USB S PHD IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION

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2 USB S PHD IN BUSINESS MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION Overview The University of Stellenbosch Business School s PhD in Business Management and Administration (PhD BMA) is awarded solely on the successful completion of a research-based dissertation. The dissertation must be based on scientific research and must contribute to and enrich the academic knowledge and understanding of management theory and professional management practice. Join a globally linked research community Acquire a globally acknowledged PhD: USB is a triple accredited business school (AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA). In addition, USB is a member of the European Doctoral Programmes Association in Management and Business Administration (EDAMBA) and the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative s (GRLI s) Global Doctoral Alliance (GDA), which holds benefits for USB s doctoral students. Engage in meaningful research: As a signatory to the Globally Responsible Leadership Initiative s Global Doctoral Alliance, USB is committed to incorporating the societal dimension of business and sustainability in its PhD research. The GRLI promotes responsible management education to make the world a better place, asking PhD candidates: What kind of problem do you have in the work environment that can be changed to make the world a better place? Join a research community: At USB, various people are involved in your research not only your supervisor. This leads to input and support from a diverse group of academics in a multidisciplinary environment. USB s Research Colloquia provides a platform to engage with other PhD candidates and their supervisors. This also gives you the opportunity to present your research to this select audience and to gain insight from their questions and comments. Create new knowledge The PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) implies that the holder is in command of his/her field of study. In terms of the South African Higher Qualification Framework, the purpose and characteristics of a doctoral degree are as follows: A doctoral degree requires a candidate to undertake research at the most advanced academic level, culminating in the production, defence and acceptance of a thesis. The defining characteristic of this qualification is that the candidate is required to demonstrate 2

3 high level research capability and make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of a discipline publication. The degree may be earned through pure disciplinebased research, multidisciplinary research or applied research. A graduate should be able to supervise and evaluate the research of others in the area of specialization concerned. As a PhD student at USB you will be expected to pursue supervised research, culminating in a doctoral dissertation which constitutes the examinable product for which the PhD degree is eventually awarded. This dissertation must: Represent an original and significant contribution to the enrichment and advancement of knowledge in the chosen area Demonstrate originality of thought, a theoretical underpinning, relevance to the discipline and rigour in execution Create intellectual capital, which is the cornerstone of the knowledge society of the 21st century. Admission requirements Degree requirements A relevant master's degree in an appropriate management-related area. A substantial part of the master's degree (weight within degree) must consist of a written research assignment. Successful admission to the USB PhD. Requirements for ongoing registration The minimum period of registration for the PhD is two years. However, we anticipate a registration period of between two and five years. Each successive registration requires evidence of sufficient progress toward completion. In particular, the following are required: Research courses: PhD students must successfully complete USB-ED s Research Skills Suite, typically during their first year. These online courses (Avoiding Plagiarism, Research Integrity, Research Skills Master Programme, Statistical Methods for Research) are provided by USB- ED. Registered PhD candidates can attend these courses free of charge as the costs are incorporated in the PhD fees. 3

4 Supervisor(s): Students are expected to meet regularly with their appointed research supervisor(s) in person or virtually at the discretion of the supervisor(s). Regular exchange of written material is expected to accompany these meetings. Progress reports: Students must submit a progress report at least once a year (co-signed by the student s supervisor) attesting to satisfactory progress toward completion of the dissertation. PhD colloquia: The student must present his/her work in person at a PhD colloquium at least once every year, but preferably twice. The student will receive peer reviews and field questions from the faculty and students present. The candidate will also be expected to peer review other presentations at the same colloquium. Recommended PhD candidates at the USB are strongly encouraged to: Publish articles from their PhD work in peer-reviewed journals as well as in other media. Present work based on their PhD at appropriate academic conferences. Requirements for awarding the PhD The completed dissertation should have the support of the appointed supervisor(s) and the endorsement of the Director of USB. The dissertation must then be assessed as being of sufficient quality to merit a PhD by at least three independent examiners whose appointments have been recommended by USB and approved by the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences. Upon satisfactory examination, the PhD candidate is required to defend his/her dissertation in person before the examiners, the Dean of the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences and other participants. The candidate will be notified immediately thereafter of his/her success. Graduation with a PhD in Business Management and Administration will follow at the next eligible graduation ceremony at Stellenbosch University. 4

5 HOW TO APPLY Apply online The application for the PhD is fully online. You may start your application at any time, save it and return to it later until you are able to complete it. When you start, you will be allocated a student number. Please note that this does NOT imply acceptance as a doctoral candidate or registrant but merely provides a reference number for administration purposes. The application comprises the following: Complete online application form Certified copy of ID or passport Certified copies of academic records/transcripts Certified copies of degree certificates Curriculum vitae (CV) Motivational essay Initial research proposal Proof of payment of the application fee. Application fee The application fee amounts to R630 for This fee is non-refundable. Please see banking details below for the payment of the application fee and proof of payment to the PhD Admissions Office at spencer@sun.ac.za. Bank: Standard Bank Account name: US Business School Type of account: Cheque account Account number: Branch name: Stellenbosch Branch code: Beneficiary name: Stellenbosch University Swift code: SBZAZAJJ Cheques made out to: Stellenbosch University 5

6 Motivational essay Write an essay of about 250 words to describe: Those academic and/or professional achievements that inform your aspiration to do a PhD and your particular research interest Your educational goals and professional aims Any information not evident from the rest of your application package which can assist the Admissions Committee to assess the value of your proposed research. Curriculum vitae (CV) Your CV must contain: Details of your studies to date Particulars of previous research experience, including any published articles and papers presented at conferences An overview of your activities after the completion of your master's degree Two references who can be contacted to comment on your abilities and who can support your motivation for wanting to commence with PhD research. Initial research proposal The initial research proposal forms a very important part of the application package and serves to demonstrate whether you have a mature approach to high-level research. The initial research proposal should: Provide a preliminary title for the research Provide an overview of the subject area and a literature review Articulate the research problem and aim Motivate the merit of the proposed research Propose a research protocol Include accurate and comprehensive citations. USB Executive Development Ltd (USB-ED) at USB offers a 5-day Doctoral Research Training Programme (DRTP) for candidates to prepare themselves for PhD study and an initial research proposal. The DRTP is applicable to prospective PhD candidates in any field of study and from any university or business school. We recommend you consider this programme or another like it before you apply for PhD study. 6

7 Various books are also available to assist those preparing for doctoral study and for proposal writing in particular. Stellenbosch Library provides library access for prospective PhD students to assist them in their development of their initial proposal. Informal discussion of your research ideas If you would like to discuss your research ideas informally with an appropriate faculty member, please feel free to do so at his/her convenience. Faculty may also point you to a broader network of researchers. You can review the research interests and track records of our staff by browsing The admission decision The Doctoral Admission Committee considers all complete and eligible applications at the end of March and September each year. Applicants will be contacted within a month from these dates to inform them of the progress of their applications. Each application is evaluated in terms of the following criteria: Is the proposed research viable? Does the candidate s academic and professional background qualify him/her to conduct the proposed research? Does the candidate appear to be sufficiently well-placed and motivated to complete the PhD in good time? Can the USB provide appropriate and adequate supervision and resources for the proposed research? Successful applicants are allocated provisional supervisor(s) to assist them in the development of their research proposals. The applicants are invited to work with their allocated supervisor(s) toward a formal proposal ahead of a given deadline. If the formal proposal is successful, the applicant will be recommended to the Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences for registration as a PhD candidate at USB with an agreed PhD title and supervisor(s). On registration, you gain access to all the benefits of being a student of USB and Stellenbosch University and you incur registration and study fees. 7

8 Formal proposal The candidate s formal PhD proposal must be made to a panel constituted for the purpose of approving the proposal. The formal proposal constitutes an interview to convince the panel that: The proposed research is feasible and can contribute to the body of knowledge The candidate is capable of conducting the proposed research independently The assigned supervision and resources for the proposed research are sufficient to support its completion. Research courses During their first year, PhD students must successfully complete the Research Skills Suite. These courses are presented online by USB Executive Development Ltd (USB-ED). Registered PhD candidates can attend these courses free of charge as the costs are incorporated in the PhD fees. The Research Skills Suite comprises the following courses: Research Skills Master Programme Intellectual Property in the Research Context Ethics: Good Research Practice Managing your Research Project Working with your Supervisor Selecting a Conference, Presenting and Networking Research Methods in a Literature Review Entrepreneurial Resources: People, Teams and Finance Entrepreneurial Opportunities: Recognition and Evaluation Academic Entrepreneurship: An Introduction See (under Research) for details of these and other courses. The African Doctoral Academy at Stellenbosch University offers additional courses for pre-doctoral and doctoral students in January and July every year that may be of particular interest. These courses are not included in USB s fees. 8

9 FEES Important: The fees below are the recommended fees for These fees are subject to final approval by the Council of Stellenbosch University on 28 November The final approved fees will not exceed the fees quoted below. PROGRAMME FEES FOR (1st year of registration) 2018 (2nd year of registration) 2019 (3rd and following years of registration) Students from South Africa R R R5 614 Students from Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries International students from the rest of the world (non-sadc countries) R R R R R R DEPOSIT PAYABLE ON ACCEPTANCE OF ADMISSION Students from South Africa R8 500 Students from SADC countries R International students from the rest of the world (non-sadc countries) R APPLICATION FEE Application fee (non-refundable; applicable to all students) R630 Notes: South African students can pay the full programme fees upon registration or they can pay 75% of the annual fees by the end of May and the balance of 25% by the end of September. The fees for 2nd year of enrolment and subsequent years of enrolment will be adjusted to make provision for annual price increases. Deposit: All students pay a deposit on acceptance of admission. Foreign students must pay a deposit of 50% of the annual programme fees on acceptance to the programme and the balance prior to, or upon registration. The deposit is deducted from the programme fee. The deposit payable is non-refundable. Application fee: The application fee must accompany the application. The application fee is not refundable. 1 = about R15.36; US$ 1 = about R13.69 (29 September 2016). 9

10 Students are responsible for their own travel and accommodation arrangements and costs. USB reserves the right to change the fees at any time. Financial and operational support Financial support is available for registered PhD students on a competitive basis to assist them to: Present papers at appropriate academic conferences and workshops Participate in courses which offer relevant research Attend workshops hosted by organisations of which USB is a member, such as the EDAMBA Summer Research Academy. This support is not comprehensive and students are advised to budget for these activities. PhD students registered at USB enjoy access to the business school s services and facilities. These include: Online and physical access to Stellenbosch University s library services USB s library (USBI) and the services of our on-campus librarians Access to a shared office at USB, as well as IT facilities and other support services USB s online learning platform where news and information regarding our PhD programme is distributed. USB is also eager to employ its PhD students to support the school s teaching and learning activities where their qualifications are appropriate. Such activities include: Supervision of MBA and MPhil research assignments Teaching on MBA, MPhil and Postgraduate Diploma and/or Executive Education courses Research support activities Academic administration. 10

11 CONTACT US University of Stellenbosch Business School Mailing address: PO Box 610, Bellville 7535, South Africa Physical address: Carl Cronjé Drive, Bellville 7530, Cape Town, South Africa Telephone: ; international Website: PhD in Business Management and Administration Application, registration and administration PhD Admissions Office: Ms Ashlene Appollis Telephone: +27 (0) E mail: appollisa@sun.ac.za Academic aspects of the USB s doctoral programme: Head of PhD Business Management and Administration Program at USB Dr Heidi Raubenheimer E mail: Heidi.Raubenheimer@usb.ac.za 11