northwest university south africa phd programs

NWU Business School

Phd in economic and management sciences with business administration.

The PhD programme of the NWU Business School is a research-based doctoral degree offered at NQF Level 10. As the African continent, today is presenting itself as a new business frontier with enormous potential for business opportunities and growth albeit its unique challenges to business leadership,  political risks, and infrastructure difficulties, it is critical for Business Schools across the continent to continually develop curricula that embody new ways of thinking and approaches that are unique to the development of African Scholars and relevant to the context given the diversity that exists in the continent.

Our PhD in Economic and Management Sciences with Business Administration programme follows a four-phase approach:

(a) a pre-doctoral workshop for conditional acceptance to the programme,

(b) a full proposal colloquium for unconditional admission into the programme,

(c) a methodology presentation colloquium, and

(d) results and findings colloquium and final thesis submission.

Minimum Requirements

• The research ability of the student must be to the satisfaction of the school director/scientific committee members and the director of the research area/unit.
• Students whose abilities in research methods are deemed not to be adequate by the school director/scientific committee members and research director will only be accepted into a PhD programme after successfully completing the Faculty’s short course in research methodology.
• The PhD in Economic and Management Sciences with Business Administration is a part-time programme and students are registered on a part-time basis after they have successfully defended their full research proposal in a colloquium and accepted by the Business School/Faculty
• A student must have a SAQA approved master’s/MBA degree or the status of a relevant and applicable master’s degree as approved by the Faculty’s board and senate at NQF Level 9.
• The study field must be approved by the relevant school director and research unit director.
• A student must have passed the research component (Research module) with a minimum of 65% and the Mini Dissertation with a minimum of 65% of the above-mentioned master' degree.
• In case the candidate did a master’s by dissertation only, the final mark of the overall degree average must be above 65%.
• The final number of conditional accepted applicants into our PhD programme for an academic year is influenced and guided by the number of PhD students who graduated in the previous year (e.g. if 10 graduated in 2020, then only 10 will be conditionally accepted for the 2021 academic year).

Estimated fees and are subject to change when finalised for 2024.

For any enquiries, please email Christine Bronkhorst

Important Dates

Applications for 2024 closes on 31 January 2024

Research Clusters

The NWU Business School consist of THREE  scientific committees. This forms the basis for focused research as well as integrated research. By doing this, we provide practical solutions with scientific contributions to the broader field of management.

General Management (GM) Scientific Committee is chaired by Prof Ronnie Lotriet

People Management (PM) Scientific Committee is chaired by Dr Ntseliseng Khumalo

Corporate Governance, Technology, Economics and Finances (CTEF) Scientific Committee is chaired by Prof Wedzerai Musvoto

Application Process

In order to apply for admission, a prospective student needs to complete an online application and submit all the required supporting documents as indicated in the Guidelines for applicants, namely a CV, a motivational letter, application fee, as well as certified copies of ID document, academic records and related certificates, also the Business School expect a PROPOSAL to be uploaded. Applications are only accepted in electronic format. Please ensure that all your documents are already in electronic format when you apply online to submit them electronically.

How to apply

Support staff

Research Chair: Prof Joseph Lekunze

Research Manager:   Christine Bronkhorst

Research Administrators:

Tebogo Tebejane

+27 18 299 4130

Sophy Mogorosi

+27 18 389 2827

Christie Munro

+27 18 285 2500

Postgraduate Studies

• Higher Degree Admissions
• Postgraduate studies at the NWU
• See guidelines for applying online

Brochure for masters and doctoral applicants

Field of study (master’s & doctoral qualification information)

How to apply for master's degree and doctoral studies

• Getting a student number/university number does not imply that the applicant has been accepted for the programme they applied for. A student number/university number is issued for administrative purposes only.
• All documents must be certified by a commissioner of oaths, attorney and/or university official.
• If any of your qualifications were obtained at any non-South African institution, an evaluation certificate as issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) must be submitted. Applicants can apply for the evaluation certificate from   SAQA .
• Please note that if any of the documents you have to submit were issued in your maiden name, you have to also submit a certified marriage certificate.
• Additional information may be required by the relevant faculty - please be sure to check field of study (master’s & doctoral qualification information) columns. faculty websites.

Apply as follows

Current NWU student (I just can’t get enough of the NWU!)

You can apply online for:

The following supporting documents should accompany your application form (SA citizens):

• A certified copy of your SA ID document (or your passport if you are an international student).
• Certified copies of academic transcripts of all qualifications obtained from other tertiary education institutions.
• Certified copies of all certificates/diplomas/degrees from other tertiary institutions.

I am an alumnus (former student) of the NWU (I want more of the NWU)

The following supporting documents should accompany your application form (SA citizens):

I am a new NWU applicant (I want to be a part of the NWU):  South African citizens

I am a new NWU applicant (I want to be a part of the NWU): International applicants

• All international students must pay the full amount for their proposed study and relevant costs in advance before registration can be finalised.
• Upon receipt of all the relevant documents, your application will be evaluated by the relevant faculty. Please note that it can take up to six months to process an application, however, postgraduate registrations are accepted up to the end of March of each year. The academic year at North-West University runs from January to December.
• A sworn statement or bank guarantee must be submitted to ensure that you have access to the necessary finances that will enable you to undertake your studies and to cover your living expenses for the full duration of your studies;
• Proof of medical cover for the duration of your studies at North-West University. The International Office will provide assistance if needed.
• Further guidelines

Apply here:

• A certified copy of your passport
• Certified copies of all academic transcripts, including final results of all qualifications obtained.
• Certified copies of all certificates/diplomas/degrees (An evaluation certificate as issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) must be submitted if your previous qualification was obtained in a foreign country. The evaluation certificate may be obtained by visiting the SAQA website www.saqa.org.za .)
• A certificate of conduct, as issued by the registrar of the university/college/technikon where you were (or are currently) registered.
• Prospective students from non-English speaking countries must submit a certificate of English language proficiency, either the TOEFL score sheet or results of the University of Cambridge International English Language Testing System. Students who completed their studies through an English-medium institution prior to submitting their application may apply in writing for exemption from the TOEFL test. Find the TOEFL test here: http://www.ets.org.toefl/ .
• Proof of payment of the application fee (non-refundable) of R550 for international students
• Account name:  NWU Online Registrations         
• Bank:  ABSA
• Account number:  4091691369           
• Branch code:  632-005
• NWU student number/university number  OR
• H + ID number if the applicant is a South African citizen e.g. H8401235057089  OR
• H + date of birth and surname if the applicant is not a South African citizen e.g. H840123Jacobs

After you’ve applied, verify your status here!

Nuclear Engineering

Doctoral degree (ph.d.) in nuclear engineering.

The Ph.D. is a pure research degree which follows on one of the Nuclear Masters degrees.

Some of the research topics that students can choose from are:

• Multiphysics Analysis
• Uncertainty Propagation
• Accident Tolerant Fuels
• Regulatory Research

The promoters that students can approach are found here .

For enrollment in the Ph.D. program or further information on the programme, please contact [email protected] .

Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management

• Environmental Sciences and Management

Doctoral Degree (PhD)

Last updated: January 2024

Faculty of Education

Postgraduate studies in education.

This faculty aims to be a leader in postgraduate training, support and exploring new approaches to training experts in the various areas in educational leadership. We offer specialised postgraduate training programmes which will ensure that students acquire the necessary knowledge, skills, values and motivation for further studies in education. We promote, coordinate and conduct scientific research into educational problems at all levels through prescribed training programmes, and we promote students who will demonstrate the ability to critique provincial, national and international practices and trends and their implications for national development.

Postgraduate Certificate in Education (PGCE)

(Qualification code for application: Full-time 4DC G02 and Distance 4DD G02)

The PGCE serves as a professional capping qualification for candidates who have already obtained an approved three-year university degree with sufficient credits in approved school subjects. Students specialise in teaching in the Senior and FET Phase (Grade 7 to 12 learners).

Students who obtain this qualification, with its focus on classroom practice, will be able to demonstrate the contextual roles and skills of an effective teacher.

The minimum requirements for entry into the PGCE in senior & FET teaching, is a relevant B-degree (or equivalent qualification with at least 360 credits) with 2 school subjects on degree level. One subject must be on 3rd year level and the second subject on 2nd year level. There are also subject specific requirements.

Faculty of Education students need to meet the MRTEQ (Minimum Requirements for Teacher Education Qualifications) guidelines in order to obtain an education qualification. The MRTEQ requires a set of consecutive practicum days to be completed at a Faculty of Education approved school as part of the teacher training programme. WIL (teaching practice) is, therefore, a key feature of all education qualifications and a prerequisite in order to be awarded a qualification. The stipulated programme requirement, as registered with the HEQC, for the PGCE qualification is a total of 40 school-based teaching practice days. All students must do 40 days of school-based teaching practice in their period of study at a Faculty of Education approved school. Non-negotiable dates for WIL are set for each semester – 20 days in semester 1 and 20 days in semester 2. This will require of the student to avail themselves for 40 days of WIL in a year of study. Note – teaching assistance positions, employment outside of the school-based education sector or teaching/assisting outside the Senior and FET Phase cannot count towards teaching practice days. If the PGCE is completed over two years, it is required that didactic modules are completed in the first year of study and WIL completed in the second year of study. It is compulsory for PGCE students to do their WIL in both the Senior (Gr. 7-9) and the FET (Gr. 10-12) phase during their period of study, preferably FET phase in the first semester and Senior phase in the second semester. WIL involves additional financial costs that must be borne by the students. These costs are not included in the tuition fees.

The NWU is one of the few universities which offers the methodology of Consumer studies in Education in its PGCE program.

Mode of delivery is full-time/contact mode and distance mode.

To apply please click here

For further enquiries contact:

Mrs Beula de Beer - Potchefstroom Campus Tel: +27 (0)18 299 1856 Email: [email protected]

Ms Lebohang Ranotsi - Vanderbijlpark Campus

Tel: +27 (0)16 910 3081

Email: [email protected]

James Williams- Mahikeng Campus

Tel: +27 (0)18 389 2471

Email: James . [email protected]

Postgraduate Diploma in Education (PGDip)

For more information please click here

BEdHons Programmes 

Master of education (med) and philosophiae doctor (phd).

You must apply for admission to the MEd/PhD programme. Applications for admission to the MEd/PhD programme for next year open in May and close at the end of September of this year (1 September of the current year for enrolment for next year). Please ensure that your application is complete before 1 September. Incomplete applications will not be considered.

Read more here  to ensure that your application is complete before submission.