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Doctoral Protocol

THE DOCTORATE IN THE CENTRE FOR KNOWLEDGE DYNAMICS AND DECISION-MAKING
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The doctoral degree is the highest level of formal academic qualifications obtained in South Africa. It is a degree which awards only excellence, and for that reason Stellenbosch University does not grade doctoral degrees.

The doctoral dissertation is the outcome of an advanced research project in accordance with the standards set at level 10 which is the highest level in the National Qualifications Framework (Until 2009 it was designated as Level 8b). The dissertation is rigorously externally examined, with at least one examiner from abroad. The Centre offers the degree PhD.

A dissertation demonstrates the author’s independent ability to reason at the highest level, to excel in globally competitive scholarship and to perform creative research which extends the envelope of the body of knowledge. Doctoral dissertations contribute to the creation of new national capacities to perform properly in the global knowledge economy. A dissertation is, therefore, not merely a matter of more of the previous same.

In determining the topics of doctoral dissertations we take care to ensure that the scarce resources of money, time and expert knowledge are applied to issues and problems related to the nationally defined areas of scarce knowledge. The first beneficiary of a doctoral degree may be the researcher him- or herself, in particular in as much as the researcher develops intellectual excellence with a global reach during the research process. But such knowledge is per definition publicly mandated through the use of university facilities and state funding. The Centre will not allow topics which do not explicitly intend to enrich the quality of life of society at large, locally and globally.

THE ROUTE TO THE DOCTORATE

  1. The process starts when a prospective candidate for doctoral research in the Centre submits an extensive CV as well as a preliminary research proposal. The proposal shall not be shorter than 15 pages and shall explicate the research question in minutiae, indicate the intended method of research, and provide a clear overview of already established knowledge in the field.
  2. If the Centre finds the proposal promising, the prospective candidate is invited to study for two tentamena in which the candidate is examined by a panel of staff based on a prescribed list of reading material. This may easily take up to one year to complete.
  3. If the outcome of the examination is positive, the candidate will be invited to submit a formal proposal, which will be formulated in conjunction with the - then - assigned supervisor.
  4. Once the proposal is deemed academically acceptable it is submitted to the formal screening by Faculty prescribed committees. Only when the formal process has been satisfied, the candidate is invited to register for the PhD programme. The minimum registration period is 2 years and the credit weight is 360.
  5. The tentamena may be waived in part or in toto only for students who have completed a Masters degree in the Centre.
  6. The Centre will not consider applications of prospective candidates who have obtained less than 70 % for Masters theses at NQF level 9 (formerly 8a), or less than 75% for Mini Masters theses at NQF level 8 (formerly 7).
  7. The invitation to study for the two tentamena shall not be interpreted in any way as a guarantee of eventual registration. As the doctoral degree is a degree of excellence, a minimum of 75% must be achieved in the tentamena to come into consideration for registration.