The minimum admission requirement is a master’s degree in programme evaluation with a component in quantitative research methods at NQF level 9. Candidates should have an average mark of 65% for their master’s degree. Also note that a named degree (in other words, a degree with a label indicating that it is in the discipline of programme evaluation/monitoring and evaluation) is required. A degree in any other discipline with only a module in programme evaluation is not sufficient for admission into this doctorate.

Please note that while we greatly encourage PhD candidates who are experienced programme evaluation practitioners to apply, professional experience in programme evaluation alone is not sufficient for admission into this doctorate – as a master’s degree in programme evaluation is also required.

You can apply for PhD studies throughout the year.

To apply, please forward a short CV stating your contact details, academic qualifications and courses completed in research design and/or statistics. A short proposal describing the proposed evaluation topic for the PhD should also be included, as this is essential to determine whether or not an appropriate supervisor can be identified for your chosen area of research. These documents should be sent to the programme convener, Adiilah Boodhoo.

A preliminary check will be performed to ensure you fulfil the necessary prerequisites and requirements. If so, the relevant documents will be forwarded to potential suitable supervisors in the area of your interest. Because most potential supervisors limit the number of PhD students they agree to take on annually (to ensure the quality of supervision they give to their existing PhD students), there may not always be a suitable supervisor for your proposed research topic at UCT. For these reasons, please be aware that the selection process is highly competitive, and offers are made to a very limited number of applicants.

The main requirement of a PhD is that the candidate adds new academic knowledge to the field of programme evaluation. This will usually involve an evaluation of an existing social programme or initiative and/or a substantial contribution to our understanding of the theory and practice of programme evaluation (i.e., knowledge about how we should evaluate this particular programme or initiative). Producing a manuscript describing your work on a programme or an existing evaluation report does not fulfil this requirement and would not be accepted as a proposal. Also, note that the university requires ethical clearance for all data collected for research purposes. Therefore, existing data collected outside the ethical rules of UCT cannot be used for a PhD.

UCT is a residential university. We do not offer PhDs by correspondence or through online degrees. In addition to regular, face-to-face meetings with your supervisor on campus, the Section may also require you to spend six months resident on campus during your first year of registration. During this time, you will be supervised closely to prepare a proposal that would be acceptable to the various university committees. Your proposal must be presented within the first six months of your PhD registration. Please note these requirements, especially if you are an international applicant not currently residing in Cape Town.

We may also require you to do additional courses in programme evaluation, research design or statistics.

The relationship is primarily administrative and not necessarily pedagogical (although a number of excellent programme evaluators apply management studies principles to their work). The degree is registered in the School of Management Studies (Commerce Faculty) and is administered by the Section of Organisational Psychology.

However, a background in organisational psychology or management studies is not a requirement for entry into the degree. Similarly, graduates will not acquire a professional qualification in organisational psychology on the basis of the degree.

Please consult the Fees Handbook for the cost of a PhD. International applicants should check under the relevant section, International Students, for their fees.

Unless specifically advertised, there is typically no dedicated scholarship or bursary fund for successful PhD in programme evaluation candidates. Limited financial support is available through scholarships, bursaries, and student loans. Please contact the Postgraduate Funding Office for more information. 

Please note that some scholarships require application by June of the year preceding study. You are advised to apply in June even if you do not know by then whether you have been selected into the programme. International students should note that funding is limited and are advised to apply for sponsorship in their own countries.

Please contact the programme convener, Carren Duffy.