the university of zimbabwe offers postgraduate honours degrees, two types of master's degree and doctoral degrees. postgraduate honours programmes, also known as "special honours" programmes last are for one-year duration and incorporate coursework, examinations and a compulsory project module. master's degrees by coursework and project are designated m.a. or m.sc. and are of one to two years duration. they incorporate coursework and project modules. master's degrees by research thesis only are designated m.phil. and require a minimum of two years study. the doctoral programme, d.phil., is by research thesis only. students who are carrying out an m.phil. study, but have not yet submitted their thesis, may apply to their faculty to upgrade their study to the d.phil. programme.