PhD Development Finance​

You need to complete the SHL abilities selection test as part of your application process. The test consists of a verbal critical reasoning assessment, numerical critical reasoning assessment, inductive reasoning test, and Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ) on behavioural preferences, which are used for selection and for the identification of your development areas.

• Duration: Approximately 3 hours.
• Preparation: No preparation is required. However, you are encouraged to perform a practice test to familiarise yourself with the test format. See shl.com/shldirect/en-us/practice-tests/
• About the test: The SHL test is done online. (Random verification might be requested.) You will be provided with a link to the SHL test once you have paid your PhD Development Finance application fee and SHL selection test fee, and after you have submitted your application form and have received your provisional student number. (You need to use this provisional student number when writing the SHL.)
• Cost: For fees, please see the fees table above. See bank details under How to apply (italics) and use your provisional student number as reference. The application fee and SHL selection test fee can be paid online, and they are non-refundable.
• Link to the SHL selection test: You do not have to arrange with the Business School to write the SHL test. You will receive a link to the test once the relevant payments have been received and you have submitted your application form. The Business School will receive your results directly from SHL and will upload it to your application form on your behalf.
• Additional information: shl.com/en/assessments/cognitive-ability/
• Important: The SHL selection test is valid for 18 months. If your SHL selection test results are older than this, you should ideally rewrite the test as people grow and develop and assessments need to take this into account. Stellenbosch Business School does not consider SHL tests from other institutions as you may have written a different type or level of test, or you may have been compared to a different comparison group. If you have completed the SHL with Stellenbosch Business School during the past 18 months, you do not have to rewrite the test.

Before you start

• The online application form consists of various sections. In order to progress to the next section, all the information in the current section must be completed and accepted by the information management system.
• You will be able to complete the form in steps without losing information (i.e. you do not have to complete the application form in one sitting).
• The application process is the same for South African and international students.
• International students require a South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) evaluation certificate to evaluate their degrees according to South African standards. The Business School’s International Affairs Office will first handle the credential evaluations of international students free of charge. Students need to complete the online application and upload all certificates with their application. The International Affairs Office will, as part of the application process, conduct an in-house credential evaluation after you have submitted your application. However, should the International Affairs Office be unsure about the status, recognition or accreditation of your qualification, we reserve the right to refer you to SAQA before we consider your application further.
• Applicants can go back to their applications and check the status of their applications.
• All degrees undergo a formal vetting process to eliminate fraudulent applications.
• It is best to use Google Chrome as web browser when completing your application.
• Also see Apply for your PhD Development Finance in 8 steps Link to PDF = PhD Development Finance.pdf

The application process
Click on the APPLY NOW button and complete the online application form by completing each of the required sections. You also need to upload the following supporting documentation:

• Certified copy of ID or passport
• Certified copies of academic records/transcripts
• Certified copies of degree certificates
• Curriculum vitae (CV)
• Motivational essay
• List of publications
• Dissertation pre-proposal
• Consent form to verify your qualifications (please download, complete and upload the form in order for Managed Integrity Evaluation (Pty) Ltd to verify your qualification documents)

You can pay your application fee online.

• Bank details: Bank: Standard Bank; Type of account: cheque account; Account name: US Business School; Account number: 073003069; Branch name: Stellenbosch; Branch code: 050610; Beneficiary name: Stellenbosch University; SWIFT code: SBZAZAJJ.
• Enquiries about payments: Please send an e-mail to [email protected].

 
Assessment of your application

Your application package, which includes your dissertation pre-proposal, will be reviewed and evaluated the Business School’s Doctoral Committee and your provisional promoter. This may take up to six weeks.

Motivational essay

Write an essay of about 250 words to describe:

• Those academic and/or professional achievements that inform your aspiration to do a PhD and your particular research interest
• Your educational goals and professional aims
• Any information not evident from the rest of your application package which can assist the Admissions Committee to assess the value of your proposed research.

Curriculum vitae (CV)

Your CV must contain:

• Details of your studies to date
• Particulars of previous research experience, including any published articles and papers presented at conferences
• An overview of your activities after the completion of your master's degree
• Two references who can be contacted to comment on your abilities and who can support your motivation for wanting to commence with PhD research.

Deadline for applications: 31 July each year

The dates of the two course-work blocks (two weeks each) during Year 1 will be made available later this year. These blocks are usually scheduled for between January and June every year.

Also note the following:

• Study permits for international students: Obtaining a study permit (study visa) from the South African authorities can take up to 12 weeks from the date of being offered a place on a programme at the Business School. An early start with the application process is therefore recommended.
• Multiple-entry visas: Students from non-SADC African countries and other countries with visa requirements who need to apply for study visas can obtain a letter from Stellenbosch Business School confirming the duration of registration at the Business School. This will help students to obtain multiple-entry study visas in case of modular studies.

Study visa requirements for international students

All residential students who are non-South African citizens and are studying at Stellenbosch Business School require a study visa. Prospective students should contact their nearest South African Mission (South African Embassy, Consulate or High Commission), normally in their country of origin, to enquire about the requirements for study visas for South Africa. Applicants are required to present themselves in person so that biometric data may be captured. All international students can contact the Business School’s International Affairs Office at [email protected] for assistance. All international students must hold a valid visa for their intended activity prior to entering South Africa.

Notes on obtaining a study visa

• Obtaining a study visa from the South African authorities takes approximately 12 to 16 weeks from the date of application. However, some missions may process applications sooner. Sufficient time should be allowed for study visa applications to be processed.
• Your study visa application should include a copy of the letter offering a place on the Business School’s study programme. This letter will be provided by our Academic Administration once the application has been approved. A place on the programme must be confirmed before a study visa application can be considered by the South African Department of Home Affairs. Students should not proceed to Stellenbosch University or its Business School without a valid study visa.
• Although applicants are expected to determine exactly what they require to apply for a study visa, they can be expected to provide the following, among others: a police clearance certificate, proof of medical insurance recognised in South Africa, a radiology report, proof of sufficient funds, and an admission letter from Stellenbosch Business School. Your nearest South African Mission will be able to advise in this regard. The onus falls on the student to make sure that he/she submits a complete application pack.
• All documents should be certified and translated into English before submission (in order not to delay the outcome of the application).