Master of Arts in Ancient Languages (with Dissertation) Course Requirements at NWU
North-West University · Faculty of Theology
The Master of Arts in Ancient Languages (with Dissertation) is a master's Degree offered by NWU for 2027 postgraduate applicants, taking Minimum one year, maximum three years (extensions possible under the General Academic Rules). to complete. This page covers the minimum admission requirements you need to qualify, what the course involves, where you can study it, the careers it leads to, and how to apply.
Minimum Admission Requirements to study Master of Arts in Ancient Languages (with Dissertation) at NWU
- An NQF level 8 qualification (Honours or equivalent four-year degree) in the relevant ancient language field achieved with a minimum average of 65%, and a minimum of 65% in the preceding qualification's methodology module
- Applicants submit a roughly 1000-word preliminary research motivation identifying the proposed topic and research problem, referenced in Harvard style
- additional foundational work in Greek, Semitic Languages or textual interpretation theory may be required before full admission
- Selection is made by the Manager: Higher Degrees in consultation with the likely study leader
About this course
This is a dissertation-only, 180-credit master's degree offered in three subject streams sharing identical entry requirements: Greek, Latin, and Semitic Languages. Candidates conduct independent original research contributing to the field, situated within the faculty's Reformational Theology research focus, and must be able to engage broadly and critically with the relevant scholarly literature. Successful completion opens the way to doctoral study in the corresponding ancient-language field.
Course intelligence for Master of Arts in Ancient Languages (with Dissertation)
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
Master of Arts in Ancient Languages (with Dissertation) doesn’t currently appear on the national scarce-skills list. That’s not a red flag on its own, most jobs in South Africa aren’t on that list, it just tracks where employers reported the strongest hiring pressure. Your own results, experience and network will matter more here than national demand trends.
NSFAS funding
NSFAS funding is generally limited to a student’s first undergraduate qualification, so a Master's Degree like this one doesn’t usually qualify. Postgraduate funding more often comes through NRF bursaries, university-specific scholarships, or an employer.
Admission chances
NWU’s intake and this course’s requirements with its published admission requirements generally leave more room than the most sought-after courses, so you likely have a reasonable window to apply without rushing, though applying early is always the safer bet.
These insights are estimates generated from South Africa’s National List of Occupations in High Demand (DHET, November 2023 draft), NSFAS’s published funding rules, and this university’s general applicant demand. They’re planning guidance, not a guarantee. Always confirm funding and admission specifics directly with NWU and NSFAS.
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- Applications for 2027 studies
- Open: 1 June 2026
Closing date still to be announced by NWU.
View all Courses at NWU
- Duration
- Minimum one year, maximum three years (extensions possible under the General Academic Rules).
- NQF Level
- 9
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Source: North-West University 2026 Postgraduate Yearbook - Faculty of Theology, last verified 2026-08-28. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with North-West University before applying.