PhD Civil and Environmental Engineering

Overview

Programme name: PhD

Credit distribution: 360-credits thesis that makes a significant contribution to knowledge. Please note that this programme does not involve any coursework.

The research for the 360-credits dissertation will fall under one of the following sub-disciplines: Environmental, geotechnical, materials, structural, water, and project & construction management.

The 360-credits dissertation is conducted under the supervision of an academic from the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering. Importantly, applicants are required to secure supervision from an academic before submitting their application. If the application form does not include a specific space to indicate the name of your supervisor, you should upload a document simply indicating the name of the academic that agreed to supervise you. Alternatively, you can upload the email exchange in which the academic agreed to supervise you. When your application is processed, your proposed supervisor will have to confirm that they indeed agreed to supervise you.

See the profiles and contact details of the academics of the School to engage with a potential supervisor. Please note that the School does not provide assistance in pairing students with potential supervisors. This is a task that every applicant is expected to undertake individually.

Entry Requirements

Masters degree in which at least half of the credits were allocated to a research project
Agreement to supervise from an academic of the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.

Applicants that hold a masters degree that did not involve a significant research component, will have to first register for the Masters by research programme (ERA00) and subsequently apply for conversion to the PhD programme after demonstrating adequate research abilities. The conversion to the PhD programme must be done with the consent of the supervisor.

Note: Applicants holding foreign qualifications must subject their highest qualification to an evaluation by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). The outcome of the evaluation must be submitted as part of the application.

University Application Process

Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students, please check this section.

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.