The School of Law at the University of Venda, South Africa, offers doctoral degree programmes in Law and Criminal Justice to qualified candidates. These programmes are research-based. Registered candidates will work with and be availed the experience, guidance, and supervision of dedicated and distinguished legal academics based in the School. In some circumstances, non-resident expert academics will be engaged to co-supervise along with resident academics. The School also provides quality support and a conducive working environment to candidates to ensure a unique research experience.
Admission requirements
For admission into these doctoral programmes, the following general requirements
must be met:
General entry requirements
– A candidate must be able to conduct independent and original research that will contribute to scholarship.
– Must be fluent in English.
– A CV.
Specific entry requirements
– An LLM degree (or equivalent) for the doctoral degree in law from a recognised university or a master’s degree in humanities for the doctoral degree in criminal justice programme.
– Certified copies of degree certificates.
– Academic transcripts.
– Two academic references.
– Abridged research proposal.
For master’s degrees obtained abroad, a prospective candidate must apply for and
obtain the SAQA Evaluation Certificate.
Note that acceptance into these programmes will be based on the availability of competent supervisors.
Duration: Minimum of 2 academic sessions
Maximum of 5 academic sessions from the initial registration.
Number of words: Minimum of 80,000
Study mode: Full time and part time
Programmes descriptions
The doctorate degree programmes are research-based and they are –
– Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Law cuts across all areas of specialisations or legal disciplines. In the main, it requires completion of a thesis which makes an original and significant contribution to legal scholarship and must be of publishable quality. The degree will be awarded after examination and a viva voce (oral examination) before a
panel of experts.
– Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Criminal Justice
The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Criminal Justice offers an interdisciplinary training in the criminal justice for both legal and non-legal academics, legal practitioners and non-lawyers with the opportunity to specialise in criminal justice. By design, it serves as a career-enhancing degree for professionals and academics. Candidates are required to produce a thesis which makes original and significant contribution to legal scholarship and must be of publishable quality. The degree will be awarded after examination and a viva voce (oral examination) before a panel of experts.
Application deadline
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis throughout the year.
To apply, contact:
Professor Lonias Ndlovu, Dean School of Law
Email: lonias.ndlovu@univen.ac.za
How to apply go to https://www.univen.ac.za/students/how-to-apply/
