Master of Engineering (MEng)
The MEng programme is an in-depth study that exceeds the BEng, BScHons, BEngSci or PDE. It is a research Master’s degree with a thesis as requirement for graduation. Students may be required to complete a number of supplementary modules that are prescribed as necessary, according to the nature of their thesis. Though these modules do not count for credits towards the degree, they are presented by experts and students can reap significant benefits. To encourage students to take these modules, the modules are presented free of charge to registered postgraduate students of the department.

PhD: Doctor of Philosophy
Before being awarded a PhD degree, the candidate should show proof of original research which contributes to knowledge in the engineering profession. This research is presented in the form of a dissertation.

Our postgraduate programmes are taught in English or Afrikaans, depending on the enrollment of the specific class.

The MEng programme (180 credits; 1800 hours of work) is an in-depth study that exceeds the BEng, BScHons, BEngSci or PDE. It is a research Master’s degree with a thesis as requirement for graduation. Students may be required to complete a number of supplementary modules that are prescribed as necessary, according to the nature of their thesis.

• New Master’s students are normally required to report a week prior to the official commencement of classes in order to attend to administrative tasks.
• It is expected of every full-time MEng student in this department to assist with practicals and tutorials of selected undergraduate modules presented by this department. The specific modules are normally determined by the student’s field of interest, as well as requirements set by his/her supervisor. This assistance is viewed as an integral part of the Master’s programme. Students are remunerated according to the standard tariffs set by the University of Stellenbosch.

A four year Bachelor’s degree in Engineering (BEng) OR Hons BSc OR BSc + PDE OR BTech + PDE OR an applicable 4-year degree. Please have a look at our requirements to see if your prior qualification qualifies you for admission to the postgraduate programme you wish to follow.
The department normally accepts students who have obtained their previous degree in the minimum number of years with an average of at least 60% in the final year. Students who do not pass this hurdle may still apply, but will be evaluated stringently by the department before acceptance. Note that even students who meet the minimum requirements are not guaranteed acceptance, as the department evaluates each application individually.
For students who hold a BTech degree, completion of our BEng degree is required. Depending on the subject content of the BTech, students will be allowed to enter at the 3rd- or 4th-year level.

Our BEng programme is accredited by ECSA (Engineering Council of South Africa) for registration of graduates as professional engineers. ECSA is a signatory to the Washington Accord, and the BEng is thus also recognized in those countries signatory to the Accord, i.e. Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Ireland, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.
In exceptional ad hoc circumstances, admission of BTech students to the PDE programme might be considered, namely:

• where a student has achieved excellent results for both the diploma and the BTech degree, or
• has been actively involved for a considerable time in work applicable to his proposed studies.
• the student has already found a member of our teaching staff willing to serve as his/her study-leader.

The PDE programme does not necessarily grant entrance to our Master’s programme. Your progress and performance will determine whether you are accepted.

• Master’s thesis mark must be 50% or higher for a pass and 75% or higher for cum laude. An oral is required as part of the final evaluation of the thesis.
• Students who display exceptional progress during the course of their Master’s programme may be upgraded to a PhD programme without first obtaining a Master’s degree. For more details, see “Upgrading from Master’s to PhD Programme” below.
• At the end of each year the progress of each student is evaluated by his/her supervisor. In the case of unsatisfactory performance a student may be subjected to a formal evaluation, in written or oral form, by a panel of examiners. Students who fail this evaluation will not be re-admitted.

This programme can be completed in one year, with graduation in March of the following year. Most bursaries, however, allow for a two-year period. The Faculty of Engineering will allow students to extend the period of study beyond two years only under exceptional circumstances.

The Department prefers students to register as full-time students for Master’s studies. Students who register on a part-time basis must spend a minimum period of 3 months in the departmental laboratories for their thesis work.

The department annually offers a number of specialist taught courses. These courses are presented on an annual basis, subject to the availability of lecturers, and an adequate student enrolment. A list of courses that are offered in a specific year is made available at the start of the year.
Please click here to view this year’s postgraduate module timetable.

More detailed information on our postgraduate modules on offer may be found here.

Registered postgraduate students of the department can enrol for these courses free of charge.

Although these modules do not count as credits towards the degree programme, marks will be awarded. A record of the modules completed and the marks obtained will be provided to each student.

Each course typically requires 15h of study per week for 15 weeks, or one full semester. Courses are scheduled to fit into the regular two-semester system of the university.

In certain exceptional cases, a Master’s programme may be converted to a PhD without the Master’s degree being awarded. In these cases, the research completed as part of the Master’s course can be included in the PhD dissertation.

A number of criteria must be met for such an upgrade to be considered, i.e.:

• the student must have displayed exceptional progress;
• at least one year of the Master’s course must have been completed;
• new and original ideas must have been published in, or submitted for publication to international journals or conferences of high standing, or published in industry reports;
• the scope of the work must be greater than that required for a Master’s programme.

The supervisor recommends an upgrade to the postgraduate coordinator, who proposes it to the department. If recommended by the department, the supervisor proposes an examination panel along the lines of that for a standard Master’s degree.

The student prepares a submission containing an overview of the completed work and the proposed PhD programme.

The examination panel evaluates this report and recommends the upgrade to the department and the faculty.

In very exceptional cases, the examination panel for the Master’s thesis may recommend that the thesis be expanded somewhat and re-submitted as a PhD dissertation. In these cases no additional reports are required from the student.

Please see the latest Faculty of Engineering Yearbook for the maximum period of enrolment for the MEng degree.

PhD: Doctor of philosophy
Before being awarded a PhD degree, the candidate should show proof of original research which contributes to knowledge in the engineering profession. This research is presented in the form of a dissertation.

Doctor of Engineering (DEng)
The DEng may be awarded to persons whose total body of research may be regarded as making an extra-ordinary contribution towards engineering as a whole.

PhD
Intended for students who wish to perform original research in an area of their choice.
DEng
Intended for well-established researchers who have made a significant contribution in their field over a number of years.

PhD
A Master’s degree in Engineering. Students who display exceptional progress during the course of their Master’s programme may be upgraded to a PhD programme without first obtaining a Master’s degree. See “Upgrading from Master’s to PhD Programme” above for more details.

Students who hold an MTech degree cannot enter our PhD programme directly. Such students can be considered for either our postgraduate diploma in engineering (PDE) or the MEng programme, depending on their marks and research output. Students with an MTech degree should forward their full research thesis to enable us to determine the level on which they can enter our postgraduate programme.

DEng
A PhD in Engineering

PhD
Evaluation is solely on the basis of a dissertation examined by a panel of examiners. No mark is awarded, only a pass or fail. An oral examination will form part of the evaluation.

At the end of each year the progress of each student is evaluated by his/her promoter. In the case of unsatisfactory performance a student may be subjected to a formal evaluation, in written or oral form, by a panel of examiners. Students who fail this evaluation will not be re-admitted, even if only the first year has been completed.

DEng
The candidate submits a collection of published or patented research outputs, which are judged by a panel of international experts.

PhD
This course can be completed in a minimum of two years. Most bursaries, however, allow for a three-year period. The Faculty of Engineering will allow students to extend the period of study beyond four years only under exceptional circumstances. Students who register on a part-time basis must spend a minimum period of 3 months in the departmental laboratories.
DEng
No residential requirements.

Please see the latest Faculty of Engineering Yearbook for the maximum period of enrolment for the PhD degree.

The academic qualifications of all international students will be evaluated by our International Office to determine the level at which they should enter our department’s postgraduate programme.

The International Office will need the following information from you (please include English translations of documentation where applicable):

• A short Curriculum Vitae (Résumé), including the contact details of references
• Certified copies of your full academic transcript (if not in English, please include a certified English translation thereof)
• Certified copies of your degree certificate(s) (if not in English, please include a certified English translation thereof)
• English proficiency report (TOEFL and IELTS reports are acceptable). Please see this page from the International Office
• Your selection of the research area in which you would like to do your Master’s (see the “Research Activities” section in the middle of the postgraduate homepage (courses.ee.sun.ac.za/Nagraads). Please also specify the sub-field (i.e. if your main research interest is “Computers & Control”, specify the sub-field, e.g. “Aeronautical systems”).
• A research topic

Our academic year is divided into two semesters of two terms each:
Semester 1: February – June
Semester 2: July – December
You can enrol for either semester.
For closing dates for applications, please click here for closing dates

Once we have received the above information, it will be sent to our International Office to evaluate your qualifications. When we receive their recommendation, we will contact you again to continue the application procedure.
All our postgraduate programmes function on an individual and not a group basis. Amongst other requirements, this means that you need to find a supervisor who is willing and able to guide you through your studies. The limiting factors for such a supervisor include whether he/she has the time available (one can only guide so many postgraduate students), and whether your proposed research synchronizes well with his/her field of expertise.
We have an exceptional International Office that assists international students with general matters concerning their coming to South Africa. Please visit their website.