1. Introduction

The degree is awarded based on the strength of a dissertation of approximately 40,000 words.  An internal and external examiner examines it.  The topic must fall within the law, justice, and sustainability focus.  The faculty must have sufficient expertise to provide effective study supervision.

1. Duration (minimum and maximum duration)

For full-time students, the study period is at least one year and a maximum of three years.
For part-time students, the minimum study duration is one year, and the maximum is four years.
If a student has not completed the study within the maximum duration of studies allowed, the student may be terminated.
Students must have met all the requirements for the LLB degree set by this University or any other South African university.
If a previous qualification was obtained in a foreign country, an evaluation certificate issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) must be submitted.
An average of 60% for the final year of the LLB degree (or similarly recognized four-year degree) and a sub-minimum of 65% for the research project (where applicable).
An applicant must furnish a four-page concept proposal (link) with the application form as proof of his/her research skills.

1. Allocation of supervisors or promoters

Students applying for a research masters must consult with possible supervisors during the application process.
The Faculty Board may, in exceptional circumstances, approve the appointment of a co- or assistant supervisor based on relevant expertise.
The supervision agreement form (link) must be completed and signed by yourself and the agreed supervisor and submitted with your application.

1. Faculty-specific requirement for a Research Masters Degree

a) If there is not sufficient capacity with regards to supervision for a programme in an academic year, the Director: Postgraduate Programmes may decide not to offer the programme in question in that year.

b) Research Masters degree students must (in consultation with his/her supervisor) submit the research proposal for a dissertation six months after the final date of registration (and no later than 31 October) in their first year of registration.

c) Students work under a supervisor approved by the Director: Postgraduate Programmes and the Faculty Board.

d) A student is required to complete a research discussion within six months after the approval of the research proposal. The research discussion should be in a major and two ancillary subjects prescribed in consultation with the Director: Postgraduate Programmes for the specific study, to be permitted to write a research dissertation. The evaluation of the student takes place before an appointed panel generally consisting of the Director: Postgraduate Programmes, Director: Research Unit (ex officio), a research professor and one internal member with expertise in the field of study, as well as one external member with expertise outside the University. The appointment of the research discussion panel and assessment procedure is conducted in accordance with the procedure approved by the Faculty Board.

e) Students are required to attend compulsory seminars of the Research Methodology programme arranged during the academic year. Permission for absence is granted only by the programme leader on good grounds.

1. Examination

a) The suggested guideline for the length of a dissertation is 40 000 words (including content and footnotes and excluding bibliography). Any substantial digression from this guideline is subject to the prior approval of the Director: Postgraduate Programmes before submission of the dissertation for examination. The Director: Postgraduate Programmes will determine whether the length of the dissertation is appropriate in the particular case. Students must comply with the prescribed faculty reference style.
b) Students must comply with the requirements of the General Academic Rule 4.10.
c) The Turnitin or similar report which is generated must be submitted with the dissertation.
d) The dissertation must be language edited and a certificate issued by a competent language editor must be attached to the thesis.
e) The research dissertation is assessed according to Academic Rule 4.11. The research dissertation is assessed by at least two examiners, of which at least one must be an external examiner who is not attached to the University. The final mark of the research dissertation is the average of the examiners’ marks. If there is any ambiguity in an examiner’s report, or if there is a material difference (the marks awarded by the examiners differ by more than 15%) in the final result recommended by the examiners, the procedure as approved by the Faculty Board will determine the final result of the student. The general provisions relating to the assessment of the dissertation and the guidelines to examiners and/or arbitrators are followed in accordance with faculty guidelines.
f) A research dissertation may only be referred back to a candidate once, and after revision, be submitted once for re-examination within a period of one year. Refer to the General Academic Rules 4.11.7.3 and 4.11.7.4.
g) A student’s studies may be terminated if he/she fails to comply with the requirements laid down by the faculty or exceeds the maximum duration of the study period as determined by the faculty and has received a letter of warning refer to General Academic Rule 1.18 regarding the termination of studies.
h) A student who is dissatisfied with any substantive aspect of the guidance provided by a supervisor can raise such matters in writing with the Director: Postgraduate Programmes. The matter will be dealt with in accordance with the procedure as prescribed in the General Academic Rules and the Manual for Postgraduate Studies. The director must respond in writing to the student before a research dissertation is submitted for examination.

1. Qualification outcomes

On completion of this programme the student should be able to demonstrate:
a) A comprehensive and systematic knowledge base in a specific field of study and the ability to apply the knowledge.
b) A coherent and critical understanding of the methodology of the specific field of study as to rigorously critique and evaluate current research in this field, participate in scholarly debates and research relating to theory and practice.
c) An ability to use advanced information-retrieval and processing skills to identify, critically analyse and synthesise information relevant to complex and/or real-world problems, cases and issues in the field of the specific field of study where applicable, debating solutions from theoretical and research perspectives published in current literature and presenting the information to specialist and non-specialist audiences using IT effectively; and
d) The ability to critically evaluate and apply the ethics, values, rules, norms, and regulations pertaining to the specific field of study.

1. Curricula Master of Laws