Rhodes University

What you'll study

The PhD by thesis is an intensive, independent research degree in which you design, conduct and report a sustained programme of original research. Rather than taught coursework, the core of the programme is the doctoral thesis: a substantial written report that makes a clear theoretical and empirical contribution to the field.

Typical research activities and study components include:

• Research proposal development: refining your research questions, literature review and study design under supervisory guidance.
• Advanced research methods: application of quantitative, qualitative or mixed methods; advanced statistical modelling, longitudinal methods, experimental and psychometric techniques where relevant.
• Ethics and research governance: preparing and obtaining ethical clearance and practising responsible research with human participants.
• Data collection and analysis: fieldwork, laboratory studies, neurocognitive assessment, surveys, interviews or archival work depending on project methodology.
• Scholarly dissemination: preparing manuscripts for peer-reviewed journals, presenting at conferences and integrating feedback into the thesis.
• Research training opportunities: short courses and workshops in methods, academic writing, grant writing and statistics that are offered by the department and university research offices.

Supervision and thesis examination

You will be supervised by members of the Department of Psychology and associated research-active staff. The completed thesis is externally examined in accordance with university regulations and must demonstrate originality, rigour and contribution to knowledge.

Entry requirements

Applicants normally require a relevant master’s degree with substantial research training and a strong research report or dissertation. Selection is based on the quality of the proposed research, academic record and availability of appropriate supervision.

• Academic qualifications: a completed master’s degree in psychology or a closely related discipline, typically with a thesis component.
• Research competence: evidence of research ability demonstrated by a well-developed research proposal, dissertation or publications.
• Supervisor availability: admission is subject to the availability of a suitably qualified supervisor and alignment between your project and departmental expertise.
• Ethical and professional requirements: capacity to conduct research with human participants, including any discipline-specific professional clearances if required.
• Supporting documentation: academic transcripts, curriculum vitae, a research proposal, and references from academic referees.
• Language proficiency: applicants whose first language is not English may need to demonstrate competence in English as required by university policy.

Career prospects

A PhD in Psychology from Rhodes prepares graduates for a wide range of research-intensive and leadership roles. Common career paths include:

• Academic careers: lecturer, researcher or postdoctoral fellow at universities and higher education institutions.
• Research institutions and think tanks: positions in government research agencies, policy units and independent research organisations.
• Clinical and applied research: research leadership roles in clinical services, health systems, hospitals and community mental health programmes (note: clinical practice typically requires separate professional registration and clinical training).
• Organisational and industry research: roles in human resources, organisational development, user-experience research, and applied behavioural science in the private sector.
• NGOs and international organisations: monitoring, evaluation and research roles focused on education, development, health and social policy.

Why study at Rhodes University

Rhodes University offers a supportive, research-led environment with a relatively small postgraduate community that facilitates close supervision and peer collaboration. The Department of Psychology hosts supervisors working across diverse methodological and substantive areas, enabling interdisciplinary and locally relevant research.

Postgraduate students benefit from university research support services, access to specialised training workshops in advanced methods, and opportunities to publish and present work. Studying at Rhodes also offers engagement with community-based projects and partnerships that can strengthen applied and impact-driven research programmes.