The postgraduate application process is as follows:

1. Complete the University’s online application. Applications for the 2024 academic year open 3 April 2023.

Read more here for details about the institutional application process. Should you require assistance with finalising and completing your online application, your are welcome to contact our Client Service Center on info@sun.ac.za / 021 808 9111 for assistance. Please ensure that ALL necessary supporting documents are uploaded – if your application is incomplete it will not be processed and you will not be considered for departmental admission.

Please take note of the following while uploading the required documentation:

• The upload labelled “Dept-XXX” refers to the departmental application form (see link for download below), which can be downloaded below. Current SU students or SU BEng graduates aren’t required to provide reference letters.
• Proof of written academic work: applicants can use their final-year research project/report or master’s thesis.
• All electronic copies of academic records or degree certificates must be certified. A certified copy is a copy (often a photocopy) of a primary document that has on it an endorsement or certificate that it is a true copy of the primary document. Certification can be obtained by taking the original documents and copies to a police station or commissioner of oaths. The certified copy can then be scanned to produce the electronic certified copy.

More information about and descriptions for the compulsory documents that must be uploaded as part of the institutional application can be found here. The departmental application form can be downloaded via the link below. 

2. Submit your completed departmental application form, copies of supporting documentation, and application number to the Postgraduate Manager, Mrs Mieke de Jager.

Kindly include the following documents with your departmental application, as stated on the application form:

• Complete academic record for all completed qualifications
• Copies of degree certificates
• Curriculum vitae
• Passport (international applicants only), and
• Three references (preferably from academic referees, reference letters may also be uploaded) (references not required for SU alumni). Reference letters should include the contact details of your referees and give an indication of your abilities with regard to: independent scientific work, understanding of technical concepts, design, execution and interpretation of scientific experiments, and technical writing ability. Current SU students or SU BEng graduates aren’t required to provide reference letters.
• Proof of academic writing – either your final-year research project report or master’s thesis.

If you have a specific research focus or interest and wish to work with a particular supervisor, you can contact the supervisor and include your complete departmental application. However, we do not advise that you contact all the supervisors in the department as this does not reflect well on the candidate.

Procedure: After the Postgraduate Manager has received both institutional (received directly via the SUNStudent system) and departmental (via email) applications, and if the applicant does meet the minimum academic requirements, the application is shared with the supervisors in the department for consideration. Applications without a SU application number will not be considered. Should a supervisor be interested in offering a specific candidate a position, the supervisor will contact the candidate directly for further information or to schedule an interview.

We receive more applications than positions available for a new academic year, and positions are offered to selected applicants. Applicants are strongly encouraged to apply for research funding – students who are bursary recipients have a higher likelihood of successful admission. All queries can be directed to Mrs Mieke de Jager.

The Department has many exciting research opportunities available for master’s and doctoral candidates, although not all research opportunities are linked to bursaries. Available opportunities are listed here and updated throughout the year as they become available. Bursaries are awarded dependent on factors such as availability via the supervisor, academic excellence, and the candidate’s nationality.

All applicants are strongly encouraged to obtain their own bursary/funding. Keep an eye on the institutional Postgraduate Funding Opportunities webpage for calls for bursary applications.

Examples of postgraduate bursary opportunities include:
NRF Scholarships
Mandela Rhodes Scholarship
PAMSA MEng Bursary Programme
Sasol Bursary Postgraduate Programme