Universities and Online Degrees Guide

Stellenbosch University

Master of Philosophy in Higher Education

The Master of Philosophy in Higher Education in Education is offered by Stellenbosch University.

Program Length: 2 YEARS.

Master of Philosophy in Higher Education offered by the Stellenbosch University at the Faculty of Education

The primary aim of the programme is to equip you as a lecturer, learning facilitator or education leader with the professional knowledge, skills and attitudes to be able to function in higher education institutions.

The secondary aim is to equip you with the research skills to do further advanced study at doctoral level and to be able to undertake research in the field of higher education. This aim includes the capacity to function as a researcher in your professional context.

Duration and presentation structure of the programme

• The programme is presented over at least two academic years.
• The programme entails a combination of contact and other forms of teaching.
  • There is only one contact session a year for a continuous period of two weeks.
  • For the rest of the year, preparatory study, assignments and projects are done by means of structured study guides, self-study packages and other forms of directed self-study

Assessment and Examination

• Taught modules:
  • flexible assessment is used
  • The modules count 50% of the final mark.
  • An assignment is required in every taught module.
  • You need a minimum of 50% in every module to pass the programme.
• Research thesis:
  • Deals with a topic within your field of study
  • Counts 50% of the final mark.
  • Can also be submitted for examination in the form of examined or reviewed publishable articles

Your final mark is calculated as the average for your assignments in all of the taught modules (50%). plus your research thesis (50%).

Programme content

Anchor module

Higher Education 879(180)

You must do eight compulsory modules and two electives. The research thesis is one of the eight compulsory modules. The topic of the research thesis is chosen from any of the modules. The modules are the following:

Compulsory modules

Assessment and Evaluation in Higher Education 875(10)

Curriculum and Programme Design in Higher Education 875(10)

Foundation of Research 875(10)

Perspectives in Higher Education 875(10)

Research in Higher Education* 875(10)

Student Learning in Higher Education 875(10)

Teaching in Higher Education 875(10)

Research Thesis 874(90)

Elective modules

Leadership in Higher Education 875(10)

Scholarship in Higher Education 875(10)

Scholarship of Engagement in Higher Education 875(10)

Staff development in Higher Education 875(10)

Technology in Higher Education 875(10)

* Research in Higher Education is presented with a view to formulating the research proposal for your MPhil thesis.