Closing date for applications

• South African students: 30 August 2022

• International students: 30 August 2022

Fees and funding

• For more information regarding fees and funding, please click here.

Required documentation

• All applicants need to submit their applications by 30 August of the year preceding the year of new intakes.*

* Applications are date stamped on the date of final submission (on condition that no information or documentation is outstanding).

• Applicants must submit fully completed applications according to the guidelines published on the UP website online by clicking here.

• Applicants need to ensure that all of the following documents are attached to their applications in order to get processed as soon as possible:

1. Letter of motivation written by the applicant indicating the applicant’s personal and professional interest in the field of study, and why he or she would be likely to put the qualification to good use in his or her future career.

2. Curriculum Vitae

3. Previous Degree Certificate(s)

4. Previous Academic Record(s) / Transcript(s)

5. Example of previously written work, not exceeding five (5) pages

6. SAQA certificate in case of foreign qualifications*

7. Where required, proof of English competence in the form of a TOEFL or IELTS test results

8. Copy of ID / Passport

9. Listing of two suitable referees with contact details (applicants are encouraged, where feasible, to provide additional letters of recommendation in support of the application).

* Candidates who hold international qualifications must please bear in mind that their applications will NOT be processed until we receive the SAQA certificate.  (Date of application will be the date on which we receive the SAQA certificate).

Selection procedure

• The MPhil Extractive Industry Policy, Management and Regulation is a selection course, with a maximum of 10 students admitted per intake.

• All complete applications received from international and local students by 31 August of a particular year are processed and considered by the Programme Coordinator of the MPhil, who identifies a number of eligible candidates for consideration by the Programme Coordinator in consultation with the Head of the Department.

• The applicants are informed when their application is successful and requested to confirm their intention to proceed with the course.

• Applicants who have not received any confirmation within three (3) weeks of the admission deadline, should consider their application to have been unsuccessful.

• Should any successful applicant inform Student Administration that he/she will not continue with the proposed studies in the following year, shortlisted candidates will be approached to confirm a reapplication for admission to fill the vacancies, provided they meet the selection criteria as mentioned above.

General LLM/MPhil Admission Requirements

• Prospective student to the MPhil in Extractive Industries programme require at least an honours degree in an academic discipline relevant to natural resources management; OR any other qualification in an academic discipline relevant to non-renewable natural resources, particularly mineral and/or hydrocarbon resources, that allows admission to a master’s programme at the institution where the undergraduate qualification was obtained. If the duration of that qualification is less than four years, substantial proven practical or professional experience in natural resource management will furthermore be required, subject to the discretion of the Dean.

• A minimum average mark* of 65% with respect to the prescribed final-year modules of the undergraduate programme is required for admission to an MPhil coursework programme.

• Linguistic competence, primarily in English; foreign applicants who did not complete undergraduate studies through the medium of English must show proof of competence in English at a minimum average level of 6 out of 10 for IELTS or a minimum total score of 83 in TOEFL calculated as follows: reading 21, listening 17, speaking 23 and writing 22 - In any other instance where there is doubt as to the English linguistic competence of an applicant, the Dean may require the same proof as prescribed for foreign applicants.

• Foreign qualifications are subject to SAQA evaluation.

• Even though a student may comply with the above requirements, the Dean may, on the recommendation of the Head of Department presenting a specific degree or module, refuse to accept a prospective student for any MPhil programme if such a student's performance in the chosen modules or field of study during undergraduate study was not satisfactory.  Alternatively, the Dean could set additional requirements with a view to admission.

• Particular MPhil programmes have additional selection criteria and deadlines specific to that programme. These additional selection criteria for the MPhil Extractive Industry Policy, Management and Regulation, are set out above.