The Department offers a comprehensive and exciting postgraduate programme comprising course work leading to honours degrees, master's degrees based on research and research-based PhD degrees.
Interim Postgraduate Requirements for Enrolment in 2026:
For more information, refer to the yearbook and select the most recent version.
Mechanical Engineering Offerings:
| Programme | Min. duration | Requirements: |
| B.EngHons (12240052) | 1 yr |
|
B.ScHons Applied Science | 1 yr |
|
| M.Eng Option 1 (preferred) (12250052) | 1 yr (after 1 yr Hons) |
|
| M.Eng Option 2 (new) (12250052) | 2 yrs recommended |
|
| PhD (12263042) | 2 yrs |
|
Postgraduate Brochure
For more detailed information on the department's postgraduate offering, download the postgraduate brochure:
Archive: [2025] [2024][2023] [2022] [2021]
Registration process
To all new postgraduate registrations in our department, please fill in the form: https://forms.gle/gFUxMvSpDWt2d8kG8
The entire postgraduate lifecycle and registration process is described here
For masters and PhDs, you need a supervisor and topic first:
- potential supervisors and topics are described below
- Registration form your masters once you have a supervisor and topic: 02-s-03 preliminary title and supervisor form
Multi-disciplinary Post Graduate Programme in Physical Asset Management
This post graduate programme consists of a course-based Honours Degree followed by a research dissertation for Masters Degree purposes. The Honours Degree can be completed full-time over a one year period, or on a part-time basis, typically over two-to-three years. Completion of the Masters Degree dissertation normally requires one year full time, or two-to-three years part- time research. The programme is structured to achieve specific objectives.
BScHons Applied Science Mechanics: Physical Asset Management
Postgraduate lecture and examination timetable
Research Topics and Supervisors for Masters and PhDs
More information on our postgraduate research activities and a selection of currently available research topics within our major research groups can be found below:
Centre for Asset Integrity Management
Topics centred on design for reliability, data acquisitioning, condition monitoring, dianaostics and prognostics, life cycle management etc.
Topics centred on vehicle ride stability, ride characterisation, tyre characterisation, vehicle suspension, overall vehicle dynamics etc.
Topics centred on clean energy systems (e.g. solar collection, solar storage, nuclear, thermal energy storage) and waste water processing, all analysed through the sciences of heat transfer, fluid mechanics and thermodynamics.
- Aerospace Group
- Topics centres on airframe propulsion, aerodynamics of natural systems etc.
- Ultrasonics Research Laboratory (URL.UP)
- Topics focus on the use of ultrasonic waves in a variety of use cases.
- Solar Thermal Energy & Power Systems (STEPS)
- Topics focus on solar thermal energy power generation
Topics can also be proposed to potential supervisors. In this case, prospective students should consult the staff profiles to find a supervisor with a suitable skillset to match the proposed topic and contact the potential supervisor directly. The supervisor will then assist the student to determine if the project is of sufficient complexity for postgraduate study, is practically feasible and is within the supervisor’s research focus.
Potential supervisors can also be found using the supervisor search tool.
Previously Completed Masters and PhDs
The University of Pretoria Repository, UPSpace, houses scholarly content produced by the institution. The Department's repository houses all the previously completed dissertations and theses by our Master's and PhD students respectively, as well other scholarly output
Postgraduate Funding
Postgraduate funding opportunities can be found here.
Supervisors may also have separate funding available - contact them directly for further information.