Postgraduate study at Optentia
Deepen your knowledge. Develop research with purpose.
Explore master's and doctoral routes connected to human capability, inclusion, work, relationships, ageing and social development.
Choose your route
Master's or doctoral study
Begin with your field and intended contribution, then consult the current programme information.
Find your level
Two stages of postgraduate enquiry
M
Master's study
Develop advanced disciplinary knowledge and research capability through specialised coursework, research or a mini-dissertation, depending on the programme.
D
Doctoral study
Undertake an original research project that contributes new knowledge within a defined disciplinary or interdisciplinary field.
Before applying: confirm current admission requirements, research alignment, supervision capacity, application dates and programme availability with the relevant faculty and official NWU sources.
Master's programmes
Build specialist knowledge and research capability
Choose a professional field connected to the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences or explore Medical Sociology through the Faculty of Humanities.
MA / MCom pathways
Work, people and organisations
Open the current programme brochures to compare fields, curriculum information and application requirements.
This programme develops advanced knowledge of sociological theory and clinical sociology for analysing health-related social issues.
Students engage with social stress, health training and policy, and the cultural dimensions of health. A mini-dissertation develops research competence, scientific reasoning and the ability to formulate evidence-based recommendations.
Successful graduates may apply for doctoral study in Medical Sociology, subject to current admission requirements.
Doctoral programmes
Contribute original knowledge
Optentia's doctoral routes address complex questions across social inclusion, ageing, relationships and psychology. Each route requires a focused research contribution and appropriate supervisory alignment.
This research-oriented programme advances contextual understanding of social inclusion and development through diverse disciplinary perspectives on optimal functioning.
Research considers capabilities, strengths, constructive processes and conditions across micro, meso and macro levels, with the aim of informing interventions and proposals in complex social contexts.
This multidisciplinary programme examines individual and population ageing in relation to development in South Africa and the wider African context.
Research addresses well-being, quality of life, care needs, community participation and appropriate responses within contexts that include poverty, HIV/AIDS and changing family dynamics.
This programme develops transferable knowledge of relational dynamics and development across linguistic, age, gender and other forms of diversity.
Research may address interpersonal, intergenerational, community, workplace or wider societal relationships. The programme is research-oriented and does not prepare candidates to perform psychological acts regulated by the Health Professions Act 56 of 1974.
The programme centres on an original scholarly thesis that advances knowledge and solutions in Psychology.
Candidates select a topic within the focus area and develop specialised knowledge and advanced research competence in the field.
Additional doctoral fields
Industrial Psychology, Labour Relations and Human Resource Management
Consult the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences brochure for information on these doctoral routes.
Your next step
Start with fit, then confirm the formal requirements
Use the brochures to identify the programme aligned with your academic background and research interests. Confirm current requirements, deadlines and supervision arrangements before applying.