SOAS-Wits joint PhD in Applied Development Economics at University of the Witwatersrand

Programme overview

Research in heterodox economics or political economy with a focus on Africa, jointly supervised by SOAS and Wits. Upon successful completion of the programme, students will be awarded a single co-badged certificate conferred by both SOAS and Wits. The joint PhD between SOAS and Wits will push boundaries of heterodox economics or political economy by anchoring the analysis explicitly in African realities and confronting particular conceptual frames with emerging empirical evidence. Whether they focus on a micro or macro object, the research projects will have in common a systemic and historic analysis, taking into account, as appropriate, intersecting social relations, mutations of the state

Faculty: Commerce, Law and Management | Department: Economics and Finance | Duration: 3 years | Study mode: full-time | Location: Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa

What you will study

The programme seeks candidates interested in conducting doctoral research on one of the following areas/projects: SOAS-Wits Joint PhD Programme 2026-27 Project 1: Contemporary Capitalist Development in the Global South This supervision theme invites PhD proposals on the broad question of capitalist development in the Global South, with particular focus on South Africa and/or India/South Asia. A ce

Career pathways

Graduates of this programme will leave with a solid grounding in technical and statistical skills, research methods and data collection and an ability to think laterally, take a global perspective, and employ critical reasoning with a detailed insight into the context of African countries.

Official programme page

Application information

Entry requirements

Students will need to apply to both institutions via each institution's website by 31 May. For details on how to apply to SOAS, see the how to apply pages. Students will need to meet entry requirements of both institutions. For SOAS, this is a "good" Masters degree in (development) economics or any relevant discipline and a reference. For Wits, this is a Masters in Economics or in Applied Development Economics or any other suitable background. As part of the application process, students will be asked to indicate either SOAS or Wits as their ‘home institution’. This is the institution where students will physically enrol and be based at for the duration of the PhD. International Mobility All students will be offered the opportunity to undertake international mobility to and from SOAS or Wits during the PhD, however it is not mandatory to complete this programme. PhD applicants are requir

Tuition is charged per module, so the total depends on the modules you register for each year. Current fees are listed in the official fee schedule.

Research and PhD applicants must approach the relevant school or department to discuss the research topic and availability of a supervisor before applying.

Postgraduate applications are made online at www.wits.ac.za/applications; the closing date for each programme is listed in its course finder entry. The application fee is R200 (not payable by current Wits students applying online), paid via the Self-Service Portal or by EFT to the Wits University Application Fees account at FNB.

Apply through the official page: https://www.wits.ac.za/applications

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