFAS” and register your profile.
- You’ll need a valid email address and South African cellphone number.
- Choose a strong password and verify your account via email or SMS.
-
Login and Start the Application
- After registration, log in to your MyNSFAS account.
- Click on “Apply” to begin a new application.
-
Fill in Your Personal Details
- Input your ID number, name, surname, and other details exactly as they appear on your ID.
- Provide household income information and living arrangements.
-
Upload Required Documents
- Upload all supporting documents in PDF or JPEG format.
- Each document must be clear and under the size limit specified.
-
Submit Your Application
- Review your application for accuracy.
- Click “Submit” and wait for a confirmation message.
-
Track Your Application
- Log in regularly to check your application status.
- You will be notified via SMS and email at each stage of the process.
🗓️ Important NSFAS Dates (2025)
- Application Opening Date: September 1, 2025
- Application Deadline: January 31, 2026
- Appeals Period: February 2026 (if rejected)
- Disbursement: After registration and approval
Note: Dates are subject to change; always confirm on the official NSFAS website.
💸 What Does the NSFAS Loan Cover?
NSFAS funding typically includes:
- Tuition fees
- Registration fees
- Accommodation (if living away from home)
- Meals and transport
- Learning materials (e.g., textbooks)
For loans, repayment is only required once you start working and earn above a threshold (around R30,000 annually, but subject to change).
🔄 NSFAS Loan Repayment
Repayments are:
- Income-contingent – you only repay when you can afford to.
- Administered by DHET (Department of Higher Education and Training).
- Interest-bearing, but interest rates are low and favorable.
You can also apply for a partial loan conversion to a bursary if you perform well academically.
🔁 How to Appeal a Rejected NSFAS Application
If your application is rejected, you may submit an appeal via your MyNSFAS portal:
- Log into your MyNSFAS account.
- Click on “Track Funding Progress”.
- If rejected, click on “Submit Appeal”.
- Upload any missing or corrected documents.
- Provide a clear explanation or motivation.
📱 NSFAS Contact Information
- Website: https://www.nsfas.org.za
- Email: info@nsfas.org.za
- Toll-Free Number: 08000 67327 (Monday–Friday, 8 AM–5 PM)
- Twitter: @myNSFAS
- Facebook: NSFAS
📝 Final Tips Before Applying
- Apply early to avoid system overload near the deadline.
- Use your own email and cellphone number (do not use someone else’s).
- Double-check that all your documents are certified and legible.
- Keep a copy of your submission confirmation for reference.
By following this guide, you can confidently apply for NSFAS funding and move one step closer to achieving your academic and career dreams—without the burden of immediate financial pressure.