Postgraduate Admission requirements for the Postgraduate programmes in the Department of Environmental Sciences

Postgraduate Admission requirements for the Postgraduate programmes
in the Department of Environmental Sciences

2017 intake

Department	Department of Environmental Sciences
Qualification	MSc: Environmental Management (Qualification code: 98001)
Contact details for the Department of Environmental Sciences	Further contacts: Prof H Stoffberg, Postgraduate coordinator for the MSc Environmental Management program Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] or Prof K Mearns Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Curriculum:	A research proposal module (MPENV90) and a dissertation (DFENM91). Students are required to first register and comply with the requirements for the research proposal module before registration for the dissertation will be allowed.
Purpose of Research Proposal Modules: MPENV90	The purpose of this module is for students to gain the knowledge and skills required to execute a research project that falls within the scope of the research groups particular to Environmental Management (see key focus areas further on in document). The learner accredited with this module will be able to: Identify a research problem. Formulate the problem, research questions and/or set appropriate hypothesis. Set well defined research objectives. Compile a literature review. Present a suitable methodology and data analysis for the research project. Identify the contribution the research will make to the Body of Knowledge. Draft a research proposal that addresses all of the above.
Application dates	Students interested in the MSc in Environmental Management program need to apply during the bulk application dates of Unisa.
Admission requirements for the MPENV90 and DFENM91 modules	An appropriate Bachelor Honours Degree, BTech, Postgraduate Diploma or a 480 credit Bachelor's Degree with a minimum of 96 credits at NQF level 8 (or equivalent) in Environmental Management or related field. A student who is admitted on the strength of an equivalent qualification and who has not completed a module in research methodology may be required to complete such a module at NQF level 8 for non-degree purposes (NDP) before he/she will be allowed to register for the research proposal. International students must meet the English language requirement as provided for in paragraph 2.1 of the Procedures for studies for Master’s and Doctoral Degrees. In addition to the above requirements, ALL applicants must submit a 4 page concept document (PDF) describing their intended research. An approved selection procedure which is in line with Unisa's policies on equality and diversity in the discipline or department will be implemented. Students, who are awaiting Honours examination results, must still submit applications by the due date. Applications will be considered once results become available.
Selection criteria	Students will be accepted on the following criteria: A score of at least 60%. Suitability and viability of the intended research as presented by the student. English writing skills as reflected in the submitted documentation. The supervision capacity within the specific research group. The full academic record will be evaluated and ranked (aspects that will be taken into account with the ranking is the number of supplementary opportunities a candidate has used to obtain the graduate degree; the percentages obtained for other modules in the graduate degree; the number of times a student repeated a module; the length of time the student took to complete the graduate degree. Should it be determined that more students from a specific group are registering for the qualification, the correction of this bias will be included in the ranking criteria for admission. All students from outside the borders of South Africa will only be considered if their application is accompanied by the name and curriculum vitae of a possible supervisor located in the country in which the research is to be undertaken. Due to the gender bias of the present cohort of students, preference will be given to female applicants during the selection process. Due to the racial bias of the present cohort of students, preference will be given to South African Indian, Coloured and Black applicants, followed by South African White applicants and lastly foreign nationals during the selection process.
Selection procedure	Apply online for a student number and appropriate qualification. Application should reach the student admission office no later than 15 November 2016. The application will be forwarded to the Department of Environmental Sciences for consideration. A selection committee will complete the review process of the application by 31 January 2017 In cases where clarity is required on the application the research field/theme leader may consider requesting an interview (telephonic or in person) with the candidate. Applications of selected candidates will be submitted to the College Research Innovation and Higher Degrees committee for final approval. Successful candidates will be notified by 15 February 2017 or as soon as possible thereafter. Successful applicants must formally register by 15 March 2017.
Procedures for unsuccessful applications	Candidates who were not successful may apply to the COD of the Department for the reasons for rejection of the application. A further appeal may be submitted through the appropriate Unisa procedures.
Documents to support application	A candidate is requested to provide the following documentation: An updated CV. A four page research concept document within the scope of the research group. Full academic record.
Assessment mode for MPENV90	The research concept document will be assessed through the use of an assessment rubric.
Assessment criteria for Research proposal	The assessment is based on the vetting of each research concept document within the Department of Environmental Sciences. The vetting committee consist of two appropriate internal departmental experts of which one should at least be familiar with the field of research. The vetted concept document is then discussed at a Departmental Vetting committee meeting which consists of staff members who are conform to the following criteria: senior staff members and/or may have NRF rating and/or are supervisors or co-supervisors of students and/or have examined research proposals before and/or have been requested to do act as an external examiner for other universities.
Assessment criteria for research concept document for MSc in Environmental Management
Mode of delivery of MPENV90	Online delivery will be followed through means of study units on myUnisa, discussion forums and the submission of two assignments on myUnisa related to the research proposal. Contact sessions may be organised by the post graduate programme coordinator for all master's students in the Department of Environmental Sciences. A seminar may also be organised for the presentation of completed research proposals which may be delivered through video conferencing or on the Florida campus.
Mode of supervision for MPENV90	Supervision may be delivered in different modes depending on the requirement of the supervisor and study design. One-on-one contact sessions may be required which can be delivered through video conferencing for students in remote areas or through personal visits to the supervisor.
External supervision	Should the need arise to include an external supervisor the decision will be made based on the expertise or assistance required from an external supervisor on a particular part of the project. This will only be implemented if the internal capacity of supervision cannot support the requirement of the research project. Students undertaking research outside the borders of South Africa must be allocated an external supervisor/ co-supervisor that is knowledgeable, or resides in the area in which the research is undertaken. Students are welcome to identify possible external supervisors, however, the selection and appointment of these external supervisors remains the responsibility of the Department of Environmental Science.
Enrolment plan 2017
New intake for 2016	Twenty (20) new students can be accommodated in the MSc Environmental Management program for 2017. The number of students will be accommodated in the research themes indicated in the columns below. The Department is not obliged to accept all applicants. Applicants will be approved on the basis of the submitted research concept document.
Motivation for intake	The Master's in Environmental Management programme will continue a selected intake of 20 students in 2017.
Appeals for master's degree admission	Appeals will only be directed to the College if the enrolment target of the particular qualification has not been met and/or additional enrolment spaces are available.
Key Focus Areas for Masters Candidates in Environmental Management for 2017
Focus Areas		MSc level capacity	Capacity for each research project	Possible supervisor
Water use and benchmarking for the Tourism industry		MSc	1	Prof K Mearns Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Urban forestry and landscape dynamics, or Landscape architecture and green infrastructure, or Vegetative carbon accounting, footprints  and carbon commerce, or Infrastructure carbon footprints and accounting		MSc	2	Prof H Stoffberg Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Waste management		MSc	2	Mrs R du Plessis Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail] or Ms K Semenya Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Environmental Impacts of the Adventure tourism industry		MSc	3	Ms T McKay Tel. [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Lichens diversity in Gauteng Province		MSc	1	Mr KW Maphangwa Tel. [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Air quality		MSc	1	Ms K Semenya Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Earth observation with environmental Applications Special focus on use of UAV`s (if possible)		MSc	1	Mr M Jordaan Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Environmental Microbiology and Biotechnology, and pollution remediation		MSc	1	Prof M Tekere Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Climate-smart livelihood strategies in rural and urban communities.		MSc	1	Dr M Chitakira Tel. [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Agroforestry  (a South African   inventory)		MSc	1	Dr M Chitakira Tel. [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Green/sustainable transport (especially with a focus on city of Tshwane)		MSc	1	Dr M Togo Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Alternative energy (waste-to-energy from agri-produce markets)		MSc	1	Dr M Togo Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Green/low carbon universities		MSc	1	Dr M Togo Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Environmental/Sustainable Development Indicators		MSc	1	Ms D Sehlapelo Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Green technologies/Green Economy		MSc	1	Ms D Sehlapelo Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]
Ecological/Biodiversity Impact Assessments		MSc	1	Ms D Sehlapelo Tel: [phone] E-mail: [e-mail]