Doctorates

Doctor of Philosophy

The Degree of Doctor of Philosophy is a research degree, normally obtainable after admission to a masters degree. A candidate may proceed through any of the faculties of the University in accordance with the rules and those of the faculty concerned. It is not essential for a candidate to proceed through the faculty in which he/she obtained his/her bachelors degree. When considering an application for registration for the degree of PhD the Senate will be guided by the following as being appropriate admission requirements:

(a) a recognised masters degree: or
(b) a recognised honours bachelors degree, or a recognised four-year bachelors degree, plus at least one years registration for an approved masters degree: or
(c) a recognised three-year bachelors degree plus at least two years registration for an approved masters degree: or
(d) a recognised MBChB, LLB, BProc or BArch degree or any qualification recognised by the Senate as being equivalent: or
(e) in special circumstances, at the discretion of the Senate, an approved bachelors degree or qualification recognised by the Senate as equivalent.

A candidate for the PhD degree must be registered for at least 2 years for the degree. Before a person may be registered for the degree his/her candidature must be approved by the Senate on the recommendation of the board of the faculty and the head of the department concerned. An applicant must give such evidence of his/her qualifications and attainments and complete such preliminary work as the Senate may require, and must satisfy the Senate as to the suitability of his/her subject and programme of research and as to the conditions under which the work will be carried out.

A person interested in applying to register as a PhD candidate in the Commerce Faculty should contact the relevant Head of Department to ascertain whether the Department would be prepared to support such application.

Collaborative PhD Programme in Economics

The Programme and Eligibility Requirements

The University of Cape Town offers a PhD economics programme that maximises both quality and relevance. Its distinguishing feature is the integration of theory, tools and African applications in the academic programme. The programme will include a high level of theory grounded in African empirical realities. The familiarity of the instructors with Africas economic issues and data limitations allows the areas of specialisation to be built around the evolving research agenda in the region. The programme is offered in collaboration with other universities in sub Saharan Africa and supported by the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) through donor funding.

The following areas of specialisation are currently offered at UCT.

• Development Economics
• Environmental Economics
• Health Economics
• International Economics
• Industrial Organisation
• Labour Economics, and
• Money and Banking.

Other elective courses that can be taken at the Joint Facility for Electives are Agricultural Economics, and Public Finance.

Candidates who posses the following qualifications are eligible to apply. A minimum of either a second class (upper division) bachelors degree and a conforming Masters degree in Economics, or a minimum of a second class (lower division) and a conforming Masters degree in Economics with distinction. A conforming Masters degree in Economics is any such qualification obtained from a programme with both a course work component and an external review process for the course examinations. The general structure of such a programme will normally involve successfully completing a masters level course work in the three core courses, microeconomic theory, macroeconomic theory and quantitative methods. Preferably, applicants will have also successfully completed a masters level course work in some area of specialisation in economics.