Programme: PhD (Sports Science) (Biomechanics)

Kindly take note of the disclaimer regarding qualifications and degree names.
Code Faculty Department
10260586 Faculty of Health Sciences Department: Centre for Sport Sciences
Credits Duration NQF level
Minimum duration of study: 2 years Total credits: 360 NQF level:  10

Programme information

Also consult General Academic Regulations G42-G55.

A PhD student must:

  1. under the supervision of a supervisor at the university or another institution approved by the Senate, undertake original research to the satisfaction of the examiners; and
  2. submit a thesis which will prove, according to the opinion of the examiners, that he or she has, on the grounds of independent critical judgement, made a distinct contribution towards the enrichment of knowledge in the chosen subject.

A student for the PhD degree must be registered for the doctoral degree study at the University for at least one academic year before the degree can be conferred.

The PhD degree is conferred by virtue of a thesis and, should the Dean deem it necessary, an examination on the field of study of the thesis.

The maximum period for completion of a doctoral degree is three years. Under exceptional circumstances, a student may apply to the relevant head of the department, in writing, for a fixed, limited extension of this period.

Admission requirements

  1. Master’s degree in Sports Science with focus area Biokinetics or relevant master’s degree
  2. A cumulative weighted average of 60% for the master’s degree
  3. English language proficiency as determined by a proficiency test

Additional requirements

Admission to this programme is a master’s degree in Sports Science with focus area Biomechanics with a minimum mark of 60% and a research proposal that has been accepted by the Departmental Research Committee, and the Ethical Committee of the Faculty of Health Sciences.

Examinations and pass requirements

The doctoral examination will be oral and/or written and will deal with the content of the thesis as well as those subdivisions of the field of study on which the thesis is based, if requested.

Research information

A complete research protocol regarding the proposed thesis (as well as the curriculum vitae of the candidate) must be submitted to the Postgraduate committee of the School in question and if necessary, also to the Ethics Committee for approval. The thesis must deal with a problem from any field of study in the Health Sciences and must satisfy the supervisor and the examiners that it represents advanced original research and/or creative work in the field of the Health Sciences. It must give an overview of the literature that was used on the topic and contain a description of the observations made and experiments done by the student, as well as a discussion of the conclusions reached.

The regulations and rules for the degrees published here are subject to change and may be amended after the publication of this information.

The General Academic Regulations (G Regulations) and General Student Rules apply to all faculties and registered students of the University, as well as all prospective students who have accepted an offer of a place at the University of Pretoria. On registering for a programme, the student bears the responsibility of ensuring that they familiarise themselves with the General Academic Regulations applicable to their registration, as well as the relevant faculty-specific and programme-specific regulations and information as stipulated in the relevant yearbook. Ignorance concerning these regulations will not be accepted as an excuse for any transgression, or basis for an exception to any of the aforementioned regulations.

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