DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY SPECIALISING IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

If you have enquired about the programme, you will receive an email with a unique link to your personal application portal. Click on ‘start your application now’ in the email you have received to begin.

The first pre-application step will include the following screens:
1. Personal information – tell us more about yourself
2. Master’s Dissertation – Share your previous Master’s
dissertation via URL
3. File uploads - upload all files as detailed below
4. Statement of integrity - assurance that all information has been
provided truthfully, and confirmation that you have completed
this step. 

PREVIOUS MASTERS DISSERTATION
Applicants to the PhD programme are usually expected to have graduated from a relevant Master’s programme.  When you submit your programme application, please share your previous research with us.

The link to your Master’s Research Report dissertation and mark obtained (you need to have graduated at the time of registration) will be required.

MOTIVATION ESSAYS
To help you prepare, please see guidelines for your essays

• Please write clearly and openly about yourself.
• Give examples where useful.
• Each motivation should be a minimum of 300 words and a maximum of 400 words.

Motivation Questions

• Motivation for wanting to complete a PhD - tell us about your research background, and why you want to pursue a PHD.
• Motivation for wanting to complete a PhD at the GSB - tell us why the UCT GSB is the best place to pursue your PHD
• Motivation for proposed supervisors - provide the names of your 1st and 2nd choice supervisors, with justification for why you think they're a good fit. (NB: Please do not contact the supervisor at this stage. Potential supervisors and their areas of research interest are available on the faculty page)

PRELIMINARY RESEARCH PROPOSAL
Applicants to the UCT GSB PhD programme are required to prepare a preliminary research proposal. Your preliminary proposal should be approximately 5 pages in length or 2 500 words. The purpose of the proposal is to make a case for the research to be undertaken. 

It will need to show that:

• the applicant has the ability to identify a pertinent research question,
• has at least an initial grasp of the relevant literature,
• and has some of the necessary competencies in research methodology and practice that are required for the completion of an independent study research degree. 

The proposal should include (not necessarily in the following order):

• An abstract of 100 words
• An outline of the essential background literature
• The rationale of the proposed research, with reference to the intended practical and theoretical contributions
• The key question(s) to be addressed and the main objectives of the research
• The approach to be taken in doing the project, including a preliminary outline of the proposed research design and data generation and analysis methods
• References

PREPARE YOUR DOCUMENTS FOR FILE UPLOAD

• Certified copy of SA ID (or passport for international applicants)*
• Certified copy of previous academic transcript(s)*
• Certified copy of degree certificate(s)*
• Proof of English language proficiency for international applicants (This is required if you are not a native English speaker or if previous schooling was not in English)
• All motivations as described above (ideally in PDF or MS Word.doc format).
• Preferred Supervisors Form (Do not initiate contact with any supervisor yet. You will receive communication when and how to do so.)

*NB: Please make sure you are uploading CERTIFIED copies of the required documentation
Once you have completed this stage, your pre-application will be screened by the PhD Admissions Board to assess your fit for the programme. Should your application appear to meet all requirements, you will be invited to complete step 2.

A formal supervision request to PhD supervisor board is required.
Please note: You can only proceed to this step once you have successfully made it through Step 1 above.

Prospective applicants who have met all necessary requirements will receive an email indicating that the screening process is complete. 

At this stage, a formal supervision request to the PhD supervisor board is required. The template for this request will be provided by email.
Kindly upload the supervision approval form via the application portal link provided. 

The PhD supervisor board will communicate with your suggested supervisors on your behalf. Please do contact the supervisors directly.

The admissions team will now continue with the assessment of your application. 

Please note that even if your supervisor request has been approved by the PhD supervisor board, final acceptance to the program is still subject to selection committee assessment. If neither supervisor approves your request for supervision, we do encourage you to continue working on your research and to submit another application in the next academic year.

Create your official UCT student record

Before proceeding with your UCT Central application submission, please ensure you have:

• Completed the pre-application in Step 1 above.
• Confirmed your nominated supervisor with the UCT GSB Research Office, and have received feedback that the requested supervisor has capacity to supervise you.
• Completed your preliminary research proposal in accordance with the guidelines provided. 

When completing the "Programme of Study" section, please select the following:

• Select 2024 academic year
• Level of Qualification: Doctoral
• Faculty: Commerce
• Academic Qualification: Doctor of Philosophy GSB plan
• Specialisation: Business Administration

Applicants must complete the online application and upload all the required documents. Please retain a copy of all submitted documents.

This covers the administrative costs of your application

Application fees are non-refundable. Paying an application fee does not mean that your application will be successful.

South African and SADC applicants	R100
Applicants from all other countries	R100