IIE Master of Philosophy in Arts Course Requirements at Varsity College
Varsity College · Faculty of Humanities
The IIE Master of Philosophy in Arts is a master's Degree offered by Varsity College for 2027 postgraduate applicants, taking 2 years part-time online 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 IIE Master of Philosophy in Arts at Varsity College
- An HEQSF Level 8 honours degree, relevant postgraduate diploma or 480-credit Level 8 bachelor's degree in a related discipline with an overall average of at least 65%
- Completion of the Research Proposal Development Programme
- A statement of intent showing your core discipline focus
- International qualifications need a SAQA NQF Level 8 evaluation
About this course
The IIE Master of Philosophy in Arts is a full research master's degree in the humanities and social sciences. It carries 180 credits at NQF Level 9 (SAQA ID 79306) in the Faculty of Humanities and is studied part-time online over two years, with a February intake.
The degree consists of a single research thesis. You work closely with an assigned supervisor to plan and carry out an independent study in one of these areas:
- communication and media studies
- criminal justice and criminology
- international studies
- geography and environmental studies
- philosophy
- sociology
- psychology
Before starting, you complete the Research Proposal Development Programme and submit a statement of intent that sets out your research focus.
The MPhil suits honours graduates who enjoy independent research and want to build an academic career, or professionals who want to study a real social issue in depth. Graduates can apply for a PhD in a related field.
Possible careers
Graduates work in research, policy development, education, management and the public, private and NGO sectors, or continue to a PhD.
Course intelligence for IIE Master of Philosophy in Arts
Data-driven planning insights for this specific course: job market outlook, NSFAS funding, and how competitive admission is likely to be.
Job market outlook
IIE Master of Philosophy in Arts 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 does not usually fund students at private institutions like Varsity College. Ask Varsity College directly about its own bursaries or payment plans, and check whether a sector SETA offers funding for this field.
Admission chances
Varsity College’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 Varsity College and NSFAS.
How to apply for 2027 studies
Apply through the Emeris online postgraduate portal and upload a certified academic transcript, certified copies of your previous qualifications, a CV and a copy of your ID or passport. Research degrees also require a statement of intent or concept document and completion of the proposal development programme, so contact the faculty early. Final admission depends on supervisor availability and approval of your research proposal.
Ready to apply? This takes you straight to Varsity College’s own official application page.
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- Duration
- 2 years part-time online
- NQF Level
- 9
- Fees
- 2027 online tuition R34 020 a year (2-year programme, full settlement); check the master's and doctoral fee schedule
- Application deadline
- February intake; check the programme page
What Courses Do I Qualify For in South Africa?
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Related courses
Source: Official website: https://www.emeris.ac.za/qualifications/online/master-of-philosophy-in-arts, last verified 2026-09-22. Requirements and fees change. Always confirm current details directly with Varsity College before applying.