my Choice @ Unisa 2012 master's and doctoral qualifications

Deepening of academic skills
Postgraduate study requires a deepening of your academic skills in order to make a contribution to knowledge creation.
Knowledge creation is the apex of postgraduate achievement. The workload at postgraduate level demands that you
do more work on your own (reading, making notes and reflecting) when compared to undergraduate level. You set the
timeline for the study goals you wish to achieve. The sections on time management, study responsibility and academic
preparedness provide guidelines, but how well you progress with your postgraduate studies depends on your ability to
assimilate information generated by these questions.
Journey of discovery
The biggest challenge that confronts you at this point is to extend your thinking and capacity to find and integrate
information. In order to find an appropriate topic, your ability to use advanced search functions on the computer and
extensive use of the library is very important. How quickly can you become more skilful? Finally, postgraduate studies
have equal amounts of sorrow and joy. Nobody can teach you how to find the balance; it is a journey of discovery.
Factors that contribute to success
According to Dominguez (2006: 22-23) there are internal factors that you should consider developing before
you start and, external factors that the institution should have in place:
Internal
Planning abilities
• Map goals and objectives of thesis/dissertation project
• Link tasks to specific due dates
• Adjust your plans as the project unfolds
• Refine your writing strategies as you progress
Personal characteristics
• A positive orientation to life
• Hard working and focussed on the project
• Flexible, disciplined, confident and resilient
Communication skills
• Reflect on the feedback provided
• Express ideas
• Convey concerns
• Communicate proactively, do not sit back and
wait to be told
External
Support from the supervisor
• Someone who understands your academic and
individual skills
• Someone who guides you through your rewrites
in a way that inspires you
• Someone who is focussed on your success and
from whom you welcome feedback
Family support
• Provide relief and support as you progress with
your thesis/dissertation
Institutional support
• Provide training workshops that develop and
promote interpersonal and goal setting skills and
encourage resiliency skills
• The institution is committed to the postgraduate
students and have a number of strategies in place
that push them to completion
20