PhD

Course Description:

Join top candidates from across the continent, participate in rich cultural and social debates and realise the vastness of the knowledge domains you can master by developing your learning and research skills.

Course basics:

Duration:
2-years full-time and 4-years part-time

Qualification:
PhD

Study mode:

Academic category:
Research degree

Core Courses:

Academic Research with compulsory Proposal and Research Writing Support Seminars.

Choose the WBS PhD programme and choose to be part of an incredible group of innovators and new thinkers emerging from the African continent.

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:

  • Strategy
  • Methodological Issues
  • Business & Society
  • Decision Sciences
  • Finance
  • Marketing
  • Organisational behaviour & diversity management
  • Energy Leadership
  • Digital Business
  • Philanthropy and Social Investment in Africa
    • 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:

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

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  • 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/  (parts 1&2)
  • Complete the Application Qualification Assessment Form
  • Motivation letter
  • CV
  • A 12-pager proposal
  • Certified academic transcripts/records - Undergraduate, Honours and Masters Degree
  • Certified academic certificates - Undergraduate, Honours and Masters Degree

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Application Closing date: 31 October 2023

Document Downloads

2023 PhD Guideline Document
2020 WBS PLAGIARISM POLICY APPENDIX 1_PhD.docx

Financial Assistance - https://www.wits.ac.za/internationalstudents/financial-information/how-to-pay/
University Rules and Regulations - https://www.wits.ac.za/students/academic-matters/rules-and-syllabuses/
Financial Assistance - https://www.wits.ac.za/study-at-wits/fees-and-funding/

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

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