About the programme
The Doctor of Philosophy specialising in Economics [CD003ECO01] (with coursework) is offered in collaboration with other universities in sub-Saharan Africa and supported by the African Economic Research Consortium (AERC) through donor funding. Its distinguishing features are the integration of advanced theory, tools and African applications in the academic programme.
Apply online. Applications close on 1 July.
The provisional fees are listed in the Fees Handbook.
Programme Convenor: Professor Andrew Kerr
Email: andrew.kerr@uct.ac.za
Entrance requirements
Candidates who possess a minimum of a second class (lower division) master’s degree in Economics by coursework are eligible to apply. Candidates with a Master of Economic Science degree are eligible to apply.
Duration
Offered over four years full-time. Two years are devoted to prerequisite courses and two years are devoted to writing the thesis. The programme begins in January.
Prescribed curriculum
The programme comprises a thesis, with advanced courses as a pre-requisite to registering for the thesis. A candidate will ordinarily complete the coursework in the first two years before proceeding to the thesis. The programme is equivalent to 360 NQF credits. The pre-requisite courses are non-credit bearing for this programme.
Compulsory courses
| Course Code | Course Name | NQF Credits | NQF Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECO5011F | Quantitative Methods for Economists | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5021F | Advanced Macroeconomics | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5020F | Advanced Microeconomics | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5046F | Advanced Econometrics | 30 | 9 |
| ECO6007F | Microeconomics II | 30 | 10 |
| ECO5030S | Applied Growth Theory | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5025S | Research skills in Economics | 8 | 9 |
| ECO5069S | Applied Time Series Analysis OR | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5070S | Microeconometrics | 30 | 9 |
A:
Two courses (not taken in terms of the rules above) to be chosen from:
| Course Code | Course Name | NQF Credits | NQF Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECO5003F | Governance and Growth | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5030S | Applied Growth Theory | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5050S | International Finance II | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5052S | Natural Resource Economics | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5057S | Labour Economics | 30 | 10 |
| ECO5062S | Applied International Trade | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5064S | Applied Time Series Analysis | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5064S | Behavioural Economics | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5069S | Applied Time Series Analysis | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5070S | Microeconometrics | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5073S | Problems of Globalisation | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5074F | Research and Policy Tools | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5075S | Macroeconomic Policy Analysis | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5076S | Development Microeconomics | 30 | 9 |
| ECO5077S | Empirical Industrial Organisation | 30 | 9 |
OR
B: Two courses to be chosen from the options offered at the Joint Facility for Electives in Nairobi. Options may be added or withdrawn according to circumstances each year.
Research
| Course Code | Course Name | NQF Credits | NQF Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| ECO6000W | PhD in Economics | 360 | 10 |
The following specific rules apply to the programme:
- FED1 Students who fail may repeat a maximum of two courses of the prerequisite
- coursework component once, provided that they scored at least 40% at the first
- attempt.
- FED2 If a student fails an elective, they may substitute it with another elective.
- FED3 There will be no supplementary examinations.
- FED4 Students are required to submit a topic and sign a Memorandum of Understanding
- (MoU) with a supervisor by the end of February of the year following the
- completion of the prerequisite coursework (typically the 3rd year).
- FED5 Satisfactory progress for research as per the MoU.
- FED6 The degree is assessed entirely on the basis of the completed thesis.
For more information on the courses, please refer to Commerce Postgraduate Handbook.