Universities and Online Degrees Guide

Stellenbosch University

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences

The Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences in Health Professions is offered by Stellenbosch University.

Program Length: 5 YEARS.

Doctor of Philosophy in Health Sciences offered by the Stellenbosch University at the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences

The Faculty offers doctoral programmes in most health sciences and medical specialities. These doctoral programmes entail comprehensive research and require submission of a dissertation after a minimum period of study of two years.

A doctorate in Health Sciences may be obtained partly based on published scientific articles. Experienced researchers already holding a doctorate may be admitted to the DSc degree (advanced doctoral degree). The dissertation for such a senior doctorate must offer a sustained treatment of its topic on the basis of the candidate's published research.

Duration of programme

The maximum duration is five years. Your supervisor may submit an acceptable motivation for the extension of the period to the Committee for Postgraduate Research of the Faculty, at least six months prior to the expiry of the five years.

Programme description

The Doctorate in Philosophy (PhD) can be obtained in the following disciplines of the Medical and Health Sciences:

• Anaesthesiology
• Anatomical Pathology
• Anatomy
• Audiology
• Chemical Pathology
• Clinical and Research Ethics
• Dermatology
• Emergency Medicine
• Epidemiology
• Family Medicine
• Haematological Pathology
• Health Professions Education
• Health Sciences Rehabilitation
• Human Genetics
• Internal Medicine
• Medical Microbiology
• Medical Physics
• Medical Physiology
• Medical Virology
• Molecular Biology
• Morphological Sciences
• Neurosurgery
• Nuclear Medicine
• Nursing
• Nutritional Sciences
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology
• Occupational Therapy
• Ophthalmology
• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Otorhinolaryngology
• Paediatrics
• Pharmacology
• Physiotherapy
• Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
• Psychiatry
• Public Health
• Radiological Diagnosis
• Radiotherapy and Radio Isotopes
• Speech-Language Therapy
• Sport Psychology
• Sport Science
• Surgery
• Thoracic Surgery
• Urology

Assessment and examination

• The PhD degree is awarded in recognition of high quality, original research and is conventionally assessed based on a dissertation.
• In addition a PhD degree may be obtained in an alternative way, namely primarily based on published scientific articles. However, it is not possible to obtain a PhD degree exclusively on the basis of published articles. More details regarding the different formats can be obtained from the Doctoral Office (Tygerberg Campus).
• With regard to the date of submission of the dissertation, the number of copies to be submitted, as well as the further requirements with which you have to comply in order to graduate, the general provisions for doctorates will apply as stipulated under Postgraduate Qualifications in Part 1 (General) of the Calendar, as well as in the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences’ guidelines document, General Information on Doctoral Studies, which is available at the Doctoral Office (Tygerberg Campus).
• The PhD degree is not regarded as basis for registration as a specialist with the Health Professions Council of South Africa or the South African Nursing Council, but can be registered as an additional qualification (Medical Sciences only)
• The PhD degree may be awarded to you:
• • after you have been registered for the PhD degree at the University for at least two academic years;
  • on the condition that – with the supervisor’s consent – you give written notice to the Doctoral Office (Tygerberg Campus) of your intended submission date at least six months prior to the desired date of graduation;
  • based on a dissertation – under supervision by a supervisor – that covers a problem from an area in the Medical and Health Sciences or Health Professions Education (in the case of a PhD in HPE). The dissertation must provide proof to the satisfaction of the University of advanced, original work, which contributes to particular field of research;
  • provided that the dissertation is accompanied by a statement confirming that it has not previously been submitted to another university or institution in order to obtain a degree or diploma, and that it is your own work; and
  • after you have passed an oral examination. An oral examination for the doctorate is a general requirement, apart from the advanced doctorates, but subject to the approval of Senate, exemption from this examination may be granted in specific cases based on sufficient motivation.