Postgraduate Student Success: A Case Study of the South African Military Academy

Postgraduate student success, i.e. completion and passing in time, is a goal of all higher education institutions. Ascertaining the determinants of postgraduate student success allows HEIs to not only improve the research experience of the postgraduate students, but also improve the research output and student throughput rates of the institution. Researchers assert that it is important to explore the research experience of postgraduate students to improve their academic success. That involves looking into critical factors of their success, namely, supervision, research skills, research community, academic and personal support, research culture, research resources, progress reports and assessment, postgraduate journey, and professional development. This study aimed to investigate the determinants of postgraduate student success at the South African Military Academy. The study considered postgraduate research experience and journey as a measure for student success, bearing in mind the importance of student engagement to enhance the experience of research students so they may achieve academic success. The data was collected from a sample of postgraduate students at the South African Military Academy at all postgraduate levels of study (Honours, Master’s and PhD). This was done through a sequential, explanatory mixed method design, with survey data from 28 participants (Honours = 9, Master’s = 16, and PhD = 3), followed by in-depth narrative case study interviews with 4 participants (Master’s = 3, Honours = 1). The interviews were based on prior survey results to provide a deeper understanding of the research experience of postgraduate students at the South African Military Academy, in particular, the Faculty of Military Sciences of Stellenbosch University. The findings of this study revealed eight interconnected themes that contribute to postgraduate student success: the importance of support systems in sustaining resilience and motivation; the development and application of research skills; the role of supervision in academic progress; the influence of a supportive research community and institutional research culture; existing opportunities for professional development; access to and adequacy of research resources; the postgraduate student’s understanding of progress tracking and assessment, and the evolving nature of the postgraduate journey. These themes highlighted multi-layered factors that contribute to postgraduate student success and suggested targeted strategies for enhancing research capacity and support structures of the Military Academy, such as access to suitable workspace, sense of belonging, academic support and successful task and role of social and academic integration (interface).

Grantor dc:publisher

Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University

Year dc:date.issued

2026

Author dc:creator

• Sikupela, Siwisa

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Taylor, N.

Language dc:language.iso

en

Repository record dc:identifier.uri

https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/135848

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/135848