Duration (minimum and maximum duration 

• For full-time students, the study period is at minimum one year and the maximum duration of study is four years.
• For part-time students it is minimum one year and the maximum duration of study is five years.
• If a student has not completed the study within the maximum duration of studies allowed, the student may be terminated.

Admission requirements 

• To gain admission to the PhD in Law and Development, a student must have obtained an LLM degree or a Master’s degree with a field of specialisation in either Anthropology, Commerce, Social Sciences or Development Studies from this University or another South African university or must have the status of such Master’s degree granted on request by the senate.
• An evaluation certificate as issued by the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) must be submitted if a previous qualification was obtained in a foreign country.
• Applicants must have achieved a minimum average of 65% for the LLM degree (or relevant Master’s degree with a field of specialisation in either Anthropology, Commerce, Social Sciences or Development Studies from this University or from another South African university or must have the status of such Master’s degree granted on request by the senate) as well as for the dissertation (research report) to be admitted to the PhD in Law and Development programme.
• Students must furnish a concept note (a four-page mini proposal) submitted with the application form as proof of his/her research skills before the applicant receives permission to register.
• Students are strongly encouraged to interact with a potential  promoter prior to the application process.

Further requirements 

• PhD degree students must (in consultation with his/her supervisor) submit the research proposals for a thesis six months after the final date of registration for doctoral degrees (31 October) in their first year of registration.
• A student is required to successfully complete a research discussion six months after the approval of the research proposal.
• Students are required to attend compulsory seminars of the Research Methodology programme arranged during the academic year. Permission for absence is granted only by the programme leader on good grounds.