VUT Research Postgraduate Admission Requirements

The postgraduate admission requirements for a degree at the Vaal University of Technology Research differ according to whether a student will be doing a Masters or Doctorate course, and then according to which faculty the course will fall under.

A Postgraduate diploma, Honours or Equivalent degree, a postgraduate diploma or an equivalent qualification as approved by SAQA with an average pass percentage of 65% and 60% for research methodology on NQF level 8. In addition, stu­dents may be required to present a PowerPoint presentation of ten minutes defending their desire to study towards a postgraduate qualification. International students will be required to complete an English proficiency test.

These are the following admission requirements for an Masters qualification in each of the faculties:

Engineering:

  • A relevant Postgraduate Diploma or equivalent.
  • A Research Methodology course must be completed.
  • An average pass percentage of 65% is required.

Applied & Computer Sciences:

  • A relevant Postgraduate Diploma or four-year degree registered by SAQA.
  • An average pass percentage of 65% is required.
  • Approved Research Methodology course must be completed.

Management Sciences:

  • A relevant Postgraduate Diploma or four-year degree registered by SAQA at NQF level 7/8.
  • An average pass percentage of 65% is required as well as 65% for Research Methodology
  • Successful achievement of the Faculty selection criteria.

Human Sciences:

  • A relevant Postgraduate Diploma or four-year degree registered by SAQA.
  • An average pass percentage of 65% is required, with a 60% pass in Research Methodology.
  • Masters entrance test for research knowledge;
  • An Interview is to be conducted by the department.

For consideration for admission for a Doctoral/PHD, a candidate must possess a Masters degree with a substantial research component. In some disciplines, further research training or the completion of a preliminary coursework program in research preparation may be required.

Research degree programs offer students a unique opportunity to follow a specific interest in a particular area of research and to focus on this for several years, allowing the students to make an important contribution to the development of new knowledge in society.

These are the following admission requirements for a Doctorate/PHD qualification in each of the faculties:

Engineering:

  • Relevant Masters or equivalent approved by SAQA.

Applied & Computer Sciences:

  • Relevant Masters or equivalent approved by SAQA.
  • Research Methodology course must be completed.
  • Proof of previous research experience must be provided.

Management Sciences:

  • Relevant Masters qualification or equivalent registered by SAQA.
  • A Research Methodology Course must be completed.
  • Proof of previous research experience must be provided.
  • A draft research proposal should be submitted for approval before registration.
  • Successful achievement of the Faculty selection criteria.

Humanities:

  • Relevant Masters qualification or equivalent registered by SAQA.
  • A Research Methodology course must be completed.
  • Proof of previous research experience.
  • CV submitted to the Head of Department regarding academic history (certified copies), research experience, presentations and aspirations.

In addition to academic qualifications, the following postgraduate admission requirements also need to be satisfied before a recommendation for admission can be made:

  • The proposed topic must be appropriate for higher degree research and it must be consistent with the academic aims and objectives of the student.

  • The student must have access to the necessary resources, facilities and the necessary budget in order to complete the degree within the timeframe.

  • There must be a qualified staff member holding confirmed, continuous or fixed-term appointments of sufficient length for the purposes of supervision of the proposed research and student.

  • The proposed program of work must be able to be completed within the maximum period of submission for the degree.

  • A suitable level of contact with the university supervisors must be maintained.

  • Where the applicant is currently employed, capacity to meet the timelines and other requirements must be considered.

  • The proposed research cannot reproduce research that has previously been submitted for the award of a degree or diploma.

  • Where the intellectual property rights of the applicant may be a consideration, a suitable agreement protecting the rights of the student needs to be signed. If the student is unwilling to sign an agreement, the research proposal may not be approved and the student may be required to choose another topic in an area that is not commercially sensitive.

  • The applicant should have no outstanding financial obligation with the University and in the case of international applicants, they should be able to verify the necessary financial capacity to undertake the program.

  • The applicant must possess sufficient English language proficiency.

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