Procedure for MSc and PhD Applications

The Department of Biochemistry, Genetics and Microbiology exclusively offers research-based MSc and PhD degrees. To be admitted to either an MSc or a PhD study programme, prospective PG students should identify potential supervisors from among the 45 principle investigators (PI) in the department.
(Link to academic staff)
Once a potential supervisor has been identified, prospective students should send a detailed introductory email to that PI, providing as much information and documentation as possible. In particular, students should outline their academic background as well as research interests and experience and how this qualifies them for research being conducted in that research group.
Students must have achieved a mark of 60% or above for their previous degree to apply for an MSc or PhD at the University of Pretoria.

Documentation should include:
Curriculum vitae
Academic transcript (up to date)
Degree certificates (only academic)
SAQA certificate - for students from outside South Africa
A brief explanation of the scoring systems in their home countries if not South Africa.


If a PI sees sufficient merit in an application, s/he will either request additional information from the student or discuss more detailed aspects such as the proposed project scope as well as opportunities for financial support. Please note that bursaries are scarce and only a fraction of students are awarded a bursary. Student and supervisor may together apply for funding but the outcome is not guaranteed.

Once the prospective student and supervisor have agreed on the suitability of the candidate, the student must complete the online application through the main website of the University of Pretoria. It is critical to upload all required documentation and to include the name of the potential supervisor. Only complete applications are forwarded to the Division of Research and Postgraduate Education, who will confirm the eligibility of the applying student. If the supervisor confirms acceptance of the student, the application will be signed and returned to the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences for finalization. The student will then receive an official letter of acceptance by the University of Pretoria.

Following further communication with the supervisor, students may then register with the University of Pretoria and start on their project.
While PG students may in principle register with the University of Pretoria throughout the year, the South African tertiary education system works on a calendar year system. All students first registering throughout a particular calendar year are regarded as having registered on 1 January of that year. Registrations after March are therefore strongly discouraged.

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