12 PhD programmes offered by the university

The Urban and Regional Science programme at Stellenbosch University is presented by the Centre for Regional and Urban Innovation and Statistical Exploration (CRUISE) of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.

The Socio-Informatics programme at Stellenbosch University does not involve any formal lectures, class work or assessments (other than that of the dissertation itself). 

Doctoral study in the English Department is possible in a range of topics in literary and cultural studies as well as in creative writing. We offer a English Studies degree at the Stellenbosch University.

This Psychology programme at Stellenbosch University, which requires a minimum of two years of study, focuses on the acquisition and broadening of knowledge in a specific area of psychology at an advanced level. 

The programme requires the writing of a dissertation that contains the results of independent and original research on a research problem through which the student makes a substantial contribution to their field.

The Political Science programme from Stellenbosch University entails a research project that extends over a minimum of two years and leads to the dissertation.

The Social Anthropology programme at Stellenbosch University involves independent and original research, leading towards the writing of a dissertation on an approved topic, as developed in an approved research proposal and under the supervision of a supervisor and, where appropriate, a co-supervisor. 

The African Languages specialization areas at Stellenbosch University available for  PhD  study are  similar, and/ or related to those   described  for the Master's degree  Programme above.

The Sociology programme at Stellenbosch University involves independent and original research, leading towards the writing of a dissertation on an approved topic, as developed in an approved research proposal and under the supervision of a supervisor and, where appropriate, a co-supervisor. 

The Geography and Environmental Studies programme at the Stellenbosch University focuses on the study and resolution of human-environmental and urban or tourism-related problems and phenomena from a spatial perspective.

The Urban and Regional Planning programme at Stellenbosch University is presented by the Centre for Regional and Urban Innovation and Statistical Exploration (CRUISE) of the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies.

The Geography and Environmental Studies programme from Stellenbosch University is research–based and contains no coursework. The student completes a dissertation of about 90 000 words on a selected geographical research problem. The dissertation must place the research in a disciplinary context and contributes to the creation of new knowledge.