Postgraduate Applications Overview

There are five faculties at the University: Commerce, Law and Management; Engineering and the Built Environment; Health Sciences; Humanities and Science. All enquiries for admission to the University as a postgraduate student should be directed to the Student Enrolment Centre.

Applicants accepted for the degrees of master (by research work) and doctor will be given a booklet containing information on the general regulations and rules pertaining to higher degrees. A booklet recommending the style and format to be followed when presenting a thesis, dissertation or other work is also available from the faculty office at a nominal cost, depending on the faculty.

The admission system

• Please complete the application form
• Some faculties require additional information - please complete this form if enclosed.
• It should be noted that no more than three choices of degree and/or diploma are permitted.
• All forms and any additional documentation required by the University must be returned to the Student Enrolment Centre.
• All postgraduate applicants are required to pay an application fee of R200.  Current University of the Witwatersrand students who apply online for 2013 or 2014 are not liable for this fee.

Faculty offices

The faculty office is responsible for the administrative aspects of each faculty. One of the main functions of the faculty office is to advise students, particularly with respect to the interpretation of rules and concessions in terms of the rules. In addition, the following documents may be obtained from the faculty office:

• Certificates of registration, for financial aid, medical aid or tax purposes, etc.
• Academic record ie transcript of courses completed at the University and certificates of conduct. A student requiring a transcript of his/her academic record should complete a request form at the faculty office, giving details of his/her registration at the University and student number. A transcript is normally available within a few days. A small fee is payable. A student who requires the faculty office to post transcripts direct to other universities or institutions overseas is liable for the cost of postage.
• Copies of examination results, where applicable. All examination results are posted on the internet after publication. Results may not be given out over the telephone.
• Copies of rules, curricula, syllabuses.
• Certificates stating that a student has fulfilled all the requirements for a degree (prior to graduation).

Financial aid and scholarships

A graduate student registered for full-time study may be eligible for a postgraduate merit award or a postgraduate financial aid package consisting of part bursary part loan. Application forms for a postgraduate merit award or a postgraduate financial aid package may be obtained from the Financial Aid & Scholarships Office and must be returned to that Office by 31 August in the year prior to intended registration.

Other bursaries/scholarships are also available. Note that a University postgraduate merit award or postgraduate financial aid package alone is not sufficient to cover all the costs of a student?s living expenses and heads of academic schools should be approached to discuss alternative sources of funding.

Financial Aid & Scholarships Office, Ground Floor, Senate House, University of the Witwatersrand.
Telephone: +27 (0)11 717-1081.
Website

Fees

An up-to-date extract from the Fees Schedule will be provided when you register. This will give details of the current fees payable and the dates of payment. Note that there is usually an annual increase in fees. International students must pay their fees in full before registration. An estimate of the fees can be obtained prior to registration. There may also be a number of miscellaneous fees and charges payable (for example, the fee for admission to status should you be a graduate from another university). Note, too, that if cancelling registration, a penalty may be incurred if the correct procedures are not followed. Click here.

Accommodation

Unfortunately our residences have limited capacity. Applicants over the age of 25 years are not normally accommodated in catering residences. When they register in their residences, catered accommodation students are given a choice of how many meals they want each week and in which dining hall they wish to dine. Accommodation in self-catering residences is normally restricted to undergraduate and Honours students under the age of 35 years, and Masters and Doctoral students under the age of 40. Part-time and occasional students are not eligible for University accommodation.

Postgraduate applicants wishing to apply for accommodation in a University residence with effect from the beginning of the academic year (ie January/February) must submit their formal residence application on the prescribed application form by 31 October of the previous year. Unfortunately late applications cannot be accepted.

Very few vacancies occur in our residences during the course of the calendar year. Contact should be made with the Central Accomodation Office regarding availability. A postgraduate applicant wishing to apply for admission to a residence with effect from any other time of the year must indicate such wish clearly on his/her application form. Successful applicants for admission after February each year will be notified per e-mail or telephone, so please ensure that you provide this information on the form.

The Accommodation Officer at the Central Accomodation Office may be contacted for information regarding private accommodation in Johannesburg and its environs.

Telephone: +27 (0)11 717-9172/3/4. Fax: +27 (0)11 339-8213.

NB: Residences open in early February and close in late November. There is a separate (advance) fee for accommodation in December and January.