Ph.D. History or Doctor of Philosophy in History is a 3 years full-time doctorate course which is the study of written events and records of humanity.
Admission Requirements
The minimum admission requirement is a National Senior Certificate (NSC) as certified by Umalusi with an achievement rating of 4 (Adequate achievement, 50-59%) or better in four subjects chosen from the following recognized 20-credit NSC subjects (known as the ‘designated subject list’): Accounting, Agricultural Sciences, Business Studies, Dramatic Arts, Economics, Engineering Graphics and Design, Geography, History, Consumer Studies, Information Technology, Languages (one language of learning and teaching at a higher education institution and two other recognized language subjects), Life Sciences, Mathematics, Mathematical Literacy, Music, Physical Sciences, Religion Studies, Visual Arts.
The Point System
For admission to degree and diploma programmes, UWC will use a weighted system for calculating points, stated as follows:
| NSC Level | Percentage | Points for English (*) | Points for Maths or Maths Lit | Points for Life Orientation | Points for each Other Subject |
| 8 | 90-100% | 15 | 15 | 3 | 8 |
| 7 | 80-89% | 13 | 13 | 3 | 7 |
| 6 | 70-79% | 11 | 11 | 2 | 6 |
| 5 | 60-69% | 9 | 9 | 2 | 5 |
| 4 | 50-59% | 7 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| 3 | 40-49% | 5 | 5 | 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 30-39% | 3 | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| 1 | 20-29% | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| less than 20% | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
(*) – ‘English’ here refers to either English home language or English first additional language, not a second additional language, which would rather fall under ‘other subjects’
Document Required
Document upload
Post-Matric Learners
If you have written the NSC examination already, you need to submit the following:
Certified copy of your NSC certificate or Senior Certificate
Certified copy of your identification document
Proof of any studies with academic records, if applicable, you may have completed
If applicable, proof that you are currently improving your NSC results
In an affidavit a brief description of activities post-matric/NSC
For applicants who are re-writing Grade 12 subjects, applications will be processed on the current grade 12 results. If Grade 12 has been written more than once then your combined results must be submitted with your application.
Transfer Students
If you are applying from another institution of higher learning you need to submit certified copies of the following:
NSC Certificate or Senior Certificate
Identification document
Certificate of good conduct from your institution
Official Academic Transcript
Module content / Yearbook descriptor from your institution for all modules completed
Degree certificate (if applicable)
Students applying for readmission to UWC
If you have studied at UWC previously and have taken a break in study, you need to provide a letter of motivation to be considered for readmission to your respective faculty
International Students
You need to submit your final school results to Universities South Africa (USAF) for an evaluation
Application for Exemption is to be done with Universities South Africa (USAF) formerly Higher Education South Africa (HESA) using the following link: https://mbit-application.usaf.ac.za/assessment/
We, unfortunately, will not be able to respond to your application until you submit a confirmation letter issued by USAF stating that you qualify to study at a South African University
Certified copy of your passport.
Duration 3 years
What can I do after Ph.D. in history?
A degree in history provides you with a set of transferable skills that are applicable to a wide range of careers such as law, publishing, journalism and the media, museums, librarianship and archive work, teaching, advertising, work in the development sector, global charity work, etc.