PhD Inquiries/Applicants
The Centre for Communication, Media and Society (CCMS)
Graduate section
Howard College Campus, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban
PhD INQUIRIES/APPLICANTS
Thank
you for your inquiry regarding completing a PhD at CCMS. In order to
streamline our responses to increasing inquiries about the PhD degree we
have drawn up a basic set of Guidelines which potential applicants
should ask themselves before applying to our Programme. Applicants
should then be in a good position to ascertain whether our Programme is,
in fact, an appropriate place in which to study, in terms of the
applicant’s own needs and objectives on the one hand and in terms of
what we offer on the other.
CCMS
gets many inquiries and submissions for the PhD degree, and processing
such approaches takes considerable time. The logistics of PhD study are
very complex for both students and for the supervising programme. All
this requires considerable advance planning where acceptances are
offered.
In
the normal course of events we accept few applicants, as we need to be
convinced that the applicant is well focused, has the financial means,
and understands what is required by this very demanding degree.
Globally, many PhD students start with the best of intentions, but few
actually complete their theses. Therefore, we have put together some
basic questions which we ask inquirers to think about seriously before
applying. Following consideration of the Guidelines below, and
familiarisation of CCMS’s areas of expertise, research themes and where
the applicant’s proposed project fits into these, the procedure for
considering potential applicants and assessing their suitability for
acceptance to the Programme starts from receipt of the information
requested at the end of this document. PhD applicants need to contact
CCMS at least six months prior to the new academic year as acceptance
for study at this senior level and must take into account numerous
factors stated below. We also establish a dialogue during this period
with potential candidates to ensure that they start studying with
immediate effect if they are accepted.
KEY QUESTIONS
a) Why
does the applicant want to study for a PhD? The career paths available
to PhD graduates are actually quite limited, and are among the most
competitive in the world. One’s future will be largely limited to the
available spaces for academics, or in the research environments of
industry or state sectors. It has become a global phenomenon that PhD
graduates have spent their entire working lives as so-called `adjunct
professors’, underpaid part-time teaching posts without health or
retirement benefits. Candidates must therefore be fully prepared to
begin at the margins of this cut-throat environment on graduation; it
actually helps to embark on a PhD after one has secured employment in an
academic post.
PhD
study is an extremely intensive education for a research career. The
appellation `Dr’ recognises the extraordinary demands of the degree and
rewards success. In environments like the USA, obtaining a PhD is often
the basic required qualification for entry into an academic and
lecturing career.
b)
Is the candidate aware of the significant differences between an MA and
a PhD? Contemporary MA structures differ little from advanced
undergraduate study. The research required for an MA dissertation is
merely a demonstration that candidates have absorbed – and mastered – a
given curriculum. At PhD level, one must in effect generate an
academically adequate curriculum, follow it independently, and only then
generate and carry out a relevant research project in the task of
building new theory. The PhD is not simply an extension of the Master’s
degree. It is a theoretically-based project of an entirely different
order of magnitude.
c)
Are applicants aware of the stresses that will occur in doing a PhD?
Applicants need to have sufficient time, funding, energy, institutional
and family support to undertake the PhD. Few applicants appreciate the
reality of the extraordinary demands entailed in embarking on their PhD
study and research. Aside from the intensive demands on both the
supervisor and the student, the work required for a PhD cuts into every
other facet of family and social life.
d)
Does the applicant appreciate that a PhD is as much a socialisation
process as it is about doing research? This is one of the reasons for
CCMS organising its work in terms of themed projects and team research,
based in the Programme itself. This is why we prefer full-time students
who participate in, and actively contribute to, the regular Writing and
Proposal Seminars. Peer-support, collective debate and engagement are
all part of team-work.
e)
As a socialisation process, the PhD demands immense amounts of reading,
deep immersion into large bodies of literature, both historical and
contemporary, and intense debate on these. Often, potential applicants
are unaware of massive recent conceptual advances in the literature,
especially if they are older graduates who have been working outside the
academy. Considerable time and effort will need to be expended in
familiarising new candidates with these new bodies of literature.
f)
What is the class of pass earned by the applicant in his/her MA? The
minimum threshold is a good upper second from a university and
department of international standing. A publication record in
peer-reviewed journals is an added recommendation.
g)
Does the applicant have sufficient financial resources to undertake
and complete his/her studies? Costs which the student will need to
budget for include: fees, residence, study, books, photostating, and
related research dissertation expenses etc. (International students will
need to cover the costs of medical aid, study visas, and UKZN
international levies.) Few applicants factor in research expenses when
deciding to pursue a PhD. Depending on the topic and the location of
field work, these expenses can be considerable. CCMS and the University
will require documentary evidence that applicants will be able to ensure
sufficient financial support during their period of their canditature.
Applicants will be sent an estimation of expenses when their formal
applications are received.
h)
All applications are considered by a staff committee, the Head of
School, and the Office of the Deputy Dean, Research. This is a complex
administrative and selection process involving a number of UKZN offices.
It is crucial therefore that all information, certified certificates,
university transcripts, CV and other information requested are correct
and provided on time.
IF THE APPLICANT CAN SHOW EVIDENCE OF THE ABOVE, THEN S/HE NEEDS TO ASK:
a) Is CCMS the appropriate place for study? (Browse our website: (https://ccms.ukzn.ac.za/) for clarification:
i) CCMS research is based on some quite specific logical and
epistemological orientations. Do applicants understand the full
significance of these?
ii) When you complete a PhD, you join an academic community. However,
even when you begin a course of doctoral study, you do so as a member of
that community. It is therefore important that you belong to a
department where the type of academic discourse you want to research
actually exists. Another way of putting this is to ask, are you a peer
to your adopted academic community? Peers share a number of things in
common. Chief among these is that they all participate in common
theoretical and methodological discourses, or a fraction of those
discourses. For example: `Media’, `communication’ and `cultural
studies’ have certain very specific logical implications for us, which
may or may not apply in other contexts, other departments and other
universities. Are applicants aware of these differences, and how they
might impact their own objective
iii) Is the applicant familiar with CCMS’s work, its theoretical emphases, and its research orientations?
iv) While professional experience is always an added value, it is not
always a reliable indicator of ability to handle dense and deep sets of
philosophical concepts, theories and methods. The `philosophy’ part of a
PhD may draw on aspects of one’s media or cultural experience. But
preparing and completing a PhD requires finding highly abstract
conceptual connections in, and gaining knowledge of, the field as a
whole. This is a task which requires much more than `making media’,
claiming an essentialistic knowledge of `culture’, or simply summarising
the existing literature.
v) PhD candidates need to choose the programme best suited to their
objectives, rather than trying to push a conveniently located programme
into topics in which its professors have little knowledge, expertise or
interest.
vi) Does the proposed research topic develop on the applicant’s
previous studies, research and expertise. CCMS receives many research
proposals from applicants which have no obvious reference to their
previous experience and studies. A PhD cannot be a shot in the dark, or
an interesting idea; a PhD consolidates prior learning through a topic
related to previous conceptual experience and work.
b)
Is the applicant able to study full-time? The projects division of CCMS
does not accept distance or part-time students. The following
prerequisites apply to all those wanting to enrol as PhD candidates:
i) Unless they already have an MA in the area of their work from CCMS,
for the first year at least, all PhD candidates are required to study
full-time for the first 18 months at least (or a shorter period to be
agreed upon, which includes auditing the relevant modules and the
writing of a research proposal accepted by the Higher Degree and
Research Committee. This shorter period would normally run from Feb –
June, depending on which modules are audited as some are offered only in
the second semester). They are required to audit relevant graduate
modules in order to prepare themselves conceptually for their thesis
research. Thereafter, we expect students to spend time regularly in
Durban working with their supervisors and staff/student research teams.
`Audit’ means reading, participation, preparing and presenting
particular seminars. Applicants who fail to obtain acceptance for their
research proposals within nine months of registration will be
deregistered.
ii) Candidates are required to participate in the Writing and Proposal Seminars held weekly during the academic year .
iii) PhD’s who are accepted but who then find that they cannot complete
the first 18 months full-time will be asked to de-register.
iv) All new students applying for re-instatement after a period of
absence will be required to re-apply to the School in terms of the
requirements of the newly established graduate division. All applicants
will be required to furnish documentary proof to CCMS that they have
sufficient funds to undertake the degree, and that they have sufficient
funds to spend the first 18 months of their registration in Durban. They
will also need to provide assurance and evidence of financial resources
that they will spend the necessary time in Durban regularly working
with their supervisors after the 18 month full-time requirement.
Depending
on the thesis topic, the costs can be quite high. Students must assume
that research costs are for their own account. Research costs incurred
by students are not covered by fees or other levies, though on occasion a
themed research area might have some funds attached to it. Students
need to budget for books, photostats, interlibrary loans, module
readers, transport, food, accommodation and other requirements.
International Students are required to pay specific levies.
What
is included in the fees is access to the University LAN (with a
dedicated postgraduate computer facility) and the Internet, the World
Wide Web, the Library and other student service divisions (including
psychological and career counselling, a University clinic which offers
basic health care, an HIV/AIDS treatment programme, law clinic,
intercampus shuttle service, security and escort security. English
Second language students may need to also budget for professional
copyediting assistance.) CCMS needs to be assured that candidates have
appropriate levels of funding support in place.
v) Newly accepted PhD students must start at the beginning of the academic year (i.e. February).
c)
Does the applicant understand social research methodology? Applicants
must be able to demonstrate a substantial awareness of how they are able
to apply theory in research practice. This may involve a record of
previous publication, and our perusal of what other graduate level
courses have been completed with suitable grades. Did the applicant’s MA
dissertation prepare him/her for continuing research?
d) Does the applicant understand that research involves `finding out’, rather than proving what is already `known’?
e)
Does the proposed PhD topic fit into one of CCMS’s integrated research
themes? Will the topic add capacity and depth to this already ongoing
institutionally-based team research? This does not mean that all
students are required to work in teams, but that their research topic is
embedded in a body of knowledge from which it can build. If it does
not, then we are unlikely to accept the applicant, no matter the
excellence of this/her credentials. Please read the CCMS website for
further information on our research directions, expertise and research
themes (go to “Courses”, click, and scroll down the menu to “Research
Themes”). For logistical and other reasons CCMS is unable to consider
unrelated or individualistic topics which have no direct relation to an
already wide and flexible, but thematically and theoretically
integrated, variety of preferred research themes. This stipulation
relates to the availability of suitable supervisory expertise, the
nature of team research, and encouragement of peer support.
f)
Is the candidate highly competent in writing in English? Sophisticated
writing skills are a prerequisite. Candidates admitted to status who
subsequently reveal poor writing skills will be deregistered.
g)
Does the applicant have sufficient funding support to be able to
complete the PhD? Many candidates drop out because they are unable to
finance their studies, and/or because they have other pressing financial
responsibilities which keep interrupting their research. CCMS needs to
be assured that candidates have appropriate levels of funding support in
place for the duration of the degree, between 3 and 5 years, depending
on the speed and efficiency at which the student works.
h)
Where the applicant is a lecturer at another university or tertiary
institution, does s/he have the support of that university? That is,
will the applicant’s home institution provide the candidate sufficient
study leave and other resources to get the PhD done? Candidates are
required to be based in Durban for a minimum of 18 months, not including
their field work. If the answers to all of the above are positive, then
you might consider applying to CCMS (see pg5 of the CCMS Prospectus).
What we require from such applicants is the following:
a) A detailed CV highlighting your research (and professional) experience.
b)
A detailed two to three page motivation arguing why you want to
study at CCMS, and how your proposed project will add value and capacity
to the Programme’s ongoing teaching and research work.
c) Three academic references to support your candidacy.
d) A set of certified transcripts of your previous degrees.
e) A copy of your MA dissertation and academic and research publications, if any.
f) Any other documentation which will support your application.
Questions which CCMS will ask itself on receipt of a likely candidate:
a)
Does CCMS and the Faculty have a suitable supervisor with the necessary
disciplinary and methodological expertise available to take on
supervision?
b)
Does CCMS and the Faculty have supervisory capacity to take on the
applicant in light of current staff workloads, PhD and MA graduation
throughput and supervisory allocations? Accepting a new PhD student
portends an intense and long-term relationship between the students and
CCMS, and the complex logistics all have to be assessed and put into
place before any decisions can be made.
c) Supervisor: student ratios will be taken into account when considering applications
d)
Throughput of currently registered MA and PhD students determines
our capacity to take on new registrations. That’s why a lead time into
the PhD of at least 6 months, if not longer, is stipulated.
e)
Whether the application will fit into one of CCMS’s current
research themes. Your application will be assessed by a committee
comprising all CCMS (HC) professors and lecturers, post-doctoral fellows
located in CCMS, and the Head of School, amongst other contributors.
External advisors will be approached when necessary. This is a process
which will take a minimum of 8 weeks.
OTHER INFORMATION
The
UKZN academic year starts in February, and ends on 15 December. The PhD
will normally take about 3-5 years. Students who fail to deliver within
this or other approved period will be asked to deregister.
Proposal writing seminars occur mainly in the first semester (Feb-June).
CCMS
students, where possible, work in teams on themed projects, which embed
them in structures of peer support, capacity-building, and
collaborative work.
If
you are accepted by CCMS, we wish you the best of luck. May your final
choice be guided by thoughtful consideration of the next three to five
years of your life.
Professor KG Tomaselli
Research Director and Academic Coordinator
The Centre for Communication, Media and Society
Application forms may be obtained from:
Ms Ausie Luthuli ( luthulia@ukzn.ac.za)
Post Graduate Administrator
The School of Applied Human Sciences
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Howard College Campus
Durban 4041
South Africa
