My Experience with UNISA

I'm not sure this is in the right place - but here goes.

I really have to write and say how totally pleased I am with my UNISA experience. I am enrollled in the MA in TESOL program. I applied by the application deadline, submitted by documents and heard back from them exactly when they said they would respond. I received email confirmations of my submissions and payments without fail. So, the application process has obviously improved incredibly in recent years.

Beyond that, I have to say that my supervisor is amazing. She is a full professor, supportive and and totally dedicated to ensuring that I get through my program. I receive "touching base" emails from her, printed materials (magazines, etc.) through the mail and never feel "left hung out to dry". They do continual research to improve the student experience, sending you surveys and research questionnaires to see how they can improve their services. I used their library search facilities (no cost) - while I was teaching in southern Mexico with no access to professional literature at all. The lit search that came back was speedy, comprehensive and indispensable and I was astounded at the sheer amount of it.

You are allowed to submit two draft proposals and a third final proposal for your dissertation. The High Degrees Committee evaluates it - and it has to be of high standard to get by them. (Believe me, I know.) If you fail at the third attempt, you are dismissed from the program.

They have recently added an "international fee" for students from outside of Africa. It amount in US dollars, to approximately $520.00. The fee for all students is around $1,000 per year for the research masters/doctorates. This is beyond reasonable and honestly, the fee for international students overdue. If I am able to complete my dissertation this year, my masters degree costs will amount to under $2,000.00 for everything.

I feel the rigor, the quality of my supervisors and the attention they are giving to their students is just simply outstanding and I could not be happier. I have no doubt that my degree will be widely accepted in the U.S. It is a degree accredited by the highest governing body in South Africa and Nelson Mandela and Desmond Tutu are just two of many well-known alumni. In fact, UNISA has been listed as one of the 10 Top Online Degrees in the World The Top 10 Online Universities in the World | eHow.

As a disclaimer, I am student, not a recruiter for UNISA!

Be prepared to work hard and you'll love UNISA!

CBear

 

Thanks for the information and best wishes in your studies.

After earning three degrees here in the USA, I enrolled in a research master's program, followed by a research PhD program at a South African institution--not UNISA, but the school I graduated from holds the same level of accreditation as UNISA. Both degree programs (programmes in South Africa) were rigorous and substantive, with supervisors and readers who were well qualified in their fields of expertise. The South African experience was a good one for me personally, I hope you have a positive experience as well.

 

Does anyone know how UNISA's undergraduate program work ?
eg ; is it like a 'final' exam at the end of the year that's 100% of your marks ?

 

Thanks for sharing the experience, I have plan B to earn my Ph.D if my time at Nova Southeastern University does not turn out right. I plan for British or South African universities. As far as the rating, eHow blends University of Phoenix in the rating; I don't trust that source much. However, most of universities in the list are well respected schools such as University of Texas, University of London, University of Liverpool, and even University of South Africa.

 

Has anyone here graduated with a UNISA Masters in Theology and, if so, how does it differ from the American teaching methodology? Their website says it's 120 credits long and must be completed in three years.

 

Yep, you're right...

I agree. I thought better of that link when I re-wrote my post here (http://www.degreeinfo.com/general-distance-learning-discussions/49742-recent-experience-unisa-masters.html).

"clickbat" - cute....

 

Clickbait faux pas...

Yes, I agree on the list. Definitely not necessary. And I removed it when I cross-posted in another sub-forum.

 

I haven't graduated or taken courses in that major, but, it seems that most of the Masters programs are dissertation-based. There are very few "taught" (or as UNISA would say "structured"). There are few in the Theology area that are structured, but most are simply dissertation-based.

A structured class has a set of papers which must be written. All students must still do a Research Proposal module. This typically takes a year to get through between writing, re-writing, addressing HDC concerns, etc. Once the Higher Degrees Committee meets, and approves the proposal - you may register for the dissertation and start writing it. (That year goes VERY quickly...let me assure you.)

I will say that ALL students are required to show a class in research and/or research methodology on application to any major. So, if you are thinking of applying you might want to get that course out of the way...otherwise, they will require you to take it before full admission.

 

As I understand it - yes, essentially you have a comprehensive set of "modules" which covers a particular subject. You buy and/or are sent the materials for that subject. During the examination period every year, you write the papers (take the examination) for that module. Your grade is dependent on your performance in that examination. I believe, but am not 100% certain, that some modules have two examinations per year.

These are proctored exams, so you must travel to a UNISA examination center. My center was in Mexico City, when I was in Oaxaca, Mexico. There are 24 centers in the U.S. alone. http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=17068#usa

 

I checked once and discovered the testing center nearest to me was in NYC. I believe it was the South African Consulate. At first I was a bit put off at having to travel to the big city but after thinking about it for a bit I decided that it might be fun to go to New York once or twice a year.

Kizmet takes Manhattan!:cool3:

 

Very cool. What would you study?

 

Right now I am pursuing a Masters degree in "the Humanities" or "Social Sciences." If I went the UNISA route afterwards I'd have to say it would be on the doctoral level and in the area of Cultural Anthropology. That department at UNISA looks pretty cool.

 

There are SO many things I'd like to study...As I said, I'm am very pleased with UNISA - and the price is unbeatable for the quality of the degree you end up with. If you have any problems or questions about enrolling or navigating the site - just let me know. I'm happy to help!

Good luck on your studies!

 

How did you complete the research/research methodology course? Did you take individual courses at UNISA or did you take them elsewhere?

 

I have always had a question regarding UNISA (I hear all kinds of differing opinions and reports), so here goes: is a degree from UNISA fully accepted in the USA as valid, legit, "usable" degree? Let me give you a clearer example: I plan to be a teacher in NYC, and the new York State Education Department has these salary steps and differentials. Basically they progressively give you salary raises according to how long you've worked for the NYSED and according to your schooling. The more relevant credits you earn in accredited universities, the more you get paid. However, I am not sure if UNISA would be admitted as an "accredited" college as far as the US goes. Heck, I don't even know if UNISA has a system of credits as we know them in America. Could anyone let me know?
Thanks a lot for your help!

 

Yes, they have credits. As Steve says a competent evaluator will assign the appropriate equivalency in US terms.

Unisa Online - Qualifications: credits, modules and levels

 

This may not apply to Tom's situation but people need to be a bit careful when it comes to the research degrees from UNISA.

i'm referring to transcripts here, not credits. In research degrees you simply register for the same course over and over. So your transcript only shows 1 course. I don't know if this translates into "credits." This has come up in the past in regards to people trying to accumulate 18+ credits in a discipline in order to meet minimum teaching qualifications. I don't remember how that question was resolved

 

I believe there has been a lot of misinformation when it comes to minimum teaching qualifications.

Here is the exact wording from SACS (I live in Texas so I use this example).

http://www.sacscoc.org/pdf/081705/faculty%20credentials.pdf

Faculty teaching baccalaureate courses: doctorate or master’s degree in the teaching discipline
or master’s degree with a concentration in the teaching discipline (minimum of 18 graduate
semester hours in the teaching discipline).

So as I interpret this a Masters or PhD by Research in a particular discipline, let's say Management, would allow one to be qualified to teach Management regardless of the fact that there were no "Courses" or a single "Course" in that degree. The little "or" in the middle shows a bifurcation of options to meet the teaching requirement.