Success at the Graduate School of Business Administration depends on a number of factors ranging from motivation to practical knowledge to academic ability. The primary purpose of the admissions process is to determine a prospective student’s potential to successfully complete the requirements for each degree. Because the school enrols full-time, part-time, online, and international students, a variety of paths are available to individuals seeking admission. The student may apply for admission to the Graduate School in January or July. Applications for admission are based upon the stated criteria established by the Graduate Admission Committee. 

Applicants who hold an earned graduate degree in any discipline from a regionally accredited university, or a comparable foreign degree, and who are in good standing with that institution will be granted immediate full admission status. An applicant who does not already hold a graduate degree must show potential by satisfying at least two measures of capability. Full admission status allows a student who is in good standing with the university to take graduate courses in any order, as long as all programme and course prerequisites are met.

Conditional admission allows an applicant who meets at least one of the measures of capability to begin classes in the graduate programme under specific conditions. An applicant granted conditional admission must successfully complete the prerequisite courses determined by the Dean of the Graduate School in which the applicant plans to study, before being considered for full admission status. Conditionally admitted students may take only the prerequisite courses and may not take any additional courses until their conditional status has been lifted. A student may not continue in the programme until all conditions of admission (as outlined in the student’s admissions agreement) have been satisfied.

Special student status allows a student to take up to three courses without seeking a degree. Applicants must meet the same criteria for admission as a degree-seeking applicant. An applicant may only be accepted as a special student one time; if the student wishes to take additional courses, the student must apply and be accepted to one of the Graduate School degree programmes. Since special students are not admitted to a programme, they are not eligible to appeal dismissal to the Academic Review Board.

Graduate University of Southern Africa welcomes applications to our wide range of graduate programmes. Admission decisions are based generally on evidence of achievement in undergraduate studies, strength of recommendations, clarity and professionalism of candidate’s written statements, and other materials submitted with the application. Standards are applied rigorously, the purpose being to identify applicants who show promise of benefiting from advanced studies and who are likely to make significant contributions to the graduate community and their chosen profession. Admission standards for graduate programmes are generally more rigorous than those for undergraduate degrees.