This faculty, the only one of its kind in South Africa, educates personnel—primarily junior officers—for the country’s Department of Defence. As an interdisciplinary institution, it comprises five schools: Security and Africa Studies, Geospatial Studies and Information Systems, Human and Organisational Development, Science and Technology, and Defence Organisational and Resource Management. Each school encompasses multiple departments and academic programmes. The faculty also hosts two dedicated research entities: the Centre for Military Studies (CEMIS) and the Security Institute for Governance and Leadership in Africa (SIGLA).
The faculty offers both undergraduate and postgraduate study opportunities. Undergraduate programmes (offered on both a full-time and part-time basis), as well as the Honours/Postgraduate Diploma in Defence Studies and MPhil programmes, are currently available only to personnel of the Department of Defence. However, the Master’s and PhD programmes are open to both Department of Defence personnel and civilian candidates. To learn more about joining the Department of Defence, please visit [https://www.defenceweb.co.za/featured/sandf-makes-2026-msds-application-forms-available/].
While all undergraduate students are members of the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), the faculty has also produced BMil graduates from neighbouring military forces in countries such as Eswatini, Mozambique, Angola, Botswana, and Namibia. On the postgraduate level, officers and civilian students from countries including—but not limited to—China, Malawi, Uganda, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Nepal, Botswana, India, and Saudi Arabia have successfully completed their studies at the faculty.
| Location | Province |
|---|---|
| Saldanha | Western Cape |
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