Partially funded

Wits-TUB-UNILAG Master of Urban Studies Scholarship

University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa

Scholarship overview

The Wits-TUB-UNILAG Urban Lab programme funds Masters scholarships for the one-year, full-time Master of Urban Studies in Urban Management, MUS (UM), at the School of Architecture and Planning, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. The lead partners are the Habitat Unit at Technische Universität Berlin, the School of Architecture and Planning at Wits and the University of Lagos, with funding from the German BMZ through DAAD. Degree certificates are issued by Wits and are not joint degrees.

The programme builds capacity in urban management across four innovation areas: politics and policy of the urban, understanding complex urban systems, managing change processes, and co-producing knowledge between theory and practice.

There are two calls: one for sub-Saharan African citizens other than South Africans, and one for South African citizens and permanent residents. The programme reserves the right to make no awards or fewer than all.

Award Information

  • Non-South African call: citizens of sub-Saharan African countries other than South Africa. South African call: South African citizens and permanent residents.
  • Bachelor's degree equivalent to an honours degree (NQF level 8) in the South African system. Degrees from non-South African institutions must be evaluated by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
  • Meet the admission requirements of the MUS (UM) programme.
  • Interdisciplinary programme with emphasis on development planning, housing, sustainable urban development, urban management and urban design; applicants in architecture, urban planning, humanities, cultural studies, urban geography, social sciences and landscape architecture are welcome.
  • English is the language of instruction.
  • No age limit, but no more than 6 years may have passed since graduating from previous studies at the time of application.
  • Recipients study full-time for 11 months and may not take any employment during that period.
  • Full tuition fee.
  • Monthly stipend covering subsistence and accommodation expenses.
  • Travel from home country or place of origin.
  • Student medical aid for 12 months.
  • Duration: one academic year. Successful candidates sign a contract setting the conditions.
  • The living allowance is first paid in May, so students must be self-sufficient from February to April and organise their own travel and accommodation in Johannesburg; travel expenses are refunded in the first half of the academic year.
  • Applicants whose highest qualification was obtained outside South Africa pay the SAQA evaluation fee, which is not refunded.
  • Sub-Saharan African (non-South African) call: admission application by 31 July 2024; scholarship application by 10 November 2024.
  • South African call: admission application by 30 September 2024; scholarship application by 10 November 2024.
  • These dates are for the 2024 call. The 2024 call documents show different scholarship closing dates (30 September 2024 for the non-South African call and 31 October 2024 for the South African call), and a SAQA proof due 31 October 2024 for South Africans.
  1. Apply for admission to the MUS (UM) through the Wits online application system by the admission date for your call.
  2. Download the detailed call for your nationality group and the scholarship application form from the School of Architecture and Planning bursaries page.
  3. If your highest degree is from outside South Africa, apply to SAQA for evaluation and attach proof of that application.
  4. Complete the scholarship application form.
  5. Email it with supporting documents to Dr Emmanuel Busayo at [email protected] by the scholarship closing date.

Official links

Documents you will need

  • Completed scholarship application form.
  • Proof of application to SAQA (or SAQA certificate) for degrees obtained outside South Africa.
  • Documents supporting admission to the MUS (UM) and the eligibility requirements.

How selection works

Awards are based on a combination of merit, distribution across the continent and gender balance. Applicants must also be admitted to the MUS (UM) programme.

Other scholarships

View all scholarships →

Ready to start your study abroad journey?

Book a free consultation with our expert counsellors and take the first step towards your dream university.

Book a Consultation

Explore

Help & Support

Get In Touch

Email: [email protected]

Newsletter

Get the latest courses, scholarships and events in your inbox.

Copyrights © 2026 StudyMapped. All rights reserved.

Terms of Service · Privacy Policy · Refund Policy