The programmes are grouped according to their home faculty. UCT supports interdisciplinary study. Students may apply for whichever programme that interests them, regardless of their academic background, provided they meet the minimum entry requirements for the programme. Therefore students are encouraged to search through this list of programmes and other faculties' programmes.

For example the Master of Philosophy in Development Policy and Practice [CM033DPP01] is listed here under Commerce (its home faculty) but only requires that a student holds an honours degree to enrol for it. Many such opportunities exist in different faculties and students are encouraged to look for them.

Similarly students are encouraged to select courses from different faculties. There are many courses listed on this website that allow students from different academic backgrounds to enrol for them. Students are encouraged to select such courses to enrich their learning experience.

Master of Commerce in Development Finance [CM035GSB30]

The primary purpose is to provide advanced training in development finance, and to establish a platform for sustainable development finance research. On completion, the student will have acquired the following skills and capabilities: An ability to critically analyse the techniques and procedures for financial sector development, financial management and issues on finance for development in a developing and emerging market context; An ability to apply these techniques and procedures in a professionally competent manner; The ability to undertake independent research and to present research findings in a form that can be disseminated effectively to users.

Qualification name: MCom specialising in Development Finance
Delivery Mode and Duration: The degree is offered as a 2-year modular programme. A first intensive modular (2 weeks) period takes place in the period March/April of the first year. A second intensive modular period (2 weeks) is organized in August of the first year. The second year an intensive modular period takes place in February. The rest of the year is dedicated to the writing of the compulsory research report. Contact.

General Entry requirements:

  • A four-year degree or honours degree in Economics, Commerce; Accounting, Finance, or other finance-related degrees with good quantitative background;
  • OR a four-year or honours degree in other non-finance related discipline with at least 3 years’ experience in finance related work with good quantitative background;
  • In particular, students working for development finance institutions, banking and non-banking institutions, government-linked development finance departments/ institutions and NGOs working in the area of development finance.

Convener: Prof N Biekpe, BSc(Hons) Ghana MSc London PhD UK

Prescribed curriculum: Students will be required to obtain 108 credits from core courses, 12 from elective courses and 60 credits from their research report.

Core courses
Course Code Title NQF Credits HEQSF Level
GSB5100F. Micro-Enterprise Finance 12 9
GSB5102S Project Finance 12 9
GSB5103S International Finance for Development 12 9
GSB5104F Quantitative Methods in Development Finance 12 9
GSB5105F Issues in Development Finance 12 9
GSB5106F Responsible Investment 12 9
GSB5107S Public Sector Finance 12 9
GSB5108F Financial Risk Management 12 9
GSB5115S Research Methods 12 9
Elective courses: One course (12 credits) to be chosen from the following (not all courses will be offered each year)
GSB5109F Sovereign Debt Management 12 9
GSB5110F WTO and Trade Negotiations 12 9
GSB5111F Global Financial Architecture 12 9
GSB5112F Financial Services Regulation 12 9
GSB5113F International Trade Policies 12 9
GSB5114F Corporate Finance and Investment 12 9
Research component
GSB5117W Minor Dissertation 60 9

Master of Commerce in Economic Development [CM031ECO12]

The School of Economics offers a Master of Commerce specialising in Economic Development in recognition of the need for a flexible programme structure which allows students to focus on research while choosing a curriculum best suited to their abilities and interests. The aim is to equip students with essential research skills (both quantitative and writing skills) and knowledge in their chosen area of specialisation. The 120 credit dissertation weighting allows students to qualify for NRF funding. Offered over two years full-time, the programme begins in January/February.

Qualification name: MCom specialising in Economic Development
Delivery Mode and Duration: Offered over two years, full–time. The programme begins in January/February. Contact.

General Entry requirements
Entry Requirements:

  • An average of at least 65% in an Honours degree and with a three year major in Economics in a Bachelors degree.
  • A candidate shall have completed a quantitative course in Econometrics at 3rd year level or equivalent.
  • Recommendation of acceptance is at the discretion of the program convener and the Graduate committee.
  • Applicants with degrees outside South Africa are encouraged (and in some cases may be required) to submit GRE test score.
  • A strong performance in the quantitative segment (above the 80th percentile) is expected.

Convener: Prof M Morris, BA(Hons) Cape Town MA PhD Sussex

Prescribed curriculum: This programme comprises two core courses, two optional courses and a dissertation (ECO5066W).
Students taking ECO5046F or ECO5021F or ECO5020F are required to take ECO5011F Quantitative Methods for Economists prior to registering for these courses. It is non-credit bearing for this programme.
A candidate will ordinarily complete the prescribed courses in the first year, and will be expected to complete the dissertation within the following year. The programme comprises 240 credits.

Core courses:
Course Code Title NQF Credits HEQSF Level
ECO5073F Problems of Globalisation, Industrialisation and Development 30 9
ECO5074S Research and Policy Tools 30 9
Research component
ECO5066W Master’s in Economics Half Dissertation 120 9
Optional courses:
  • Two courses to be chosen from any other Masters course in Economics for which students meet the entrance requirements.
  • Options may be added or withdrawn according to circumstances each year.
  • Students may take one approved course from a cognate discipline as an optional course (in either semester).
  • Please consult the School of Economics section of this handbook for descriptions of the core and elective courses.
Total credits 240

Master of Philosophy specialising in DEMOGRAPHY [CM033BUS11]

On completion of the qualification, an MPhil in Demography graduate will be able to demonstrate professional competence in the core areas of demographic analysis and research. Included in this is the clear demonstration of a capacity to apply and develop methods of demographic analysis that are both theoretically informed and appropriate to the research (and research context) pursued. The core competencies are indicated by the material suggested in the course outlines. Particular emphasis is placed on training demographers capable of working with developing countries’ data and in other situations where data are either non-existent or inadequate.

Qualification name: MPhil specialising in Demography
Delivery Mode and Duration: The programme consists of coursework and research dissertation components. The coursework is completed in the first two semesters of study. The dissertation is done in the third, and if necessary subsequent, semester. Diligent students should be in a position to submit their dissertation in time for the August submission deadline, and thereby graduate at the end of two years’ full-time study.

General Entry requirements
Entry Requirements:

  • An honours degree with at least a full, first-year university mathematics course; and second-year statistics, or their equivalent.
  • Some or all of these requirements may be waived at the discretion of the Convener

Convener: T Moultrie

Prescribed curriculum:

Core courses:
Course Code Title NQF Credits HEQSF Level
DOC5001F Basic Demography 15 9
DOC5004F Population Studies 15 9
DOC4002F Demographic Data and Statistics 15 9
DOC5002S Techniques in Demographic Estimation 30 9
DOC5003S Population Projections and Modelling 15 9
Students who have taken any of the above courses as part of another degree must substitute it with a course chosen in consultation with the convener.
Research component
DOC5000Z Dissertation 90 9

Master of Commerce in Information Systems [CM031INF01]

Currently there is no named masters in Information and Communications Technologies for Development (ICT4D). However both the generic masters in Information Systems (IS) and Computer Science (CS) allow for students to do their research specifically in ICT4D. In fact this is actively encouraged. IS has about half of the students do an ICT4D-related research project. It is also important to note that the coursework for the general IS masters is almost entirely research methodology.

The qualification aims to provide practice knowledge in Information Systems topics; formalise and extend knowledge gained through work in industry; to develop critical reading and writing skills and to provide exposure to research objective; methods and techniques. It gives candidates exposure to conducting research in a rigorous manner and producing a sound research dissertation. It provides access to doctoral programmes. Students interested in development will choose the IS Development stream among the three Information Systems streams offered.

For more information please have a look at the Information Systems master’s programme from the Faculty of Commerce’s handbook.

Master of Philosophy in Development Policy and Practice [CM033DPP01]

The two-year, part-time degree offers a structured and sustained learning opportunity, at the cutting edge of global knowledge and experience, with abundant opportunities for applied research on effective approaches and practices of public policy design and implementation in developing countries. The core curriculum is designed to address the challenge of designing, winning support for and implementing new programmes in government. Participants are encouraged and enabled to undertake applied research in public policy design and implementation

Qualification name: MPhil (Development Policy and Practice)
Delivery Mode and Duration: Two years on a part-time basis. Each semester will commence with a two-week intensive period in residence in Cape Town, followed by interactive distance learning, organized around practical problems from participants’ workplaces.

General Entry requirements:
Entry Requirements:

  • An Honours degree or its equivalent;
  • Five years of professional experience, with an orientation towards public service.

Further specific administrative requirements:

  • In addition to completing the University application form, the applicant must submit a Curriculum Vitae, referee details and motivation with a covering letter. Applications should be submitted by 16 September. Late applications will be accepted only in exceptional circumstances.
  • The programme begins in January.

Convener: Adj Professor B Levy, Economics (Hons) Cape Town MA (Economics) PhD (Economics) Harvard

Prescribed curriculum

Core courses:
Course Code Title NQF Credits HEQSF Level
GPP5001F Strategic policy-making for development: analysis and practice 25 9
GPP5002S Policy implementation and the regulation of markets 25 9
GPP5003W Leadership I 20 9
GPP5007F Leadership II 10 9
GPP5004W Topics in development policy 30 9
GPP5006S Advanced Electives 10 9
Research
GPP5005W Minor Dissertation 60 9

Master of Philosophy specialising in Inclusive Innovation (CM034GSB40) (by Dissertation only)

The Master of Philosophy in Inclusive Innovation (MPhil) is an interdisciplinary, research-based degree that leads to the development of sustainable solutions for challenges in Africa. Inclusive innovators who take this learning journey will travel through a rigorous academic curriculum right through to practical prototyping of new business models, processes, services or products that help create a more inclusive economy and society at large. Unconstrained by set cultures or organisations, they will work together, for one year in a “living lab” environment, where expertise, life experience, passion and innovation all converge to support new possibilities and ideas. In this rich, integrative space, commercial, technological and social innovations all combine to further Africa’s future.

Qualification name:  MPhil specialising in Inclusive Innovation
Delivery Mode and Duration: MPhil Inclusive Innovation is a one-year programme designed to be a collaboration between the GSB faculty, the Bertha Centre for Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship and the inclusive innovators themselves.

General Entry requirements: Applicants must hold at least a NQF level 8 qualification in Applied Science, Commerce, Humanities, Health Sciences, Arts, or other related degrees. Alternatively applicants who have a three-year degree with three or more years of work experience may apply as RPL candidates (Recognition of Prior Learning) and submit the Portfolio of Learning (POL) assessment form. All applicants are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and the RPL assessment does not guarantee acceptance into the programme.
For details on eligibility and selection criteria, visit the general Graduate School of Business (GSB) Admissions page.

Convener: Professor W. Baets, BSc Antwerp MSc Antwerp PhD Warwick

Prescribed curriculum: The MPhil Inclusive Innovation curriculum is structured around three themes: 1) open imagination, 2) collaborative engagement and 3) new frontiers. Within these themes, four core challenges (or cross-cutting issues) have emerged, although research is not limited to these alone:

  • Inclusive Education
  • Inclusive Finance
  • Inclusive Healthcare
  • Inclusive Technology

Open imagination: Reflects on theories and new approaches that help innovators understand the inclusive innovation context and how to pursue efforts in this space. This theme includes sessions on integrative, design and systems thinking, complex project orchestration, disclosing new worlds, complexity theory and ethnography.

Collaborative engagement: New ideas are tested and evolved through an action-oriented research project where innovators develop and prototype solutions. While innovators are exposed to different theories and methodologies in class, they’re expected to spend the majority of their time out in the real world, practically co-creating innovations with communities of interest.

New frontiers: Focuses on market insights and activities that are pushing the boundaries globally and in Africa. This theme includes presentations by key specialists and innovators within the programme who themselves are challenging the status quo through radical experimentation.

Master of Philosophy in Programme Evaluation [CM033BUS015]

When one evaluates a programme‚ one asks: Is it working? Sometimes we also ask: How is it working? The answers to these questions will give us evidence about the merit or value of the programme. To get to these answers‚ we have to know about programme evaluation methods‚ research design and statistics. We also have to know about monitoring (tracking the progress of the programme) and programme theory (the way in which programmes change a problem or people).

Students who acquire this knowledge may leave the programme as competent programme evaluators. The programmes we are talking about can be social programmes (programmes which do good and change problems‚ like poverty‚ children at risk‚ HIV/Aids‚ eradication of informal settlements‚ domestic violence‚ drug addiction) or people management programmes (programmes in big companies aimed at improving lack of skills‚ poor performance‚ organisational culture‚ etc.).

Programme evaluators find out if these programmes work and how to improve them so that they work better. The people who choose this degree are people who want to make the world a better place by applying their high-level‚ scientific skills to programme improvement. They can think logically‚ plan systematically and solve complex problems. Programme evaluation and improvement is an intellectually challenging activity that provides intrinsic job satisfaction

Qualification name: MPhil (Programme Evaluation)
Delivery Mode and Duration: This is a one-year full-time programme (both the coursework and dissertation are completed within the year of study) commencing in the first week of February. The duration of the programme cannot be ordinarily extended. Contact.

General Entry requirements

Entry Requirements:

  • An honours degree or a four year professional bachelor’s degree at HEQF level 8.
  • Completed a component of quantitative research methods/statistics in your Honours degree.
  • An average mark of 65% for your Honours degree.

Please note that a bachelor’s degree or a postgraduate diploma is not accepted.

Further specific administrative requirements:

  • Students applying for the Master of Philosophy (Programme Evaluation) must apply online using the University’s application process by the end of November in the year preceding that for which the application is made.

Convener: Prof J. Louw-Potgieter, MA Stell Drs Psych Leiden PhD Bristol

Prescribed curriculum: The programme consists of coursework and a research dissertation. The coursework aims to equip students with advanced programme evaluation knowledge and skills. The research dissertation aims to assess whether students have mastered the principles of programme evaluation, are able to apply these and construct a client report based on this application.

Core courses:
Course Code Title NQF Credits HEQSF Level
BUS5037W* Programme Evaluation Coursework 90 9
BUS5036H Programme Evaluation Master’s Dissertation 90 9
Please consider the following for a list of core and elective modules in BUS5037W.
*The course consists of five core modules (the first three modules are presented in the first semester and the last two modules in the second semester; at the discretion of the Head of Section some second semester modules could be offered in the first semester):
  • Principles of programme evaluation
  • Research design for impact evaluation
  • Monitoring
  • Statistics for evaluation
  • Programme theory
At the discretion of the Head of Section, modules may be added or withdrawn.

Page last updated on February 2018