Get started with your Masters and Doctoral studies
Welcome to NWU’s Masters and Doctoral Studies Hub – a dedicated one-stop to help you explore options, meet requirements, and start in your postgraduate journey.
Considering M&D studies?
Are you prepared to embark on a master's or doctoral journey? These postgraduate programs are designed to challenge you intellectually and empower you to make a significant contribution to your field of study.
Explore our master’s and doctoral (PhD) qualifications
At NWU, you can follow different pathways to complete your postgraduate qualification, depending on your field of study, career goals, and personal interests
How to apply for master’s and doctoral (PhD) studies
Support for every applicant – whether you are a current NWU student, an alumnus, a first-time applicant, or an international student.
Application approved? See the roadmap to your research journey as an M or D student
Registration
- Selecting a supervisor:
Selecting a supervisor is a critical step in your research journey; it's a partnership that will greatly influence your success. The supervisor agreement, which will be detailed in the Higher Degrees Manual (HDM), formalizes this relationship and ensures clarity on expectations.
Study onboarding
- Higher degree academic lifecycle forms
- Manual for higher degrees studies
- Academic Rules & Policies
- Register for an ORCiD (a researcher identifier platform)
Proposal Development
- Introduction to the research proposal process:
Your research proposal serves as the blueprint for your study. It is a crucial document that outlines the problem you intend to investigate, your research questions, and the methods you will employ to answer them.
Ethics and use of AI
Doing the research
- NWU is currently developing a training bank which will provide step-by-step academic guidance.
- Postgraduate Support Centre
- Writing Centre – Academic Writing Support
Finalise your study
A Higher Degrees System is currently under development (release estimated to be in the second semester 2026) and will notify you of updates and track your progress throughout your postgraduate journey (e.g documents required for submission).
Examination
A Higher Degrees System is currently under development (release estimated to be in the second semester 2026) and will support the examination process.
It is important to familiarise yourself with the General Academic Rules (A Rules)
Graduation
A Higher Degrees System is currently under development (release estimated to be in the second semester 2026) and will aid in determining readiness for graduation.
Graduation dates and livestream links are communicated by the Ceremonies Department.
Congratulations NWU Alumnus!
- Remain active in the NWU's future
- Join the NWU Convocation and be part of the decision-making process at the NWU!
Support
Wellness support
We support students in times of need and help them achieve optimal wellness in all areas of life, including emotional, social, and physical well-being.
Postgraduate Support Centre
We offer a range of training initiatives and support to help NWU postgraduate students enhance their research and academic writing skills and by providing additional research-related tools, skills and strategies to ensure that they finish their degrees in good time.
