Cape Town, South Africa
DURATION
2 Years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
31 Aug 2025
EARLIEST START DATE
Feb 2026
TUITION FEES
ZAR 142,910 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* for Rest of the World| SADC Fees: From ZAR 79,210| Non-SADC African Students Fees: From ZAR 126,810
Key Summary
Introduction
This MPhil programme is designed for students with diverse backgrounds who have an interest in environment, society and sustainability. Problems pertaining to the environment, society and sustainability are interdisciplinary in nature and students with backgrounds in both natural and social sciences are encouraged to apply.
The MPhil is an 18-month programme that accepts students from a wide range of disciplines who have achieved above average results in a 4 year degree. It provides education in theory relating to environment, society and sustainability. When qualified, you will join the environmental and geographical scientists who are shaping the future by addressing global and local environmental and developmental challenges.
Aims:
To produce graduates with:
- a broad understanding of major environmental issues as well as theoretical ideas underpinning sustainable development.
- the ability to effectively analyse and manage environmental and developmental issues, with emphasis on the southern African situation.
Aims and Objectives Of The MPhil Programme
The general aims of the Environmental, Society and Sustainability Masters programme are to produce graduates who have:
- a broad understanding of major environmental issues in Africa and around the world, as well as theoretical ideas underpinning sustainable development; and,
- the ability to effectively analyse and manage environmental and developmental issues, with emphasis on the southern African situation.
- The accomplishment of these aims requires exposure to the concepts and methods of a number of disciplines. The MPhil graduate is capable of integrative thinking and of synthesizing elements from diverse disciplines into a cohesive whole.
Specific objectives of the programme are to produce graduates who can:
- understand the intricate linkages within and between biophysical and social systems, and appreciate the principles and requirements that would facilitate the transition to sustainability within these systems;
- communicate within and across the range of disciplines that contribute towards sustainable development;
- respect differing perspectives on issues;
- formulate and implement solutions to problems of sustainable development, through the use of theories, analytical methods and synthesising approaches, and oral presentation and report writing skills; and,
- make meaningful contributions to improving legal/administrative structures and procedures relevant to the environment and sustainable development, primarily in South Africa but also more widely.
Admissions
Scholarships and Funding
Persons from outside of South Africa wishing to study at the University of Cape Town should apply to their own governments or national donor agencies for funding - this is not done by the University of Cape Town. The University administers an International and Refugee Student Scholarship, but funds are very limited: application forms are available from the Postgraduate Financial Office. The closing date for applications is 31 July each year.
Applicants should contact UCT's Postgraduate Funding Office directly
Curriculum
The programme duration is 18 months full-time, from February each year to the end of July the following year. Four elective courses are followed by a research project and short dissertation that applies theory and skills relating to the environment, society and sustainability to real life issues. Potential research areas are numerous and include aspects of environmental assessment and management, coastal zone and fisheries co-management, urban environmental management including monitoring and evaluation of water pollution in river systems, understanding and evaluating urban social ecological systems, and initiatives directed towards sustainable communities. This course is convened by Dr Philile Mbatha.
EGS 5008H: Course Work Modules
The MPhil curriculum entails course work and a research project. Students register full-time for a period of 18 months.
The course work component made up of four courses, which may be selected from within and beyond EGS
The time spent on each module includes a range of activities such as preparatory reading, lectures and seminars, assignments, fieldwork and essays. Each module has its own methods of assessment. Most modules conclude with a written examination at the end of the semester. Each module counts 30 credits towards the degree total of 240 credits.
EGS 5009W: Research Project and Short Dissertation
In the first semester students are expected to develop research ideas and secure a supervisor who is appropriately placed in a research area to meet their supervisory needs. Finding a project can either be a process of negotiation where a student will have research ideas and find a supervisor to meet these interests. It is important to note that a student must settle on a project that can be supervised by a member of our academic staff. Alternatively staff may have project ideas which they can share with interested students. During the first semester, students will prepare a research proposal which will be presented to the Department either at the end of the first semester or the start of the second semester of the first year.
The short dissertations, no longer than 25 000 words, should indicate that the student has an adequate grasp of the theories, principles and methods appropriate to their topic. It should be a logical and coherent account of the topic, and should ideally demonstrate an ability to deal with problems of an interdisciplinary nature.
Each dissertation is submitted to internal and external examiners. Students will be encouraged to submit papers on their research for publication but this is not a requirement for the award of the degree. One way to facilitate this is for the academic supervisor to take responsibility for publication as a co-author.
Program Tuition Fee
Career Opportunities
This interdisciplinary Masters programme attracts a broad range of students of varying ages and with different aspirations. Employment opportunities are found in local, provincial and national government; in parastatals; in the private sector (consulting firms and in industry), and in Non-Governmental Organisations.