Applications for MIT for 2020 are closed. Applications for 2021 will open around April 2020 and will close on 30 September 2020.
The MIT degree is by coursework and research, using mainly self-study materials for the coursework – with no lectures. It is a two-year conversion programme aimed at students without a degree in computer science or information technology/systems, and may also be done part-time over three years.
A non-IT honours degree, or equivalent, is the minimum requirement for entry into the MIT course.
Entry requirements: The Masters in Information Technology by Coursework and Dissertation is a conversion course designed for those with a degree in a non-IT field to attain a strong background and a qualification in Information Technology. This course follows a Bachelor Honours or equivalent in any non-IT degree.
Admissions are competitive and all admissions decisions are at the discretion of the university.
Progression: Students should pass a minimum of three courses each year. Should a student fail any course on the second attempt, they will not be allowed to continue with their studies. Students are eligible to register for CSC5004W once they have passed 7 of the 8 courses.
More details can be found in the Science Faculty Handbook.
The MIT programme comprises two components. The first is coursework (courses with assignments and exams), which can be done in a single year but is best done over two years (four modules per year) if you are a part-time student. The second component is a minor dissertation, done in the final year. Students do not need to be resident in Cape Town for this degree, as the coursework is online and all work is submitted online. However, students are expected to come to UCT for exams at the end of each semester.
Past minor dissertation topics include:
The MIT degree is open to students with the equivalent of a South African Honours degree (SAQA level 8) who have NOT taken computing or IT subjects in their previous degrees. Level 8 SAQA is typically attained after passing 4 years of university degree studies, and certainly never any fewer than 4 years of university degree studies. There are no other specific requirements for applicants.
In certain cases, applicants with only a 3-year degree at SAQA level 7 (but this excludes a BTech) can apply via the Recognition of Prior Learning (ROPL) route. But this is only possible if they can show that in the course of their work experience they have produced, on their own, a document similar to an IT Honours project.
Fees for individual courses are listed in the fees handbook, published each year. Relevant courses include CSC5010Z - CSC5017Z (coursework ), and CSC5004W (dissertation).
Annual fee increases, international fees, and registration fees will also apply. Please consult directly with the Fees Office and/or the International office for any questions.
UCT has information on funding for postgraduate students. Please download the latest funding booklet.
Information about some other postgraduate scholarships can be found at:
MIT students have in the past qualified for scholarships during their dissertation year.
If any of your previous degrees are in computer science or information technology, or you have already done a significant amount of coursework in these topics, the MIT degree is not for you. Please consult the postgraduate degree information for more options on postgraduate study.
Apply on the University of Cape Town's central applications system for the appropriate degree:
Please ensure that the following documents are submitted with your application in addition to documentation required by UCT. Applications that are incomplete will not be considered.
Applications will NOT be considered after the deadline has passed.
Send an email to the MIT course convenor for further information.
School of Information Technology
Isikolo se-IT
Skool vir Inligtingstegnologie
Contact us:
Email: info-sit@uct.ac.za
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