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THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA
THE OPEN UNIVERSITY OF TANZANIA
About Postgraduate Directorate
The Directorate of Postgraduate Studies at The Open University of Tanzania (OUT) was established in the year 2017 where the Directorate of Research, Publications and Postgraduate Studies was split into two, the other directorate being the Directorate of Research, Publications and Innovation. The Directorate of Postgraduate Studies is an important entity in higher education systems across the world. In most universities, the directorate oversees all matters related to postgraduate studies including to ensure smooth running of the postgraduate programmes across the institution; smooth and coordinated operation of the day to day activities of the postgraduate studies such as admission, registration, supervision, examinations, handling of student matters, and any other activities as directed by Senates; establishment of postgraduate programmes and formulating and reviewing various related policies and regulations.
Broad Functions
The broad functions of the Directorate of Postgraduate Studies at OUT include the following:
1
Develop and periodically review postgraduate policy framework and instruments for managing and governing delivery of postgraduate programs across faculties at the University.
2
Assure the quality of supervision through development of instruments to manage the research process.
3
Communicate with faculties and supervisors on issues regarding students' progress.
4
Create databases of supervisors and examiners and develop links with them
5
Provide feedback to the University via postgraduate committee and senate on students' research experience.
6
Ensure that suitably qualified academics are recommended by faculties to act as internal and external examiners.
7
Manage examination processes leading to the award of the postgraduate degrees including conduct of proposal defenses, pre-viva-voces and viva-voce
8
Act as a clearing house to ensure all necessary requirements have been met by students, supervisors, departments and faculties before dissertations and theses are dispatched for examination both internally and externally.
9
Facilitate world-class cutting-edge research skills for both students and supervisors through mounting higher degrees research trainings, workshops, and seminars.
10
Monitor the quantity and quality of postgraduate programmes across faculties.
11
Perform all administrative duties pertaining to the efficient running of postgraduate studies at the University.
Units Information
The following are the Units Information of the Directorate of Postgraduate Studies at OUT:
Admission and Registration Unit
Core functions
- Receiving, processing, and recording all applications for postgraduate applications
- Issue admission letters and keep records for students requesting resuming of studies and deregistration.
- Responding to students' queries related to application, registration and admission
- Continually updating the nominal roll of postgraduate students and maintain records.
- Coordinate with other staff to generate reports as may be required by different organs at the University.
Contacts: postgraduate.admission@out.ac.tz, admissionchuo@gmail.com, 0780639131
Supervision and Records Unit
Core functions
- To coordinate the Master and PhD proposal and thesis/dissertation seminar presentation
- To manage the student progress report
- To issue supervision contracts to supervisors
- To issue the research clearance letters to research students
- To receive and process the request on change or additional supervisor
- To oversee the postgraduate supervision guidelines
Contacts: dpgs.supervision@out.ac.tz - For clearance letter, dpgs.contractletters@out.ac.tz - For supervisory arrangement
Examination and Quality Control Unit
- Submitting, collecting, and maintaining the record of the dissertation/thesis to and from examiners
- Writing appointment letters to external examiners
- Maintaining student records and reports of examination results in liaison with the examination syndicate
- Liaising with faculties in identifying and recommending internal and external examiners to the Senate via the Postgraduate Steering Committee (PGSC)
- Coordinating preparations, recording the proceeding of all oral examinations and viva voce
- In collaboration with faculties arranging and carrying out oral examinations for Master and PhD students
- Monitor quality of dissertations and theses ensuring that all issues raised by examiners are worked out by respective students before submission of hard bound dissertations and theses
- Maintaining soft copies of all approved research proposals
- Monitor dissertations conformity to OUT's format
- Monitor appointment of internal and external examiners appointments by faculties
- Prepare a list of prospective graduands according to the approved format and maintain records
Contact: dpgs.examination.out.ac.tz
Directorate Contacts
Contact Information
Directorate of Postgraduate Studies (DPGS)
The Open University of Tanzania
P.O Box 23409, Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania
Tel: 255-22666752/2668445
Office Hours
Monday - Friday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Saturday: Closed
Sunday: Closed
TCU Guidelines for Postgraduate Studies
TCU guidelines for postgraduate studies in Tanzania require applicants to hold at least a relevant Bachelor's degree (for Master's) or Master's degree (for PhD) from an accredited institution. Admission is direct to universities, which set specific criteria, and foreign qualifications must be validated by NECTA or NACTVET.
Admission Requirements
Applicants must have a solid academic background, typically featuring good grades in relevant fields.
Application Process
Applicants apply directly to the university of their choice, not directly to TCU.
Foreign Qualifications
Applicants with foreign degrees must have their qualifications validated and equated by NECTA (for secondary/teacher education) or NACTVET (for technical qualifications) before applying.
Programme Duration
Master's programmes generally take one to two years, while doctoral programmes typically last three or more years.
Quality Assurance
Programmes must meet TCU standards for supervision, research, and ethics.
Credit Transfers
Students transferring from foreign universities must ensure the receiving institution in Tanzania approves the transfer, with at least 50% of credits completed at the new institution.
For detailed requirements per institution, applicants are advised to check the TCU admission guidebook and individual university websites athttps://tcu.go.tz/
International Students
Local Students with Foreign Certificates
If you have obtained a university education abroad and wish to work or pursue further studies in the United Republic of Tanzania, your foreign qualifications must be recognized by the TCU. Recognition is conducted through an online system namely Foreign Award Assessment System (FAAS).
For foreigners applying for studies in Tanzania. It is not necessary to apply independently for recognition as Tanzanian universities can submit such applications on behalf during the admission processes.
Guidelines and Regulations
GUIDELINES FOR PREPARING A DETAILED RESEARCH PROPOSAL FOR MASTERS DEGREE BY THESIS AND PHD
OUT-PG THESIS DISSERTATION FORMAT-2026 Final
Postgraduate Guidelines and Operational Procedures-05-08-2025-Final
POSTGRADUATE PROSPECTUS 2025-2026 ACADEMIC YEAR-4
TCU Standards and Guidelines for Postgraduate Studies Addendum 2023
Postgraduate Forms
CHECKLIST SUBMISSION 2024-1
DEREGISTRATION FROM STUDIES FORM
E1-NOTICE-OF-INTENTION-TO-SUBMIT-DISSERTATION-MASTERS-BY-THESIS-AND-PHD-1
E2 -NOTICE OF INTENTION TO SUBMIT MASTERS DISSERTATION BY COURSE WORK
E3-PLAGIARISM-REPORT-FORM-FOR-POSTGRADUATE-STUDENTS-2
Error Free Letter to the Directorate of Postgraduate Studies
OUT.PG.EX.F7-Small committee
OUT.PG.EX 9-Viva voce examination form
REQUEST EXTENSION OF STUDIES
REQUEST TO RESUME STUDIES
S2-REQUISITION-FORM-FOR-RESEARCH-CLEARANCE-LETTER-1
S3-POSTGRADUATE-STUDENTS-ACADEMIC-PROGRESS-REPORT-FORM
SP. F5 PRE-VIVA-FINAL SEMINAR
SP. F7 CHANGE OF SUPERVISOR FORM 6 AUGUST 2025
SP. F8 ADDITION OF SUPERVISORS