Doctor of Philosophy

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.

It is very important to align your desired research interests with the strategic research disciplines in the Wits Business School.  In this way the deepest research insights can be achieved, and the overall experience will be stimulating.

The key strategic disciplinary areas offered by the School are (in alphabetical order):

• African philanthropy and social investment, and specifically:
  • The study of real social, cultural, political and economic insights in into African philanthropy and social investment across the continent
  • For more information visit: https://www.capsi.wits.ac.za/
• Digital business, and specifically:
  • Digital strategy, AI, innovation and entrepreneurship 
  • Technology management, operations management, industrial engineering
  • Digital transformation, leadership, and digital business models in an AI context
  • Systems thinking and AI in the digital era
  • Statistical machine learning & applied data analytics for digital business and sustainability
• Energy Leadership, and specifically:
  • Energy innovation transitions and decarbonisation strategies (renewables, hydrogen, nuclear as part of the energy mix)
  • Energy policy, regulation, and governance 
  • Sustainability and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) in the public and private sectors
  • Energy infrastructure, projects, green financing, and value chains rationale 
  • Behavioural sciences and leadership in energy transitions 
  • For more information visit: https://africanenergycentre.ac.za/about-us/
• Entrepreneurship, innovation and strategy, and specifically:
  • Developing models with predictive value on the sustainability-entrepreneurship- performance relationship
  • Examining primary drivers of sustainable entrepreneurship and their societal impacts in African contexts
  • Developing recognized metrics language to facilitate sustainable performance analysis in African context
  • Developing theories for enterprise development and social entrepreneurship which emphasise the creation of economic and social value
  • Examining institutions as a predictor for sustainable entrepreneurial success and the importance of institutions in relation to geographical locations
• Finance and economics, and specifically:
  • Sovereign AI & decentralised finance
  • G-wallet & digital sovereignty infrastructure
  • Commodity-backed currencies & natural capital economics
  • Infrastructure finance & trade architecture
  • Macro-financial modelling & policy simulation
• Management, and specifically:
  • African socio-economic development 
  • Transformation in organisations: gender, race, identity, and inequalities
  • Ethical leadership and organisational conduct
  • Leadership in private and public sector settings
  • Employee engagement and organisational behaviour
  • Consumer behaviour in emerging markets
  • Digital marketing, social marketing, and technology-driven consumption
  • Green marketing and sustainability-oriented consumption

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

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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/
• 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.

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