phd in political science in south africa

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Political Studies

We have a lively community of doctoral students under the supervision of members of staff in the department. Our PhD students participate fully in the postgraduate life of the department.

Completing a  Ph.D  in politics from Wits can open up a range of career opportunities, including academic positions, research roles in government and non-governmental organisations, and roles in think tanks and policy institutes.  

The Department of Political Studies is one of the oldest and most respected departments of political science in South Africa. It has a diverse faculty with expertise in a range of fields, including political theory, African politics, development studies, public policy, human rights, social movements, transitional justice, gender and sexuality, and religion and politics.  

Practical advice regarding the application process  

Start with the department before making a formal application to the university  

We strongly encourage people who are considering applying to get in touch with the departmental  Ph.D  Coordinator, Prof Joel Quirk ( [email protected] ), before taking the step of submitting a formal application for admission through the Wits online system.  

To be accepted into our  Ph.D  programme you need to have a  Ph.D  supervisor confirmed as part of the application process. This is frequently the most challenge step for admission. Prof Quirk coordinates this process at a department level by trying to match applicants with suitable supervisors (but applicants can also approach potential supervisors directly as well). We cannot secure a suitable supervisor for everyone who applies, so we are sometimes obliged to turn down applications with strong marks due to a lack of suitable supervision.  

To help place candidates with supervisors we ask people who are considering submitting an application to send the following documentation to Prof Quirk via email:  

• A short research proposal (aim for roughly 3,000 words, and try and include your research questions, a brief account of the relevant literature and your place within it, and a short sketch of your proposed research methods)
• A sample of your academic writing (usually your MA dissertation, but can also be an essay from a postgraduate course).
• Complete academic transcript(s).
• A current CV.

Potential supervisors read these proposals and work samples in order to decide whether or not they are in a position to supervise, so you should try and ensure that the proposal is as strong as possible in terms of displaying your research plans to best effect.  

Information regarding the kinds of topics which members of staff are available to supervise  can be found here . Some staff members already have a large cohort of students to supervise, so not everyone is available.   

The formal application process  

Once you have a suitable supervisor lined up you will need to move to the formal application process. This needs to include the following elements, which get uploaded onto the Wits online system.   

•      All Graduation Certificates (everything needs to be recently certified) 
•      Mark Transcripts (the mark for your MA thesis mark must be identifiable within the overall coursework marks transcript)
•      A current CV
•      A writing sample.
•      PhD Mini-Research Proposal (aim for around 3,000 words)
•      SAQA Evaluation for non-South African degrees (this increasingly takes longer than it should, and there are currently provisions in place to apply and be provisionally accepted while waiting for SAQA certification to come through). 

You will find information for online applications at Wits here:  https://www.wits.ac.za/applications/portal/index  

Please do note that we do not usually accept PhD applications which have less that the following: a) the average mark for your  Masters  degree (thesis and coursework) must be a minimum of 70%  AND b) the research thesis must also have a minimum of 70%. Applicants with non-South African degrees are evaluated on an equivalence basis. We also take professional experience into account in determining admission.   

There is funding available through the National Research Foundation, Post-Graduate Merit Awards, and a number of other options. However, the vast majority of available funding options require you to have an offer of admission (which in turn requires having a supervisor lined up), so we generally suggest prioritising the admissions process before moving to the funding issue. Admissions at  Ph.D  level are accepted on a rolling basis, but the funding cycle and academic calendar are structured around the expectation of a February start date. The South African Department of Home Affairs can make things challenging for international students, so it can sometimes take a while to secure a student visa following admission.   There are provisions for full-time and part-time studies. It is expected that the full-time programme will take three years, but it is not uncommon for students to take four to five years. Part-time is expected to be five years, but six or seven years is not uncommon here.  

Entry Requirements

All PhD applicants must have 70% or above in their   Masters   course work or Masters by Research.  

 Also see the overview.  

University Application Process

• Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC) . Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment.  Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
• Please apply online . Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal .
• Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the  Self Service Portal .
• Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students , please check this section .

For more information,  contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits .

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Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here . Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities.  NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies.  External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.

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PhD in Political Studies

Faculty Website:    Faculty of Humanities Department:  Department of Politics and International Relations Programme Level: Postgraduate Programme Name:  PhD in Political Studies Programme Code: P7022Q

Medium of Facilitation: part-time, Full-Time NQF Level:  10 NQF Credits:  360 SAQA:  16339

Application Start Date : 1 April 2024 Application End Date: 31 October 2024

Campus:  Auckland Park Kingsway

Contacts: UJ Call Centre 011 559-4555 Email: [email protected]

Duration of Study:  2 Years Full-Time and 3 Years Part-Time

Programme Fees

A thesis on a theme in Political Science or International Relations as a unique contribution, which also demonstrates the ability to do independent and meaningful research. An article ready for publication has to be submitted along with the thesis.

Admission Requirements

For admission to a doctoral programme, applicants must have successfully completed a relevant master’s programme in the same or relevant field of study or discipline as determined by the relevant Faculty Board, approved by the SHDC, ratified by Senate and contained in the relevant Faculty Rules and Regulations.

Selection Process

The extent to which applicants meet admission requirements is assessed by the relevant Head of Department, in consultation with the prospective supervisors, in accordance with the admission requirements for the particular doctoral programme determined by the Faculty Board, approved by Senate and contained in the relevant Faculty Rules and Regulations. The Head of Department, in consultation with the relevant Executive Dean, may set additional admission requirements, as approved by the relevant faculty higher degrees committee, for a particular student. Admission requirements are department specific and approved by the Executive Dean. Admission to a doctoral programme is not automatic even if the applicant is in possession of an appropriate preceding qualification.

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Stellenbosch University | Political Science

Current PhD candidates (in alphabetical order)

Monique Bennett (Supervisor: Dr Guy Lamb)

The fragility of post-conflict peacebuilding – examining renamo’s return to armed conflict two decades after the general peace agreement.

Monique Bennett works as a researcher for an NGO based in Johannesburg covering topics relating to governance, human security, environmental issues and peacebuilding within the African context. She holds a Master’s degree in International Relations with a particular focus on quantitative research methods from the University of Witwatersrand. She is the recipient of the DISARM PhD scholarship from the Peace Research Institute of Oslo in Norway to be completed with Stellenbosch University under the supervision of Dr Guy Lamb. Outside the library, she enjoys teaching yoga and pilates, traveling and cooking.

Chikondi Chidzanja (Supervisor: Dr Guy Lamb; Co-Supervisor: Prof. Janis van der Westhuizen)

A comparative analysis of multilateral counter-terrorism responses in the southern african development community and the economic community of west african states.

Chikondi Chidzanja is an accomplished author who has published a bestseller in Malawi titled ‘Kamuzu Academy; Critical perspectives [from] past, [to] present and future of the Eton of Africa’, and is a consultant on International Relations, Political Economy and Development, Foreign Policy and SADC integration. He has also taught Law and History in Malawi. Chikondi holds an MA in International Relations and World Order from the University of Leicester. Currently, he is a PhD candidate at Stellenbosch where he is focusing on multilateral counter-terrorism responses in SADC and ECOWAS.

Landi Kotze (Supervisor: Prof. Pieter Fourie; Co-Supervisor: Dr Cindy Steenekamp)

There will be blood: menstrual politics in the dwarsriver valley.

Landi grew up in Paarl, and after school she completed her graduate and post-graduate degrees at Stellenbosch University (BA Humanities, Hons International Relation Cum Laude, MA International Relations Cum Laude). She is passionate about people and their environment, consequently devoting most of her studies to sustainable development. Whilst completing her post-graduate degrees, Landi represented South Africa at various international conferences, including the Youth Agricultural Summit in Brussels and the UN Youth Assembly in New York. After completing her MA study “Curse or Cure: the relation between food aid and food security in sub-Saharan Africa”, she decided to shift her focus from the international to local context. Her doctoral study considers menstrual politics in the Dwarsriver Valley just outside of Stellenbosch. Landi intends for this study to contribute to progressive policy making and development.

Thamsanqa Mahlobo (Supervisor: Prof Scarlett Cornelissen)

Critical Geopolitics of International Education: An Investigation of the Role of Public Diplomacy in International Education Exchange Programmes among African participants in China and Japan

Thami Mahlobo is the coordinator of internationalization support at Stellenbosch University International. He is an ABE Initiative alumnus from Hiroshima University in Japan and graduated with a MA degree in International Cooperation Studies in 2019. In 2016, he lectured on a course in Environmental Sustainability at the Durban University of Technology. Before studying at Hiroshima University, he pursued a MEcon degree in Applied Economics at Hunan University in China, where he graduated in 2015. That same year, he spent a month in Vietnam as an intern at the Centre for Water Management and Climate Change at the Vietnam National University in Ho Chi Minh City. His PhD research seeks to take a qualitative approach by investigating the role of public diplomacy in international education exchange programmes among African participants in China and Japan using the critical geopolitics of international education as a theoretical framework.

Mullerene (Mulla) Maree (Supervisor: Prof. Nicola De Jager)

The 21st century’s identity crisis – the united states of america’s fractured democracy (identity politics and its role in challenging unity and democratic values)..

Mulla obtained her graduate and post-graduate degrees at Stellenbosch University (BA Social Dynamics; Hons Political Science; MA Political Science). Her MA thesis, under the supervision of Prof. Collette Schulz-Herzenberg, took a quantitative approach, looking into the youth of South Africa and what political attitudes drive political behaviour. She was a junior lecturer for a first year module – Introduction to South African Politics (April/May 2023). Furthermore, she assists at the Departmental Seminar Series. She has been a teaching assistant for four years at the University in the Department of Political Science, where she has also been head teaching assistant. Her PhD study seeks to take a quantitative approach by measuring how identity politics undermines democracy by challenging democratic values and fracturing unity. She will look into the United States as her case study. Outside of the University she has been, and currently is, a Parliamentary meeting monitor at the Parliamentary Monitoring Group (PMG). Her political interests range from youth and democratic participation; political attitudes and behaviour; democratic governance; and identity and identity politics. 

Bathromeu Mavhura (Supervisor: Dr Guy Lamb)

A critical analysis of how counterterrorism actions influence conflict dynamics: the case of armed conflict in northern mozambique.

Bathromeu Mavhura was born and raised in Zimbabwe and migrated to South Africa after completing his Advanced level studies in History, English Literature, and Divinity. He is a diligent individual who obtained a BA in International Relations and Diplomacy in 2015 and Honours International Politics in 2018 at the University of South Africa. He proceeded to do an MA in Political Sciences in 2020 at Stellenbosch University. Bathromeu has a long and demonstrable interest in peace, conflict, and security issues, with a research background in state failure and terrorism in Africa. His Master’s thesis was on “The emergence of Boko Haram in Nigeria, using state failure and relative deprivation theories.” He is currently a Doctoral candidate in the Department of Political Sciences at Stellenbosch University. Mavhura is looking at the implications of labeling or classifying certain armed conflicts as ‘terrorism’ on decision-making and policy-making by governments and non-governmental organizations, using the ongoing conflict in northern Mozambique as an illustrative example. His vision is to contribute ideas and evidence to comprehend the root causes of armed conflict and conflict recurrences.

Ijeoma Opara (Supervisor: Prof. Amanda Gouws)

A study of slay queenism: a thematic analysis of black femme postfeminist subjectivities in post-apartheid south africa.

Ijeoma Opara is currently a PhD Candidate in Political Science at Stellenbosch University, under the auspices of the SARChi Chair in Gender Politics. Her PhD project looks into the construction of black femme postfeminist identity in South Africa. After being awarded the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship in 2017, she went on to complete her Masters in International Relations at the University of Cape Town. She is also a freelance creative writer and research consultant with a keen interest in African politics, migration and feminist studies. Her creative writing pursuits centre around topics that relate to her own conceptualisation of being a foreign black woman that has grown up and lived in Stellenbosch, South Africa, while connecting to larger themes that deal with identity, belonging, the African Diaspora and feminism.

Chumile Samson (Supervisor: Dr Guy Lamb)

A critical analysis of the south african government’s response to undocumented migrants in post-apartheid south africa.

Chumile Samson is a passionate human rights activist and International Relations scholar with M.A. in Political Sciences. He is of the view that interdisciplinary and intergovernmental approaches are essential to finding solutions to complex and interlocking global challenges such as the refugee crises, which is why he is pursuing his PhD in Political Sciences with a focus on international migration, public policy and foreign policy analysis. Chumile was awarded in 2021 by Mail and Guardian as one of the top 200 most influential young people for his instrumental roles in higher education transformation, youth development and international diplomacy. He is currently the Head of Communication for South African Youth in International Diplomacy (SAYID) and a co-founder and Board Chair of Youth Inspired Developmental Initiatives ( YIDI). Within the academic space, Chumile has had the honour of being awarded some of the sought-after accolades, namely the Cannon Collin scholarship, BRICS Project 2.0 Capacity Development Fellowship and the National Research Fund Scholarship.

Marion Stevens (Supervisor: Prof. Amanda Gouws)

A policy analysis: from population control to the construction of sexual and reproductive health post-apartheid, 1994-2021.

Marion Stevens has an academic background as a midwife, in medical anthropology and in public and development management and has worked in sexual and reproductive justice for over 30 years. Her work has included conducting participatory research, policy analysis and development, project management and governance and advocacy. She is the outgoing founding director of the Sexual and Reproductive Justice Coalition in South Africa and currently sits on the Gender Advisory Panel of the World Health Organisation. She is a recipient of the Sol Plaatje Canon Collins Scholarship.

Rui Tyitende (Supervisor: Dr Guy Lamb)

Vignettes of manufacturing discontent and populist ideology of elites: a comparative analysis of namibia under nujoma, pohamba and geingob (1990-2024).

Rui Tyitende teaches politics at the University of Namibia, Windhoek. For more than a decade as an academic, his academic interests include political ideologies, politics of the state, public policy analysis, the political economy of China, political behaviour, social movements, political violence and terrorism studies. Rui is also associated with the Centre for Chinese Studies based at Stellenbosch University, South Africa and an associate of the transnational organisation, Democracy Without Borders. Rui holds a Master of Arts in Political Science from Stellenbosch University, a Masters in Public Administration and BA (Hons) in Public Administration from the University of Namibia. He is a highly sought after political commentator in Namibia and was instrumental in the drafting of Namibia’s National Policy and Strategy on Anti-Money Laundering, Combating the Financing of Terrorism and Combating the Financing of Proliferation. He is deeply involved in community projects that seeks to promote food security and alleviate poverty amongst the marginalised and downtrodden in society. His current research is on the populist ideology of elites and social cohesion in Namibia under the reigns of Namibia’s two former heads of state and the incumbent.

Recent graduates

Helen Macdonald (Supervisor: Prof. Collette Schulz-Herzenberg)

Populism, nativism and voting behaviour: a global perspective.

Helen is a senior research analyst who works in different sectors (NGO, academia, corporate) conducting quantitative and qualitative research for a range of clients. She has previously worked for the Institute for Democracy in South Africa (IDASA) as a political analyst and the Institute for Justice and Reconciliation (IJR) as an analyst and head of research. As part of a team at IJR, she was instrumental in founding the South African Reconciliation Barometer (SARB), a longitudinal survey research project mapping attitudes towards justice and reconciliation in South Africa. Helen has also lectured political behavior and social science research methodology to undergrads and postgrads in the Department of Political Science at Stellenbosch University (SU) and managed an internship programme in the South African parliament. She holds an MA in Political Science from SU. Her PhD focusses on voting behavior and more specifically how anti-immigrant nativism influences populist voting. It is a quantitative study using data from the Comparative National Elections Project (CNEP) and includes seven country cases in the global North and South.

Ngqapheli Mchunu (Supervisor: Prof. Nicola de Jager)

Ritual partisans or rational voters voting behaviour in botswana’s electoral democracy: 2008-2019.

Ngqapheli Mchunu is a Social Sciences researcher with a keen interest in the academic research areas of corruption, governance, public opinion, and service delivery.  He is competent in qualitative social sciences research methods including questionnaire design, data collection and analysis and has developed competencies in quantitative social sciences research as well .   Mchunu holds a Master of Social Sciences degree in Political Science from the University of KwaZulu. Currently, he is enrolled for a Doctoral degree  in Political Science at Stellenbosch University looking at challenges facing  corruption fighting institutions  in dominant party systems.

Batlang Seabo (Supervisor: Prof. Collette Schulz-Herzenberg)

Challenges facing anti-corruption mechanisms in a dominant party democratic state: a case study of kwazulu-natal in south africa, 2004-2019..

Batlang Seabo is a Senior Lecturer in Political Science at the University of Botswana. He holds an MA degree in Political Science from Central European University in Budapest, Hungary and completed his PhD in Political Science at Stellenbosch University in 2023. He is also a researcher and a member of the Afrobarometer Survey Network for Botswana. His research interests include voting behaviour, political communication, political parties and party systems, political elites and network analysis. He has co-authored and published articles in local and international journals.

Annemie Parkin (Supervisor: Prof. Nicola de Jager)

Parties of Pressure: Opposition parties in the dominant-party systems of Botswana and South Africa

Dr. Annemie Parkin is a Stellenbosch University alumnus. She did her undergraduate (BA Humanities) and postgraduate studies (Honours, MA, PhD) at US. Her research interests include the following: democratization, democratic consolidation, dominant-party systems, party politics in Southern Africa, Southern African and African politics. She is currently working in the higher education industry as an Academic Manager for a private higher education institution.

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On this page:

• Formal Application Information
• Supporting Documentation requirements
• Proposal Presentation
• Provisional Registration
• Contacting Supervisors

About PhD Admission

Admission is by formal application only.

It is general departmental policy to admit only PhD applicants who have a strong track record of research and hold a Master’s degree or equivalent.  Our expectation is a minimum of 70%, or the GPA equivalent, at Masters level.  We do, however, consider each application on its own merits - i.e. this is a guideline and not a rule.

In addition, the department will only accept students who wish to work in a research field where the department has expertise.

As the Doctoral Degree Board (DDB) policy requires, a full PhD proposal should be submitted on admission or within 6 months of registration where applicants are admitted on a provisional basis with the opportunity to work on their proposal under supervision.

It is important to recognise that applicants with funding/scholarships are not favoured in the process of admission; that is, scholarships should not be awarded with the presumption that the Department will accept the applicant.

Deadlines - application and registration

1.  Applying :

While PhD applicants may apply at any time of the year, the department has two periods during the academic year during which applications will be formally reviewed by our Postgraduate Committee, one in each semester. The first semester application review process will take place roughly at the end of March /early April, and the second semester review process will be scheduled towards the end of September/early October. Please factor these dates in when you are planning your application

2.  Registering :

Registration takes place after the formal application has been processed and only if a student has been accepted - either provisionally or with full approval.

First-time registrations:

• New PhD students may register throughout the academic year but it must be before 1 May if it is to count as the first academic year of study (towards the minimum period of registration).  This is pertinent for those candidates who would like to graduate within the minimum legislated time of 2 years; UCT supports 3-5 years to complete a PhD.
• If a new PhD student registers after 30 June they are granted a 50% rebate of the annual course fee for that year.  See the UCT Fee handbook for details and confirmation.

Returning candidates: must register by no later than 28 February each year.

Formal Application Procedures

UCT application information, and the link to the online application form, will be found on the UCT  Applications  page.

You will be required to supply supporting documentation .

In order to apply online you will need a working email address and your South African identity number or, if you are an international applicant, your passport number.

Once the application has been submitted online the Faculty will refer it to the department for consideration. 

Supporting Documentation - what to provide when you apply

The following documents should be submitted as part of your formal application:

PhD Proposal

• Minimum of 8 – 10 pages; referenced; the topic must correspond with the research foci of the Department . Prospective applicants are encouraged to contact a member of the academic staff to enquire if a proposed topic falls within the scope of their research interests
• Description of the Research problem based on a brief survey of the relevant academic literature. Proposals must aim to show, by engaging with relevant academic literature, what contribution the doctoral thesis will make to existing knowledge about the topic.
• Articulation of a Research question . Proposals must include a research question, or at minimum, explicitly indicate the aims and objectives of the doctoral research, as is relates to the research problem.
• Statement on a proposed conceptual and/or theoretical framework : Proposals must include, as part of a survey of academic literature, reference to a conceptual or theoretical framework to be considered for use in the research
• Description of a research design/methodology to guide the collection and analysis of sources. Proposals must include a preliminary research design/methodology to explain ‘how’ primary and secondary sources will be collected and analysed.
• Ethical implications of the proposed research , proposals must indicate if the research will involve human subjects as respondents, and if so, how will the participation and interests of respondents be secured, managed and protected
• Proposed timeline , proposals should seek to provide an estimated (recognising that this could change) timeframe for completion, or indicative milestones for the completion of each section of the research

Also to include

Your transcript (the official marks from institutions attended, together with an explanation of the marks structure, if needed)

A sample of your academic writing - this should be a chapter of your Masters thesis or an academic article you have written

Your curriculum vitae

All of the above requested documents must be provided in order for a proper assessment to be made.

Should these documents not be provided, your application will not be reviewed. 

Presenting your Proposal

If your documentation and proposal have been approved for potential registration, as well as a suitable supervisor assigned, the next step is to present your proposal to a panel of staff within the department for approval.  This will take place either before official registration or, if you are accepted for provisional registration, within 6 months of registering.

Once proposals receive departmental approval, these are sent through to the faculty for submission to the DDB and final approval.

Provisional registration

The department's postgraduate committee may recommend registration on the understanding that this period of enrolment will be spent doing further work to the proposal, under supervision, to prepare the proposal for departmental, faculty and final Doctoral Degrees Board approval.  If the revised proposal is not completed within six months of registration, or is not approved, there will be no continued registration into a second year of study.

Presentation of your proposal will be required during this period of provisional registration.

During this first period of registration, the annual registration fee is levied as per normal, as well as any other required UCT fees such as the annual fee for International students.  See the UCT Fee handbook for details.

Contacting Potential Supervisors

It is preferred that applicants lodge a formal application with UCT before any personal dialogue is opened with potential supervisors.    The appointing of a supervisor will depend on whether there is relevant expertise in the department and whether staff have expressed interest in supervising the proposed topic.

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Doctor of Philosophy in Political Sciences

Closing date for applications for admission to master's and doctoral qualifications for 2024 academic year (some exceptions apply) extended to 31 january 2024., admission requirements, student fees and funding your studies.

• Application for admission

Registration

An appropriate master's degree. In addition to this requirement, applicants must submit a transcript or an academic record, as well as a document describing their intended research. All students with foreign qualifications, including those with qualifications from African countries, must have their qualifications evaluated at SAQA. (www.saqa.org.za) Students will be accepted on the following criteria: suitability and viability of the intended research; adequate supervisory capacity and research expertise in the discipline or department. There is an approved selection procedure which is in line with Unisa's policies on equality and diversity in the discipline or department.

Time limits for this degree

All master's and doctoral qualifications are structured over a defined period. Refer to sections 4.12 and 4.13 in the Procedures for master’s and doctoral degrees .

A student registered for a research doctoral programme must complete the study programme within six years. A student may make application to the Registrar for one additional year of study who will only consider the application if it is recommended by the Executive Dean of the College in which the student is registered.

Doctoral degree

A doctoral degree will require you to undertake research at the most advanced academic levels culminating in the submission, assessment and acceptance of a thesis. Coursework may be required as preparation or value addition to the research, but does not contribute to the credit value of the qualification. The defining characteristic of this qualification is that you will be required to demonstrate high-level research capability and make a significant and original academic contribution at the frontiers of the discipline or field. This work must be of a quality to satisfy peer review and merit publication.

Research focus areas

Click here  to view a list of departments and research focus areas for the College of Human Sciences.

Research outline 

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Political-Science

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Postgraduate Studies​​

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​department of political science.

The Department of Political Science is a dynamic, research-driven unit with a focus on the political challenges which South Africa and the broader African continent must face in a globalising world. Through comprehensive research programmes, the department has developed expertise in a wide spectrum of international, African and domestic politics. Pressing issues such as poverty, development, globalisation and inequality are addressed at the under- and postgraduate levels. The department provides high-level theoretical and analytical training in a variety of subfields of Political Science, with particular focus on political risk analysis, public policy analysis, political behaviour and survey research, foreign policy analysis, global governance, and conflict and peace studies in Africa. Experts from practice and international universities are frequently involved in the presentation of modules.

In the programmes below, some of the modules can be followed at other universities as part of an international exchange opportunity.

AREAS OF SPECIALISATION INCLUDE -​

​international studies.

The   BAHons programme  is offered full-time and consists of taught modules and a research assignment. Students undertake an intensive study of a number of selected focus areas in international studies. The following modules are offered:

• Research methodology
• International relations theory
• Southern African political economy
• Global political economy
• The political economy of development
• Gender and international relations
• Research assignment

The programme is aimed at training analysts with an in-depth understanding of South Africa's challenges within the context of the contemporary world order.

The  MA programme  is offered full-time and consists of taught modules and a thesis. Students undertake an advanced study of a number of focus areas in international studies. The following coursework modules are offered:

• Foreign policy analysis
• Conflict in Africa
• Political risk analysis

The programme is aimed at decision-makers in the public and private sectors who are confronted by and must develop strategies in a world which is subject to the dynamics of political, economic and technological globalisation.​

political Science

The  BAHons programme   is offered full-time, residentially and consists of taught modules and a research assignment. Students undertake an intensive study of a number of selected focus areas in political science. The following coursework modules are offered:

• Statistical package for social scientists
• Contemporary South African politics
• Political behaviour

The programme is aimed at training political analysts with an in-depth understanding of the political processes and behaviour in South Africa with a comparative perspective.

The  MA programme  is offered full-time and consists of taught modules and a thesis. It is  aimed at training analysts with an advanced understanding of policy and political risk analysis. Students undertake an advanced study of a number of focus areas in political science. The following coursework modules are offered:

• Policy analysis
• Peace and conflict studies

The  doctoral programme   consists of research which culminates in the writing of a dissertation.

POSTGRADUATE QUALIFICATIONS​​

• BAHons (International Studies)​
• BAHons (Political Science)​​
• MA (International Studies)​​​
• MA (Political Science)​
• PhD (Political Science​)​​​​​

Programme Offering​

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24 Best universities for Political Science in South Africa

Updated: February 29, 2024

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Below is a list of best universities in South Africa ranked based on their research performance in Political Science. A graph of 2.16M citations received by 191K academic papers made by 24 universities in South Africa was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Cape Town

For Political Science

2. University of the Witwatersrand

3. University of Stellenbosch

4. University of Pretoria

5. University of KwaZulu-Natal

6. University of South Africa

7. University of Johannesburg

8. North-West University

9. University of the Western Cape

10. University of the Free State

11. Rhodes University

12. Nelson Mandela University

13. University of Fort Hare

14. Tshwane University of Technology

15. University of Limpopo

16. Cape Peninsula University of Technology

17. Durban University of Technology

18. University of Zululand

19. Vaal University of Technology

20. University of Venda

21. Walter Sisulu University

22. Central University of Technology

23. Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University

24. Mangosuthu University of Technology

The best cities to study Political Science in South Africa based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cape Town , Johannesburg , Stellenbosch , and Pretoria .

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in South Africa

Theses and Dissertations (Political Sciences)

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• Political leadership as a quality: a critical study of John Garang in promoting peace and reconciliation in South Sudan  Modise, Sydney Shuping ( 2022-01 ) The purpose of this research is to look into John Garang's political leadership qualities and his role in promoting peace and reconciliation in South Sudan. The research argues that he used his vision and inspiration to ...
• Thabo Mbeki and Black public intellectuals: the politics of tolerance and criticism in post-1994 South Africa  Seemela, Ontlotile ( 2021-06 ) This study’s primary aim is to examine how black public intellectuals engaged with Thabo Mbeki publicly, in post-1994 public discourse. The concept of black public intellectuals used here relates to the capacity of critics ...
• Frantz Fanon’s conception of decolonization : violence, tabula rasa, and new humanism  Ndayisenga, Zenon ( 2021-09 ) his study uses Africana existential phenomenology as the theoretical foundation to comprehend Frantz Fanon’s conception of decolonisation. His conception of decolonisation is respectively and tri-dimensionally based on the ...
• An assessment of the level of independence of electoral management bodies and their effects on democratisation in africa: the case of Ghana and the Democratic Republic of Congo  Gabie, Carmel Tshamalamala ( 2019-09 ) The basic problem in this study is to determine whether the electoral management body (EMB) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is sufficiently independent and whether it complies with most of the criteria of an ideal ...
• The paradox of political legitimacy?: Zimbabwe’s global political agreement of 15 September 2008 and the subsequent government of national unity  Matemba, Doreen ( 2017-07 ) It is increasingly becoming apparent that elections, as component parts of democratic processes, do not always guarantee a smooth transfer of power and stable democratic cultures in many contemporary polities. Whenever ...
• Political unification before economic integration : a critical analysis of Kwame Nkrumah's arguments on the United States of Africa  Gudeta, Selamawit Tadesse ( 2018-01 ) Kwame Nkrumah was the first African leader to pursue the idea of Africa’s continent-wide unity with fervour. Many thought that African unity will only be the pooling of poverty and that Nkrumah’s dream was impossible. ...
• Analysis of the role of traditional leadership in partnership policing  Mabunda, Dumisani Quiet ( 2017-09 ) The main objective of this research is to analyse the role that traditional leadership plays in partnership policing in Limpopo, particularly in the Giyani and Malamulele areas, South Africa. Given the challenges associated ...
• The effectiveness of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the contect of the five pillars of transitional justice  Motlhoki, Stephina Modiegi ( 2017-09 ) This study evaluated the effectiveness of the South African Truth and Reconciliation Commission (SATRC), using the theoretical and conceptual framework of the five pillars of transitional justice. Chitsike (2012) identified ...
• A critical analysis of President Thabo Mbeki's approach to resolving the 2008 disputed election results in Zimbabwe  Tapfuma, Maria ( 2016-10 ) Evaluating the effectiveness of Thabo Mbeki’s political mediation in the Zimbabwean conflict of 2008, following a disputed election outcome, is the principal objective of this study. The Ripeness Theory of mediation and ...
• Political socialisation and its implications within a rural setting in South Africa : a case study of Calais Village in Limpopo province  Mbabvu, Desmond ( 2017-02 ) The central issue in this study is political socialisation and its implications within a rural setting in South Africa with a particular focus on Calais village in Limpopo Province. The aim of the study is to determine how ...
• The impact of wikileaks on the state and its sovereignty  Sterley, Murray ( 2016-05 ) WikiLeaks emerged due to the belief that states (often democratic) were not as transparent as they claimed to be. Prior to WikiLeaks, transparency was largely done through state mechanisms and information ...
• Steve Biko’s Africana existential phenomenology : on blackness, black solidarity, and liberation  Mpungose, Cyprian Lucky ( 2016-07 ) This study focuses on Steve Biko’s Africana existential phenomenology, with particular emphasis on the themes of blackness, black solidarity and liberation. The theoretical foundation of this thesis is Africana existential ...
• Secessionism versus territorial unity : centre-periphery relations in the Democratic Republic of Congo (1960-2006)  N'Kiamvu, John Rene Kamba ( 2016-02 ) The focus in this dissertation is on the rise of secessionism and its curtailment in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Theories pertaining to centre-periphery relations, as well as right-sizing the state, are used ...
• Stakeholders' perceptions on the management of the 2011 electoral processes in the Democratic Republic of Congo  Tumba Tuseku Dieudonne ( 2014-11 ) This study investigated the perceptions of election stakeholders with regard to the management of the 2011 electoral processes in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The involvement of civil society organizations, ...
• A political analysis of MONUC's involvement in the peace and security problematique of the Democratic Republic of Congo  Kabongo Kidiawenda Doudou ( 2015-07-03 ) Armed conflict and violence against civilians in the Democratic Republic of the Congo has persisted for years starting in the 1990s. The Eastern, Western and North-Eastern parts of the country have seen the presence of a ...
• Analise van die politieke, ekonomiese en militêre verhouding tussen die Republiek van Suid-Afrika en die Volksrepubliek van Sjina, 1998-2012  Bezuidenhout, Marius ( 2015-05 ) Suid-Afrika het sy diplomatieke bande met Taiwan verbreek en hegte diplomatieke bande met Sjina in 1998 aangeknoop. Hierdie hegte verhouding wat tussen Suid-Afrika en Sjina ontwikkel het, word dikwels deur politici, die ...
• Theories and practice of “soft power” : their relevance for China (as a rising power) in its relationship with African states  Paruk, Farhana ( 2014-11 ) This study emphasizes the role of soft power in China’s relations with Africa. It attempts to explore and interpret China’s role in Africa from Joseph Nye’s perspective of soft power and Realism in general. China’s foreign ...
• The economic diplomacy of a small state : the case of Namibia  Mushelenga, Peya ( 2015-03 ) This study is about the economic diplomacy of Namibia, as a small state, for the period 1990 – 2015. Liberalism, as a theory of International Relations (IR) studies, is the adopted analytical framework. Namibia’s economic ...
• The role of Southern African Development Community (SADC) in conflict resolution in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) 1998-2003 : 'an appraisal'  Kapinga, Ntumba ( 2015-02 ) Situated at the heart of Africa, the DRC has been transformed into a battlefield where several African states and national armed movements are simultaneously fighting various wars. In order to achieve peace, security, and ...
• A study of the linkages between popular music and politics in South Africa under Apartheid in the 1980s  Durbach, David Justin ( 2015-03 ) This dissertation seeks to explore how the exercise of political power and the music industry impacted each other in South Africa under apartheid during the 1980s. It does so by looking firstly at the ways in which the ...

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8 PhD Degrees in Political Science in Africa for 2024

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PhD (Political Science)

University of pretoria - faculty of humanities.

• Pretoria, South Africa

Prospective students may be required to submit an admissions essay or to sit for an examination or to do additional work/modules to enable them to reach the desired level of study.

PhD (Politics)

An acceptable level of proficiency in English or Afrikaans is required.

PhD in Diplomacy and International Affairs

Euclid (euclid university).

• Washington, USA
• Gambia Online, Gambia

Full time, Part time

Distance Learning

The only online Ph.D. program in diplomacy organized by an international intergovernmental organization and officially used by active diplomats over 4 continents.

PhD in Inter-Religious Dialogue and Diplomacy / Interfaith Studies

A specialized online Ph.D. offered by an intergovernmental university with recognized expertise in interfaith studies.

PhD in Mediation and Conflict Resolution

The EUCLID online doctorate in mediation and conflict resolution is also unique for blending personal level psychology with high-level issues (diplomacy, inter-religious dialogue) and practical skills (negotiation), the purpose is to offer a comprehensive coverage of this broad topic.

PhD in Politics

University of johannesburg.

• Johannesburg, South Africa

A thesis on a theme in Political Science or International Relations, as a unique contribution which also demonstrates the ability to do independent and meaningful research, is required. An article ready for publication has to be submitted along with the thesis.

PhD in Sustainable Development and Diplomacy

The EUCLID DSDD (Doctorate in Sustainable Development and Diplomacy) is a distance, nonresident study program.

PhD in Terrorism Studies and Deradicalization (Online)

• Central African Republic Online, Central African Republic

EUCLID’s online Ph.D. in terrorism studies and deradicalization is unique in that it is offered by an intergovernmental treaty-based organization with a university mandate. EUCLID has specialized expertise in global affairs, including interfaith studies.

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PhD Degrees in Political Science

Political science attempts to analyze and deconstruct government entities and the social structures that they influence. A strong component of the study involves understanding the political behavior of citizens and various philosophical and ethical issues.

Many programs in Africa take place in a very unusual cultural and physical environment than most students are familiar with in the good old days. Come To Know to adapt to this living conditions is part of fun and the challenge of living there. The challenge is intellectual, emotional and physical.

Requirements for the PhD program often involve the student having already obtained a Master’s degree. Additionally, a thesis or dissertation primarily consisting of original academic research must be submitted. In some countries, this work may even need to be defended in front of a panel.