how many years to study phd in south africa

• PhD Study in South Africa – A Guide for 2024

Written by Alice Clubbs Coldron

South Africa is hard to beat when it comes to year-round sunshine, excellent wine and exhilarating landscapes. What’s more, South African universities are growing in quality and many are now internationally recognised as world class research centres.

These low cost, but high quality research facilities and the wealth of things to do in a country that offers everything from lush winelands, forests and lagoons, to the ‘Big Five’ safari animals, mean it comes as no surprise that this country is a welcome choice to study abroad.

If you’re considering a PhD in South Africa, this page provides all the information you need to know about the PhD in general, and how applications, funding and visas work.

PhD opportunities in South Africa – what’s on offer for 2024?

South Africa is growing into the continent’s hub for PhDs, meaning that opportunities for students have never been better. The students in South Africa are spoilt by the diverse terrain, warm climate and magnificent wildlife. All of South Africa’s universities boast campuses in some of the most stunning locations on earth, with top class facilities to match.

South Africa certainly ticks a lot of boxes, and here are some more things to consider:

• The Rainbow Nation – Full of diverse cultures and boasts 9 official languages.
• Affordability – The cost of living in South Africa is low, which is good news for PhD students on a tight budget!
• Unique PhD opportunities – Study anything from African Climate and Development, Conservation and Conflict to Marine Research, with access to not one, not two, but three oceans!
• Home to the best universities in Africa – The University of Cape Town is ranked number one in Africa, with another seven universities rated in the top 10.
• No viva – Not keen on defending your thesis for hours upon hours? PhD in South Africa is not traditionally assessed via an oral exam (phew).

Coronavirus updates for international students at South African universities

For the latest information on the impact of coronavirus on studying a PhD in South Africa, please check with your university for updates.

PhD life in South Africa

Want to know more about life for international PhD students in South Africa? Our detailed guide covers everything from accommodation and living costs to culture and entertainment.

South African universities

There are 26 public universities in South Africa. These comprise of 12 traditional universities, eight ‘technikons’ offering technical and vocational courses, and six comprehensive universities, offering a combination of the above. These are all distributed within all nine provinces of South Africa, each of which has at least one university.

The main student hubs are the big cities such as Cape Town , Johannesburg and Durban , with the University of Cape Town being recognised as the highest rated institution in both South Africa and on the continent.

University Groups

South Africa’s government is actively developing university research facilities across the country in a bid to attract more PhD students. This will increase the quality of research output and academic professionals in the industry. Many of the universities in South Africa are associated with these institutions and ‘mission groups’ as they share similar aims and objectives.

These groups include the follwoing:

• The National Research Foundation (NRF) is aimed at establishing leading-edge research platforms across the country. NRF-rated researchers work across the country’s universities, enabling South Africa to benchmark the quality of its research against the best in the world.
• South Africa has 14 Centres of Excellence . These CoEs are dedicated to different research areas, and enable researchers to collaborate across institutions on long-term projects that are internationally competitive.
• The South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI) has been established to strengthen research and innovation capacity of public universities for producing high quality postgraduate students.

A doctorate from a university associated with any of these government initiatives is impressive. As a PhD student, you require a research facility with the necessary expertise in the specialism you want to study.

South African university cities

The University of Cape Town and the University of Witwatersrand are in the top 250 universities in the world. Whether it’s Biotechnology, African Development or Engineering, South Africa’s universities certainly have many specialist focus areas that attract PhD candidates to undertake their research there.

Carrying out a PhD in South Africa will most likely be a highly collaborative experience. You will go where your research takes you, and there are many exciting cities to explore whilst you are there. .

The following are the main university cities in South Africa:

• Johannesburg

PhD structure

PhDs in South Africa generally follow a similar pattern to European and American programmes, but with the added bonus of becoming a wine connoisseur. They focus on the candidate completing a supervised thesis that adds original research and knowledge to a field of study.

The PhD will consist mainly of pure research and you will spend most of your time working towards an independent doctoral thesis, which will most likely begin with a lot of reading and writing a literature review, summarising and evaluating existing research related to your topic. Some South African PhDs also require coursework to be completed in addition to the main thesis, but this is less common.

Depending on your project, you will accumulate data by analysing source materials, producing experimental results or collecting survey data as appropriate. Throughout this process, you will liaise with your supervisor. You will most likely have at least one other supervisor, and they will both be a big part of your PhD experience.

Programme length

South African PhDs generally take between two to three years to complete if you are in full-time study, with a minimum of 4 years if you are studying part-time . The course length does vary however, and this generally depends on time of registration and funding arrangements.

Assessment and examination

PhD opportunities in South Africa require you to submit a written thesis at the end of your PhD. This is normally between 80,000-100,000 words. It is normal in South Africa for PhD candidates to give a written notice to their faculty at least two or three months before submitting their thesis for examination. This generally includes giving the title and a short overview of the thesis.

Once this notice is given, three examiners (internal and external) are appointed to examine your thesis. These examiners, or at least one of them, are also experts in your field.

For a South African PhD, it is not common to have a viva . This is an additional, oral examination, done in the UK and Europe, where the PhD candidate ‘defends’ their thesis in response to the examiners asking questions.

This is not the case in South Africa, and instead a written report is submitted outlining the examiners conclusions (and any changes or corrections that need to be done) and your PhD result.

Fees and funding

International students studying in South Africa benefit from relatively cheap doctorate programmes compared to Europe and North America.

South African tuition fees vary widely between institutions and courses. International students are required to pay an international service fee of around of R4,200 (USD $270) and/ or a registration fee of about R6,970 (USD $440).

PhD programme fees can vary from depending on the type of PhD programme (thesis only or coursework and thesis), the university and the subject area. For example, at Wits University, PhD programmes in Engineering are on average R31,450 (USD $1,835) per year and PhD programmes in Sciences are on average R23,900 (USD $1,395). PhD fees at the University of Cape Town are generally the same for all subjects, averaging at around R23,370 (USD $1,360) per year.

International students are not eligible for support from the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) – the South African student loan and bursary scheme. Bursaries and scholarships are available to international PhD students and are offered by universities and external organisations.

These include:

• Studentships and funded PhD places from the universities themselves. Some institutions also have specific funding opportunities for international students. These PhD places are competitive. You can check with universities or browse opportunities here on FindAPhD.
• Student loans from major banks to non-South Africans with valid study permits.
• Postgraduate scholarships from the National Research Foundation (NRF) to a limited number of international students.

Applying for a PhD in South Africa

The first step for your South African PhD application should be to contact a prospective supervisor (universities will not normally consider applications from international students who haven’t done this).

The person you choose should normally be the lead researcher for a project or research group you wish to join, or an academic with research interests related to the topic you would like to propose.

Once you’ve found a potential supervisor, you should contact them via email . Try to provide a clear and concise description of your project or interests – and make the relationship to their research obvious.

Once you have an expression of interest from a potential supervisor, you can begin your formal application to the university.

Admission requirements

To apply for a PhD in South Africa, you will require an existing Bachelors and usually a Masters degree in a related subject. In special circumstances, a candidate without a Masters may be accepted. There will usually be an application fee of around R300 ($17.50).

Individual universities will set their own requirements, but in general, you can expect to be asked for some or all of the following:

• CV and evidence of previous qualifications (some may even want to see a copy of your Masters dissertation
• Personal statement/motivation letter
• A research proposal (if you’re putting forward your own PhD topic)

Once your PhD application has been reviewed, the university may wish to interview you. This is a good sign, as your prospective supervisor thinks you have potential, and it’s also a great way to show yourself off!

Don’t worry though – they will not expect you to travel all the way to South Africa for just an interview. As an international student, this will most likely be done via a video-conferencing platform.

Application deadlines

Deadlines for PhD applications vary in South Africa. While some deadlines are in August or September, some universities have PhD programmes that are open to apply all year round. It is also important to take into account any deadlines that you may have if you are applying to funding.

You can check for specific dates with your chosen institute and if you are in touch with your prospective supervisor, you can always ask them.

Remember that, even if there isn't a deadline, your application will still take time. As a general rule, you should apply at least four months before you hope to start your PhD.

Student visas

South African study permits are issued for a programme of study at a specific institution. Once accepted by a South African university, international students are required to obtain a study visa .

Visa requirements

In order to qualify for a visa to study a PhD in South Africa you’ll normally need the following documents:

• Proof of financial means to cover envisaged living expenses for the duration of study
• An official letter from the university confirming enrolment
• A valid passport that expires no less than 30 days before the end of your course
• Proof of medical cover

You can check out South African Department of Home Affairs for more information on student visas.

Language requirements

South African PhDs are organised and delivered in English, so you will need to have sufficient language skills and be able to comprehend complex information and communicate ideas for your PhD.

For international students for whom English is a second language, an English language test must be taken. The most recognised English language tests will be accepted. The score you need will depend on the test you take and the minimum requirements set by your specific university.

Health insurance

The South African government states that in order to obtain a student visa, the student must have adequate medical cover with a registered South African medical scheme and provide evidence for this when applying for the visa. A letter confirming that this health insurance will be renewed every year during the duration of your stay is also required. You can see the list of registered medical aid schemes in South Africa to check if your medical cover is recognised by the South African Department of Home Affairs.

Work during your PhD

You can carry out paid work for up to 20 hours per week whilst researching for your PhD in South Africa. However, you should check that any work you undertake fits with the requirements of your PhD (and the expectations of your supervisor).

Fees and processing times

To apply for a student visa, you will need to complete the BI-1738 form , which costs around R1,800 (USD $120) to process. It normally takes six to eight weeks for applications to be processed and is valid for the duration of your course.

With internationally recognised universities and research capabilities, a South African PhD can translate into career opportunities all over the world.

Can I work in South Africa after my PhD?

International students who are awarded their PhD from a South African university can apply for a critical skills work visa (a five-year temporary residence visa) which includes a 12-month period to secure a job. After the end of the five years, they can apply for permanent residence.

Find a PhD in South Africa

Decided that South Africa is the right destination for your PhD? Why not get started browsing some South African PhDs ? Alternatively, you can look at our other guides to PhD study abroad .

Our postgrad newsletter shares courses, funding news, stories and advice

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What's it like to live in South Africa during a PhD? Our guide covers accommodation, student living costs, working and other key information.

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DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY SPECIALISING IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

Make an original contribution to research, phd entrance requirements.

The Doctor of Philosophy degree is a research degree undertaken with the guidance of a supervisor for a minimum period of two years.

PhD applicants need to:

• Hold a recognised Master's degree (or in special circumstances, at the discretion of the Senate, an approved Bachelor's degree or qualification recognised by the Senate as equivalent). Candidates with a non-South African qualification may need to verify the equivalence to a South African degree.
• Demonstrate that they have the necessary competencies in research methodology and practice required for the completion of an independent study research degree.
• Nominate a suitable supervisor with the application.

International applicants for whom English is a second language are required to submit one of the following, unless this requirement is waived by the GSB Research Director:

• A recent score on the TOEFL Test of at least 570 (paper-based) or 230 (computer-based) or 88 (internet-based).  This must be obtained within 3-5 years before applying to UCT.
• A recent overall band score of 7.0 (with no individual element of the test scoring below 6.0) on the international English Language Testing System (IELTS).

Information on the TOEFL test is available  here . For the IELTS contact the British consulate or embassy in the applicant’s home country.

_________________________________________________________________________

PLEASE NOTE: The UCT GSB PHD programme is highly competitive , and only a few places are awarded each year. 

• Your Master's degree must be complete (awarded)
• You must have obtained at least 70% for your Master's dissertation
• Your proposed PHD research must align with your previous Master's dissertation 

To ensure that this can be assessed as part of your application, you must upload a completed Master’s dissertation .

Start your application journey here

We’d like to know more about you. Please fill out the form below, to enquire about doing the PhD or to begin the pre-application process.

Doctor of Philosophy

Join top candidates from across the continent, engage in robust knowledge sharing and hone your research skills.

Programme Information

• Programme Overview
• Entry Requirements
• CRM Enquiry

The WBS PhD programme is the largest in South Africa and one of the most highly regarded on the continent. We seek out and bring together top candidates from across Africa to address important topics in their PhD research that are relevant to the advancement of business and society on our continent. We have students from Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia and of course South Africa, and the best faculty from across the continent so that our PhD is authentically African in perspective. As a student of our PhD programme, you will gain real cultural and social insights from our commercial and political debates, you will sharpen your ability to articulate, grow in confidence and realise the vastness of the knowledge domains you can master by developing your learning and research skills. A PhD shows the world you are capable of putting in the disciplined effort, logical thought and leaps of insight needed to be a ground-breaking innovator. It tells employers that you work diligently to discover new truths, evaluate alternative approaches and forge ways forward based on solid evidence.

The School is particularly keen to enrol students in the following areas of study:

• Methodological Issues
• Business & Society
• Decision Sciences
• Organisational behaviour & diversity management
• Energy Leadership
• Digital Business
• Areas of study include but are not limited to African philanthropy, Community philanthropy, Public policy and philanthropy, Venture philanthropy, Corporate social investment, SDGs and philanthropy, Religion and philanthropy, Social investment, Impact investing, Wealth advisory, and Management of philanthropy among others.

Essential Websites to Visit:

• General Information - http://www.wits.ac.za/postgraduate
• International Applicants - http://www.wits.ac.za/internationalstudents
• SAQA evaluation of any Foreign Qualifications -  https://www.saqa.org.za/ (University requirement)
• Financial Assistance - https://www.wits.ac.za/internationalstudents/financial-information/ (apply directly with the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office)
• Accommodation - http://www.wits.ac.za/accommodation (apply directly with the Central Accommodation Office)
• Application Fee Payment Options - https://www.wits.ac.za/study-at-wits/student-fees/
• University Rules and Regulations - https://www.wits.ac.za/students/academic-matters/rules-and-syllabuses/

Textbooks are available on www.mind-matters.co.za

Note: If a link above doesn't work, please copy and paste the URL into a browser.

• A Bachelor’s degree with Honours – upper 2nd class or better (i.e. both with an average of “B” or better). OR a Bachelor’s degree plus a postgraduate Diploma (both with an average of “B” or better).
• A good master's degree (i.e. an average of “B” or better).65% or more for specialised Masters Research Report and 70% or more for MBA research report.
• An outline of your proposed research.
• Availability of a suitable supervisor.
• A non-refundable application fee.
• Complete the on-line application form on the following link https://www.wits.ac.za/applications/
• Complete the Application Qualification Assessment form

Plagiarism Appendix – (to be downloaded, completed and submitted online)

• Motivation letter.
• A 12-pager proposal.
• Certified academic transcripts/records - Undergraduate, Honours and Masters Degree.
• Certified academic certificates - Undergraduate, Honours and Masters Degree.

How to apply to Wits

Complete the Online Application  form - parts 1&2 (Should you encounter any problems with the online application process please contact [email protected] )

A non-refundable application fee

Document Downloads

Application Qualification Assessment Form.pdf (432.67 KB)

PhD Guideline Document

Motivation letter A 12-pager proposal Certified academic transcripts/records - Undergraduate, Honours and Masters Degree Certified academic certificates - Undergraduate, Honours and Masters Degree

A R15 000 minimum deposit will be required upon acceptance of a place on the programme

Financial Assistance - https://www.wits.ac.za/internationalstudents/financial-information/

Words from our Alumni

Dr pulane modiha.

A very rewarding and demanding experience that provided a rare opportunity to thoroughly research the topic of executive management.

Nomusa Mazonde

Passing my PhD and graduating was a defining and memorable moment for me. A great sense of accomplishment, it was both the ‘Mama, I did it’ feeling and the ‘coming of age’ feeling which came with the sudden realisation that I could do that and more.

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WBS is entitled to cancel or change the date of delivery of a programme without notice and for any reason without incurring any liability to individuals who have applied or are enrolled on the programme or any funders of such individuals (“participants” or “funders of participants”).

Without derogating from the aforesaid, and insofar as it possible, WBS will provide the participants or funders of the participants with 30 (thirty days) days written notice of any cancellation or changes in the dates of delivery of the programme. 

Insofar as the programme is cancelled or rescheduled prior to delivery of the programme then in that event the participants and funders of the participants will not be charged the full programme fees.

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This doctoral degree consists of a large research project, supervised by a senior academic, culminating in a thesis. The thesis, based on independent research done by the student on an approved topic in the discipline, is written under the guidance of a supervisor. It is defended in an oral examination once the thesis is completed and submitted for examination.

Admission requirements:

An average of at least 70% in your masters studies is required. See more details via the programme link above.

Selection:​

Our selection process is based on a consideration of your research topic for the PhD, the availability of a suitable supervisor, and an evaluation of the theoretical and methodological expertise required to complete the study, coupled with an assessment of the extent to which candidates have demonstrated this expertise in the master’s dissertation.

Closing date: 

• We accept applications until 30 November. The academic year starts in February.
• Applications for international students close on 31 October. Students should endeavour to apply as soon as possible so as to have adequate time to arrange for the required visa’s. 

Application procedure: 

• Follow this link for an application form: https://www.up.ac.za/online-application
• A full academic transcript of all years of tertiary study at all institutions attended
• A four-page outline of your intended research topic for your doctoral study. Use the letter of intent format here . 
• An electronic copy of your master’s dissertation
• SAQA accreditation (only applicable to International Students)
• (Please note, we do not require copies of your degree certificates at this point)
• Physical address: Student Services Centre, University of Pretoria, Corner Lynnwood and Roper Street, Hatfield, Pretoria.
• Postal address: Student Services Centre, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa.
• Once we receive your application, your application will serve before the departmental postgraduate committee for consideration. If you meet the minimum requirements, and have submitted all the required documents, your application will be considered by the postgraduate committee. If your application meets our criteria, and if we have a suitable person who can supervise your study, you will be invited for an interview.  (In some cases, we may be able to arrange a telephonic interview).
• The Department of Sociology conducts postgraduate interviews in the last week of October, November and January. 
• If you want to check that your application has been received by the Student Services Centre, please contact: +27 (0)12 420 4111 or [email protected]
• If you want to track the progress of your application in the  Sociology department, please contact Dr Neo Mohlabane at [email protected] . 

More information:

If you need additional information contact  Dr Neo Mohlabane at  [email protected] . 

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

I am an international student. I have been told that I need a SAQA certificate. Why do I need this and how do I go about acquiring it? A SAQA certificate is issued by the South African Qualifications Authority. Such a certificate certifies each of the thousands of international qualifications that exist and interprets these in relation to the South African qualifications framework. It is, therefore, necessary to obtain such a certificate to ensure that applicants are given access to the correct level of study. SAQA certification can be obtained online or by hard copy submission. Details can be found on the South African Qualification Authority’s website: http://www.saqa.org.za/index.php I need a bursary. Can you assist? For more details: https://www.up.ac.za/postgraduate-study-and-research .

What are the possibilities for a tutorship appointment or part-time work in the department? We do have a tutor programme in our department and we welcome applications. The availability of positions depends on funding. Once you have received confirmation that you have been accepted into the programme, please indicate to us that you are interested in a tutorship, student assistant work or general part-time work.

I am nervous about the interview. What can I expect to be asked and how should I prepare? Interviews are generally quite informal. Expect to meet between three and four staff members. We use the interview as an opportunity to get to know you better. What we would like to know from you, in particular, is what makes you interested in pursuing postgraduate studies in your chosen field. We would also like to get a sense of your undergraduate and postgraduate training. What did you learn? Which of the courses did you enjoy most?;  Why is that? What is your theoretical orientation? What have been the key debates in the fields in which your master’s studies were located? Because the doctoral programme requires of students to do independent research, we would like to talk to you about your interests and the particular topics or themes that you are interested in researching. Finally, the interview provides you with the opportunity to get to know the department and some of the teaching staff. It is also a good place to find out if what the programme offers matches your expectations.

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PhD in Psychology

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This is a research doctoral degree, by dissertation only. Students develop their own research topic in conjunction with a supervisor, conduct the research and then write a dissertation of no more than 80 000 words.

This degree does not lead to registration as a Psychologist with the Professional Board for Psychology.

Admission requirements

Faculty Rules FDA1-FDA6, as listed in the Faculty of Humanities Postgraduate Handbook , apply.

Applicants must have completed a master’s degree in the Social Sciences, Humanities or cognate discipline. The degree must have been completed with an overall average result of no less than 70%.

Preference will be given to students who plan to conduct research in areas currently undertaken by academic staff in the department.

Applicants must have the required background and submit an acceptable research proposal for which supervision is available.

Research degrees are encouraged where the field of research is clearly defined, the student wishes to concentrate on a specific research topic and has demonstrated the ability to do so.

The availability and willingness of a supervisor will be a key factor in admitting a student for PhD study. Please look carefully at the list of staff in our department, and their research interests.

Application procedure

The first step in the process is to find a supervisor, and to obtain agreement from the supervisor regarding supervision of the research for the degree. When attempting to find a supervisor in the department, applicants are advised to submit a short (5 – 8 page) research proposal to staff members.

The next step, after securing a supervisor is to write to the PhD Convenor, Professor Floretta Boonzaier  with proof of agreement from a supervisor, the brief research proposal, Full Trancript, MA Degree certificate, letter of motivation, CV and two references letters. This application will be considered by a Departmental Committee.

Applicants must, at the same time also apply to the university for the degree.

Please apply through the Admissions office via this link:

https://applyonline.uct.ac.za/psc/onapplic/EMPLOYEE/HRMS/c/UCT_PUBLIC_MENU.UCT_SS_APPL.GBL?FolderPath=PORTAL_ROOT_OBJECT.UCT_SS_APPL_GBL&IsFolder=false&IgnoreParamTempl=FolderPath%2cIsFolder&

Note that there is no closing date for PhD applications, although you must indicate the year in which you wish to commence your studies.

For any additional queries please contact Mia Karriem. Her contact details are [email protected]  / 021 650 3438.

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The Doctorate programme will develop high-level research capability in candidates to make a significant and original academic or professional contribution at the frontiers of business, management and related fields.

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PhD in Nursing & Midwifery

The degree provides the opportunity for a candidate to undertake independent research and advanced study under the guidance of a supervisor, building on previous knowledge gained in a particular subject area at Masters level. The thesis presented must constitute a substantial contribution to knowledge in the chosen subject and may embody only the original work of the candidate.

The programme is designed to enable students to acquire both methodological sophistication and substantive knowledge appropriate to a discipline. The PhD programme is designed to encourage the study of substantive concerns, methodological approaches, and research and communication skills necessary either for employment or for further independent research.

The proposed research should fall into the research focus areas of the Division of Nursing and Midwifery.

Selection criteria

• A recognised Masters degree in Nursing, Midwifery or a related discipline
• Registration as a professional nurse
• A suitable concept document – see here for guidelines
• Proposed research should be within the Division’s Research Focus areas

A minimum of two years full time study.

Research setting

• Research may be undertaken in South Africa or in the country of an international candidate.
• If an international candidate wishes to conduct clinical research in South Africa, they will need to be registered as a nurse and/or midwife (as appropriate) with the South African Nursing Council.

Research approval

• Research studies may not commence until the Faculty of Health Sciences Human Research Ethics Committee approval is granted, and the necessary permissions from research settings / institutions.
• In the case of international students, in addition to UCT research ethics approval, they will need to get research ethics approval from a local (in-country) higher education or research institution, as required by the country concerned.

Study PHD in South Africa 2024

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• South African student visa (formerly called a South African study permit)
• South African exchange visa - If you are older than 25 years and want to come to South Africa on a cultural, economic, or social exchange program, organized between an educational institution or government body in South Africa and one in a foreign country.

What type of Visa do you need?

South African student visa; South African exchange visa

Price and currency

The South African student visa application fees depend on your country of origin but are around US$47.

Who can apply for the visa?

An international student who wants to stay and study in South Africa for a course extending 3 months (90 days) duration will have to apply for a student visa. This visa is granted to those students who have already been accepted for admission by a recognized educational institute in South Africa.

In order to qualify for a study visa for South Africa, the school or college itself must first qualify as a ‘learning institution’. This means it must be registered with either the Department of Basic Education or the Department of Higher Education. So if you want to attend a private language school or a school only offering short-term technical courses, you may not qualify for a South African study visa.

Please note: You cannot come to South Africa on a visitor’s visa and then proceed to apply for a South African student visa. You cannot come to South Africa on a visitor’s visa and then proceed to apply for a South African student visa.

Where can you make the application?

South African High Commission, Consulate, or Embassy

To get a visa for South Africa, students must contact the South African High Commission, Consulate, or Embassy in their country of residence.

How to make the application?

First, you need to get accepted as a student by a registered South African school, college, or university and receive a letter of acceptance on the institution’s letterhead and signed by or on behalf of the principal or registrar.

You then need to complete the temporary residence permit application form B1-1738 and take it in person to the South African embassy, consulate, or high commission in your home country.

The following documents must be submitted with the BI-1738 application form:

• A passport valid for no less than 30 days after the expiry of the intended visit
• Payment of the prescribed fee
• A vaccination certificate, if required by the Act
• Proof of financial means to cover envisaged living expenses during the sojourn in the Republic and to also pay for the tuition fees. This should be in the form of bank statements / cash available / travelers’ cheques
• Proof of medical cover
• A cash deposit equivalent to the value of a return ticket.
• In the case of African students, an undertaking from the relevant government to take full responsibility of the student and to pay all costs, should it become necessary to deport the student
• Medical and radiology reports
• An unabridged birth certificate in the case of minors.
• In the case of a minor, the particulars of the person in the Republic of South Africa who will act as the learner’s guardian and a letter from such person confirming guardianship
• Consent from both parents for your stay in South Africa, or from the parent who has sole custody, along with proof of sole custody
• An official letter from the educational institution, where you intend to study, confirming provisional acceptance and the duration of the course.
• Proof of medical cover renewed annually for the period of study with a medical scheme registered in terms of the Medical Schemes Act.
• If you are 18 years and older, a police clearance certificate from each country in which you resided for 12 months or longer since the age of 18 years is required.

You apply for an exchange permit (South African exchange visa) using the same application form B1-1738.

When should you apply?

Application process times vary from country to country but allow about six weeks.

The student visa is valid for the entire duration of the student’s course, alternatively 36 months for schools and 24 months for other institutions.

South African exchange visa - this visa is granted for the duration of the exchange, usually not more than 12 months. The South African exchange visa cannot be renewed or extended. Once you have had this type of permit, you may only apply for a temporary or permanent residence permit after you have lived for at least a year outside of South Africa.

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Work opportunities

If you hold a South African student visa and are studying at tertiary level, you are allowed to work part-time for no more than 20 hours a week during term-time, and full-time during vacations.

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Why do you need this type of visa?

There are numerous reasons why your student visa application to South Africa may be denied, such as:

• Leaving blanks on your forms
• Lying about anything in your application
• Having an out-of-date passport with no blank pages
• Misspelling your name on documents
• Not providing evidence of enough funds

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PhD in Data Science

Faculty Website:    Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment Department:  Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering Science Programme Level: Postgraduate Programme Name:  PhD in Data Science Programme Code: P6DS2Q

Medium of Facilitation: part-time, Full-Time NQF Level:  10 NQF Credits:  360 SAQA:  96969

Application Start Date : 1 April 2024 Application End Date: 14 March 2025

Campus:  Auckland Park Kingsway

Contacts: UJ Call Centre 011 559-4555 Email: [email protected]

Duration of Study:  2 Years Full-Time and 5 Years Part-Time

Programme Fees

The purpose of the qualification is to develop an engineer with advanced abilities in applying fundamental data science and analysis technologies/techniques and related principles independently to specific problems of society at large. One of the main objectives in this process is to develop an advanced capability to conduct fundamental data science related research of an original nature. It also promotes a lifelong learning approach and an aptitude for training other students in similar fields.

Admission Requirements

An approved master’s degree in Engineering or a similar approved degree at master’s level.

Selection Process

Final admission to the programme will only be granted upon successful presentation of a research seminar six months after enrolment. Research topics must also be accepted and approved by the supervisors in the Faculty and finally by the Senate or Executive Committee of the Senate of the University.

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South African universities need to rethink how they evaluate research: social impact counts too

Lecturer, University of Cape Town

Disclosure statement

Andiswa Mfengu received funding from the National Research Foundation Black Academics Advancement Programme.

University of Cape Town provides funding as a partner of The Conversation AFRICA.

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There are many ways university researchers can share their work. Some of these methods are well-established in academia: people write journal articles, book chapters and entire books; they present papers at academic conferences. Other approaches are less traditional – writing blogs and opinion pieces, or producing creative works like theatre performances, documentaries and more.

Earlier in my career, while working as a research librarian at the University of Cape Town (UCT) in South Africa, I noticed that researchers who preferred those less traditional methods were viewed by university administrators and other academics as “less productive” than their peers.

That’s because universities and funding agencies depend on quantitative approaches and traditional outputs to measure research impact. For instance, they want to know how many journal articles you’ve published and how many times an article has been cited or referred to by other scholars. A journal’s impact factor is particularly important. This refers to the average number of citations to research articles in that journal over the preceding two years. It is viewed as an indicator of the journal’s relative importance when compared with others in the same field.

The greater a researcher’s impact, the better their chances are of securing research grants, being promoted or receiving institutional excellence awards. Universities’ own funding also relies to some extent on publications – they receive research publication subsidies from the Department of Higher Education and Training. The more “productive” its academics, the higher its subsidy allocations.

But these quantitative indicators fall short of recognising and rewarding the many aspects on which a healthy scholarly ecosystem depends. They don’t, for instance, capture how a researcher’s work is producing change at local, community or societal levels.

Globally, there has been a drive in the past decade to prioritise the societal impact of research. Several global scholarly initiatives , among them the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment ( DORA ), advocate for the elimination of journal-based measures in favour of evaluating research qualitatively.

However, in South Africa and a number of other countries on the African continent like Egypt, Kenya and Nigeria, universities tend to rely on indirect, quantitative measures. There are some measures of and awards given to research related to societal impact . But these are few and far between. Overall, assessments are still heavily weighted towards the more traditional impacts.

In a recent paper with my PhD supervisor Professor Jaya Raju, I explored the shortcomings of quantitative assessment measures. We distributed questionnaires and interviewed researchers and staff at UCT to see what they believed should be done differently.

Based on our findings, we argue that universities cannot meaningfully contribute to social issues unless they rethink how they evaluate researchers. In the current system researchers are pushed to prioritise research publications over anything related to societal impact. Public institutions and their researchers are funded by taxpayers’ money. They have a responsibility to contribute to addressing societal problems. Part of the way this can happen is by embracing responsible, responsive, socially-focused research evaluation systems.

Key challenges

We identified three key challenges with quantitative measures.

The first relates to how these measures affect researchers’ behaviour. By focusing on certain metrics like number of publications or journals’ impact factors, universities push researchers to “ publish or perish ”. This leaves them with less time for more socially-focused research.

Read more: Pressure to publish is choking the academic profession

The second challenge is discipline coverage and global south representation. Academia is dominated by publishers located in wealthier countries, particularly in the northern hemisphere. Journals also tend to focus on natural sciences disciplines. Research has shown that humanities, arts other social science disciplines are less represented in academic databases than the natural and hard sciences.

Moreover, publishers tend to show a bias towards global north journals and English publications. This means that African scholarship remains largely hidden: a 2023 study showed that, of the 2,229 African journals that exist, only 7.4% were featured in Web of Science and 7.8% in Scopus databases. This is a problem when research assessment systems prioritise quantitative approaches and traditional outputs – a lack of visibility in big journals and databases means researchers may be seen as “unproductive” when they are anything but.

Read more: It's time to redraw the world's very unequal knowledge map

The third challenge is that the data underlying these quantitative measures is open to misinterpretation and misuse. It has been shown that journal impact factors can be manipulated or inflated .

Shifting paradigms

I spoke with researchers in various faculties and at different stages in their careers who expressed their frustrations with the current evaluation model. One told me:

Current evaluation systems privilege researchers who have no responsibility outside of themselves and their institution … it privileges researchers and not people (who are also researchers) trying to change unjust systems or think about alternative systems.

Many of my interviewees felt there was no room in current research evaluation practices for paradigm-shifting thinking – the sort that would give researchers the space to show the impact of their research activities through qualitative indicators. Impact case studies are one example. These are evidence-based stories about the difference the research has made to the real world.

What can be done

We’re not suggesting that all quantitative measures should be set aside. Instead, they should be combined with both established and emerging qualitative indicators. Doing so can contribute to more inclusive, equitable research evaluation systems.

For instance, we recommend that universities in South Africa adopt context-sensitive and responsible indicators . An example would be using median or normalised citation scores rather than journal impact factors to measure researchers’ output.

Similarly, university leaders, policymakers and funders need to advocate for and support context-sensitive responsible indicators in research evaluation. Higher education leaders, funders and policymakers also have a role to play. By collaborating at a national level, they can initiate and support the reform of research evaluation.

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2024 Vice-Chancellor's Research Fellowships

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Accountancy

Increase your knowledge of selected areas of Accounting and Finance. This programme is typically aimed at Mcom graduates.

The PhD is awarded on the basis of a thesis only.  This thesis must constitute a substantial contribution to the advancement of new knowledge in the subject chosen as such, the degree demands the capacity to pursue independent research and analysis at the highest level.  

Entry Requirements

Doctorate: 

• A masters degree or an equivalent qualification from Wits University or another university.
• A supervisor from the Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management must be identified and approached prior to application.

In order to be registered for the degree, it is necessary to prepare an initial research proposal (typically 2 000 - 3 000 words)  This proposal should clearly delineate the research problem, indicate the literature to be reviewed and present ideas on the methodology to be pursued. In addition, the contribution to knowledge of the research should be argued. This initial proposal will be scrutinized for suitability and a willing and able supervisor sought. After an initial review, the Higher Degrees Committee of the Faculty will inform the student whether he/she will proceed with the research.

University Application Process

• Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC) . Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment.  Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
• Please apply online . Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal .
• Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the  Self Service Portal .
• Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students , please check this section .

For more information,  contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits .

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here . Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities.  NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies.  External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.