Program Overview

Introduction to the Doctor of Philosophy Program

The Doctor of Philosophy program is designed to facilitate highly specialized knowledge, specific skills, and applied competencies in the development of a specific discipline. The primary purpose of this qualification is to enable graduates to contribute to personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity, and valuable contributions to society.

Purpose Statement

The purpose of the Doctor of Philosophy program is threefold:

• To facilitate D Phil graduates in using their highly specialized knowledge, specific skills, and applied competencies in the development of the specific discipline for continued personal intellectual growth, gainful economic activity, and valuable contributions to society.
• To provide South Africa (and other countries) with specialists in the discipline in order to ensure that the leadership base of innovative and knowledge-based economic and scholarly activity is widened.
• To provide South Africa (and other countries) with intellectual leaders.

Qualification Details

• Qualification stream: Statistics Education
• Qualification code: 90040 - STA
• Qualification type: Full Research
• NQF level: 10
• Total credits: 360
• SAQA ID: 5471

Admission Requirements

Admission to the Doctor of Philosophy program requires:

• An appropriate master's degree on NQF level 9 with an average of 60% in the discipline that a student wishes to do their research.
• All students with foreign qualifications, including those with qualifications from African countries, must have their qualifications evaluated at SAQA.
• Applicants must first contact the relevant academic department and the potential supervisor.
• Topics and supervisors appear in the CSET M&D; admissions policy document.
• Acceptance is based on viability of the intended research and available supervisory capacity.
• Competitive positions are filled on the basis of an approved selection procedure aligned with Unisa's policies on equality and diversity.
• Applicants need to demonstrate adequate mastery of academic English (TOEFL minimum score of 88 for the Internet-based test or a minimum score of 570 for the paper-based test or completion of prior degrees at a university where English is the prime language of instruction).
• Adequate exposure to appropriate research methods and methodologies in previous qualifications is required.
• Residency requirements apply for applicants who need to do laboratory work.
• Applicants with degree structures that are different from South African degrees or with applicable experience that may be relevant for admission will be required to apply for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL).
• Applicants who would like to apply for admission through recognition of prior learning (RPL) must be at least 40 years old; and have at least five years' relevant work and research experience in the study field in which they would like to apply for admission to a qualification.

Time Limits for the Degree

• A student registered for a research doctoral programme must complete the study programme within six years.
• A student may make application to the Registrar for one additional year of study who will only consider the application if it is recommended by the Executive Dean of the College in which the student is registered.

Doctoral Degree

A doctoral degree will require you to undertake research at the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis. Coursework may be required as preparation or value addition to the research, but does not contribute to the credit value of the qualification. The defining characteristic of this qualification is that you will be required to demonstrate high-level research capability and make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of the discipline or field. This work must be of a quality to satisfy peer review and merit publication.

Research Focus Areas

Research focus areas for the College of Science, Engineering and Technology include:

• Marine studies
• Aviation and aeronautical studies
• Automotive
• Energy
• Space study and square kilometre array
• Fourth IR and digitalisation
• Natural sciences (biotechnological studies)
• Health studies/medicine
• Feminist, womanist and bosadi theorisations
• Student support and co-curricular activities

Research Outline

The research outline should include:

• Title
• Summary of topic
• Short literature review
• Expected contribution of the study
• Methodology to be followed
• Availability of the data
• List of references
• Reasons why you are interested in the topic The research outline must align with one of the departmental research focus areas and should strive to incorporate at least one of the Catalytic Niche Areas (CNAs).

Student Fees and Funding Your Studies

• Application fee: R150,00
• Student fees: Available on the Unisa website
• Funding opportunities: Available on the Unisa website

Application for Admission

Applications for master's and doctoral qualifications are open until 19 December 2025 (some exceptions apply).

Registration

Only students whose application for admission was approved and re-registering students (who made sufficient progress during the current academic year) will be allowed to register online within the approved registration period for the 2026 academic year.

Curriculum

Registration and curriculum information is available on the Unisa website.