Physics

The PhD in Physics is offered in the specialisations of Physics, Astronomy and Astrophysics, Computational Physics, Condensed Matter Physics, Crystallography, High Energy Physics, Nuclear Physics, Particle Physics, and Theoretical Physics.

Overview

The School of Physics at Wits engages in internationally competitive research within very diverse fields, some emerging and some established. Research includes theoretical and experimental high energy physics, materials physics, condensed matter physics, nuclear physics, astronomy and astrophysics, high-throughput electronics, photonics, space propulsion, and physics education.

The School has significant experimental infrastructure in Condensed Matter Physics and Photonics and has strong links with CSIR, iThemba LABS and NECSA.

Entry Requirements

  • A Research Masters degree in a related field.
  • A supervisor from the School must be identified and approached prior to application.

Please note that admission into our programmes is highly selective.

Prior to application, please contact the research group or academic with whom you wish to work. Once there has been agreement on research project and funding mechanism, you may apply through the University applications portal.

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. Refer to Wits Postgraduate Online Applications Guide for detailed guidelines. 
  • 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. The University's Postgraduate Funding portal is a database of scholarships, bursaries and other funding opportunities available to Wits postgraduate students. 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.