PhD Degrees

ACDI does not offer a specific PhD programme. Prospective PhD students who are interested in studying at UCT with a topic related to climate change and/or sustainable development should follow these steps:

1. Work out what exactly you want to research

Carefully consider your interests, capability and the research deficits in your field of choice in order to propose a topic. This topic can be further developed once you have a supervisor supporting you, but in order to approach a possible supervisor, you must have some idea of what you would like to study – the more focused the better.

2. Identify a possible supervisor

Look through ACDI’s team members and member insititutions. Read through their research areas and identify a person whose interests align to your research topic.

3. Contact the prospective supervisor

Search for their contact details in UCT’s Staff Directory or on Google (not all of ACDI’s affiliates are based at UCT). Contact them and let them know that you are interested in pursuing a PhD at UCT and are looking for a supervisor. Provide them with your proposed research topic. Clearly indicate whether or not you have funding. If they are unable to supervise you, try your next choice.

4. Secure funding

If ACDI has its own funding available for doctoral or postdoctoral studies these will listed on the Opportunities page. We also circulate external opportunities through our monthly newsletter for early career researchers. You can also check for opportunities on UCT’s PostGraduate funding site and noticeboard. 

5. Apply for PhD

Applications for PhDs must be submitted to academic departments. Please check the application process with the relevant academic department. ACDI does not process PhD applications.