IIE Master of Philosophy in Integrated Water Management

Admission requirements

Minimum Admission Requirements:

• Honours degree: An appropriate HEQSF Level 8
• Postgraduate Diploma
• Level 8 Bachelor’s Degree: An appropriate (480 credits) Level 8 Bachelor’s Degree may also be recognised
• International Applicants: SAQA NQF 8 Evaluation Certificate in an appropriate field (Applicants whose Level 8 qualification is not appropriate for the discipline may be admitted following successful completion of two postgraduate modules as specified by the Faculty.

Please note, requirements for entry to this qualification are correct at the time of publication, however, these may change.

Curriculum

The MPhil IWM curriculum includes four intensive coursework modules followed by a supervised research thesis. Modules are interdisciplinary and regionally relevant, integrating natural sciences, governance, and development studies.

Coursework Modules:

• Science of Water - Explores hydrology, aquatic ecosystems, water chemistry, and human-environment interactions.
• Water, Sustainability and Development - Addresses the global water crisis, poverty, infrastructure, gender, and water as a human right within sustainable development frameworks.
• Water Governance and Policy - Focuses on the political, institutional and socioeconomic dimensions of water governance in Africa.
• Project Management and Research Design - Equips students with the skills to manage research projects and prepares them for professional practice in the water sector.
• Research Thesis - Students complete an original research thesis (up to 35,000 words) that addresses a real-world issue in water management. Projects are interdisciplinary and may involve field or laboratory work, supported by expert academic supervision. Research collaborations are possible through networks such as the International Water Security Network and regional partners including the University of Namibia, University of KwaZulu-Natal, and Copperbelt University.

Articulation options

For the Faculty of Science and Technology, School of Engineering, Science and Health the following qualifications allow you to articulate into The IIE Master of Philosophy in Integrated Water Management should you meet the requirements:

• The IIE Postgraduate Diploma in Water Management

For alternative articulation options within our other schools please contact your campus for further information.

Accreditation

This qualification is accredited by the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and registered on the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).

Career opportunities

The programme focuses on building skills such as critical thinking, problem solving, statistics and data management, knowledge transfer and effective leadership.

Upon completion of programme it is expected that graduates will be prepared to take on leadership positions in international agencies, government departments, non-governmental organisations, and private sector entities engaged in water management. These graduates will bring critical thinking and analytical skills and an interdisciplinary perspective to water management solutions.

A graduate will be able to:
Appraise freshwater ecosystems as complex social-ecological systems, design an integrated water resource management plan, develop a research project proposal, execute an integrated water management research project, prepare a manuscript (academic paper) ready for submission for publication.

Teaching and Learning strategy

At Emeris, we believe that effective teaching is about creating experiences that foster student growth. Our academic team design activities that challenge students and identify their strengths, allowing for real-time adaptation in the learning journey. By combining subject expertise with teaching insights and digital tools, we extend learning beyond the classroom. This approach ensures students not only keep up but thrive.