Doctoral Studies

Candidates are awarded a PhD after a minimum residence of two years. Degrees are awarded on the basis of independent research culminating in a thesis which represents an original contribution in the selected field. 

The research for the doctoral thesis is undertaken under the supervision of a supervisor (promoter) appointed by the university on the recommendation of the department. The supervisor may be assisted by other faculty members, depending on the nature of the research guidance required. It is recommended that prospective candidates familiarise themselves with the research interests of faculty members before submitting an application (https://www.ekon.sun.ac.za/staff).

Applicants must have completed a Masters degree in Economics, with evidence of having passed accredited Masters-level courses in Macroeconomics, Microeconomics and Econometrics.

All PhD applicants must complete a formal application on the university's Prospective Postgraduate Student website (www.sun.ac.za/pgstudies). Applicants should submit a preliminary and original research concept note at the time of application. The concept proposal is used to match students with the interests and expertise of potential supervisors. Concept proposals with evidence of plagiarism will not be considered. Please note that acceptance is dependent on the department's current supervision capacity for the research question proposed by the applicant. Those applicants that have been provisionally accepted and connected to a supervisor, are requested to develop a fully developed written proposal that must also be orally presented to a departmental admissions panel who make a recommendation to the faculty board. Students may register for the PhD programme once they receive approval to do so from the faculty board.

Please contact Prof Dieter von Fintel (dieter2@sun.ac.za) from the Department of Economics for more information.