Doctoral Degree in Management Sciences at Central University of Technology, Free State

Entry requirements

Admission to our doctoral programmes is highly competitive. The minimum requirements vary slightly depending on whether you are applying for a Professional Doctorate or a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Minimum Prior Qualification: A cognate 180-credit NQF Level 9 qualification, specifically: A coursework Master’s degree including a mini-dissertation, OR: A research-only Master’s degree. Required Academic Performance: Professional Doctorates (DBA, DHM, DMktg, DPubM): Minimum 65% average at Master’s level. (Note: DBA applicants specifically require a minimum of 5 years’ managerial/professional experience). PhD in Management Sciences: Research-only Master’s: Minimum 60% average. Coursework Master’s: Minimum 65% average AND no less than 70% in the mini-dissertation. Experience Exception: Candidates falling short of these thresholds by not more than 5%, but with over 5 years of managerial experience, may be considered subject to a suitability interview. Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL): Available for applicants who do not meet the minimum academic requirements, provided they can present a suitable research project. Programme Regulations & The Research Process: Degree Type & Duration: These are research-intensive doctoral qualifications (180 SAQA credits, NQF Level 10). Duration is 2–6 years (full-time) for the PhD, and 2–5 years (full-time) or 3–5 years (part-time) for the professional doctorates. Provisional Admission & Proposal Development: Provisionally admitted students are given a maximum of 6 months (full-time) or 12 months (part-time) to prepare a research proposal. During this period, they are exposed to three optional research modules (A, B, and C) in a seminar format. Two-Tier Approval Process: The research proposal must first be accepted by the Departmental Research and Innovation Committee (DRIC) for formal registration. Subsequently, it must be approved by the Faculty Research and Innovation Committee (FRIC) before the student may proceed with the empirical study. Termination of Admission: Failure to fulfil the proposal submission conditions within the allotted time may lead to the termination of provisional admission, unless an acceptable extenuating motivation is provided (in which case, one final extension period may be granted). Graduation: After successful completion and examination of the thesis, the appropriate doctoral degree will be awarded during an official graduation ceremony of CUT.