Programme Outline

​​The programme is divided into two phases. The first phase involves the preparation and defence of a proposal within the first year, and the second comprises ethics clearance, data gathering and writing up the thesis over the following two years. For students who lack a research background and whose proposal is not yet well enough developed to allow them to successfully defend within a year, we offer a 9-month Postgraduate Diploma in Business Studies that allows individuals to develop the skills to understand a focused area in business, as well as the theoretical and methodological components of the knowledge base in management and business.

Requirements for admission to the doctoral degree include the following:

• An MBA degree from a recognised tertiary institution which gives entry to the DBA and PhD, or a Master’s degree from a recognised tertiary institution in a related field (e.g. Statistics, Psychology, Economics, etc.) which gives entry only to PhD;

• Familiarity with basic statistics;

• A compelling 20-page research proposal;

• References from two referees, emailed directly to the GIBS research director at researchdirector@gibs.co.za by 12 September 2024; and

• A recent GMAT result (since 2013) or completion of an admissions test arranged at GIBS (Johannesburg), or testing centres in Durban or Cape Town. Details are provided under the section dealing with the application process in the download brochures.​

For non-South African residents who apply for admission, please note the following two requirements:

• A study permit is required for registration at the University of Pretoria. Please enquire at the International Office, University of Pretoria at isd@up.ac.za or +27 12 420 6610; and

• SAQA accreditation is required if your academic qualifications are awarded from an institution outside of South Africa. Please go to the following website to apply: http://www.saqa.org.za

We will sele​ct the students:

• ​Who best meet the academic criteria above and for whom we have supervisory capacity;
• Whose proposed research best meet the strategic orientation of the programme – to better understand the challenges of management and business in such an underdeveloped, but dynamic context as Africa; and
• Who are most likely to contribute to the intellectual life of the cohort through a combination of rigorous thinking and intellectual generosity.