Fields of Specialisation

The PhD in Management Sciences offers research supervision across the following 15 specialised fields:

Programme Regulations & Provisional Admission Process

• Degree Type & Duration: This is a research-intensive doctoral qualification (180 SAQA credits, NQF Level 10). Duration is 2–6 years (Full-time).
• 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 Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management Sciences will be awarded during an official graduation ceremony of CUT.

Need the Full Programme Details? Consult the Student Calendar

We know that choosing your future is a big step! While this page gives you the key highlights, the official CUT Student Calendar is your complete, authoritative guide. We highly recommend reviewing it to see full details on this programme, including admission criteria, complete module structures, assessment rules, and what to expect during your studies.