Applications for Dissertation Masters (MA, MSc) or PhD
The Department of Environmental and Geographical Science offers research degrees at Master's and Doctoral level.
Application Deadlines
We have two application deadlines each year for Dissertation Master's (MA, MSc) and PhD degrees:
• 31 March for commencement in the second semester of the same year.
• 30 September for commencement in the first semester of the following year.
This applies to both local and international applicants. Applications received after a deadline will be considered in the next application cycle.
Prospective Supervisors
Applicants are expected to identify and contact a potential supervisor before applying. Prospective students should review the research interests of academic staff on the departmental website and contact staff whose expertise aligns with their proposed area of research.
It is the applicant's responsibility to ensure that their proposed research aligns with the expertise of academic staff within the department. The department can only admit students where appropriate supervisory expertise and capacity exist. Applicants are encouraged to discuss their proposed project with a prospective supervisor before applying, but a formal commitment from a supervisor is not required at the application stage.
Admission Requirements
Applicants for the Dissertation Master's programme should normally hold an Honours degree (or equivalent qualification) with a strong academic record.
Applicants for the PhD programme should normally hold a Master's degree (or equivalent qualification) with a strong academic record.
Application Process
Applications involve three stages.
Stage 1: UCT Online Application
Applicants must complete the UCT online application form and submit the required documentation through the UCT application system.
For more information regarding the UCT online application process, including information for international applicants, please consult the relevant UCT admissions pages.
Stage 2: Departmental Documentation
In addition to the UCT online application, applicants must email the following documentation to pgapplications.egs@uct.ac.za:
• A research proposal (maximum 1,000 words) outlining the proposed topic, its significance, relevant literature, and proposed methodology;
• A writing sample of at least 1,000 words demonstrating the applicant's ability to develop and communicate a scholarly argument (an Honours dissertation chapter, research report, published paper, or substantial essay is usually most appropriate);
• The name of the prospective supervisor whom you have contacted regarding your proposed research topic.
Supporting documents may be submitted as separate files. Please ensure that all files are clearly labelled with your surname and the type of document being submitted. The email subject line should include the applicant's name and the degree for which they are applying (MA, MSc or PhD).
Stage 3: Academic References
Applicants must arrange for two academic references to be submitted.
Applicants who completed their most recent degree at UCT do not need to submit reference letters. Instead, they should provide the details of two referees at UCT using the following form: Internal referees
For referees within EGS, applicants need only provide the referee's name. For referees elsewhere at UCT, applicants should provide the referee's name and email address.
Applicants from institutions outside UCT should arrange for two referees to either:
• Complete the departmental reference form: External reference form
or
• Email a reference letter directly to pgapplications.egs@uct.ac.za
Applications will only be considered once all three stages of the application process have been completed. All three stages must be completed by the relevant application deadline in order for an application to be considered.
Research Proposal Presentation
If admitted, students will be required to present their research proposal to the department within three to six months of registration. The proposal presentation provides an opportunity for staff and postgraduate students to provide constructive feedback on the proposed research and assists students in refining their project design and methodology. Following the presentation, students are expected to revise the proposal in response to feedback received. The proposal must be approved through the relevant departmental and faculty processes before the research project can proceed formally.
Projects involving human participants must obtain ethical clearance from the Faculty of Science Research Ethics Committee before data collection can commence. Students should discuss ethical requirements with their supervisor at an early stage and ensure that the ethics approval process is incorporated into their research timeline.
Information on the ethics application process can be found at:
https://science.uct.ac.za/research-ethics
Contact Information
For queries regarding Dissertation Master's or PhD applications, please contact the Environmental Sciences Secretary at pgapplications.egs@uct.ac.za.