University of Johannesburg PhD in Public Management and Governance
University of Johannesburg

University of Johannesburg

PhD in Public Management and Governance

Johannesburg, South Africa

PhD

2 up to

4 years

English

Full time, Part time

Feb 2026

ZAR 20,405 / per year **

On-Campus

* by noon

** average fee. Additional fees may apply

Key Summary

About: The PhD in Public Management and Governance trains you in research methodology so you can develop a proposal, conduct independent research and produce a thesis that makes an original contribution to public administration and policy. It equips you with competencies for evaluation and academic reporting. You’ll study at the University of Johannesburg, a multicultural institution rooted in Africa, offering orientation, workplace readiness, growing research output and career mentorship.

Career Outcomes: Graduates move into academic roles, research positions, public sector leadership, policy analysis, consultancy, NGO management and international organizations where doctoral skills in governance, administration, evaluation and practice are valued.

The purpose of the Ph.D. in Public Management and Governance is to provide students the tools and skills to effectively and independently apply research methodology skills and all the related activities thereto, to prepare a research proposal, conduct a thesis demonstrating an original contribution to the field of study/discipline, to demonstrate the competencies required for evaluation in order to report the results for an academic submission.

Reasons for studying at UJ

  • UJ offers not only a special program called the First Year Experience to help orientate students throughout the first year but we also offer a Senior Student Experience that gears students toward the workplace!
  • Grab the opportunity to participate in a variety of sports and train alongside Olympians and Paralympians on state-of-the-art pitches, tracks, and fields, or just keep fit by joining one of the gyms on each of our 4 campuses.
  • Be part of a young, vibrant, and agile university that reflects and adapts easily to our country’s aspirations, while maintaining global relevance through numerous international partnerships.
  • 178 Internationally respected and accepted qualifications.
  • Join a university that cares enough to have raised over R300 million since the start of 2016 in order to support the Missing Middle Campaign. UJ also ensures that more than 6 000 needy students have two healthy meals per day.
  • Study in the vibrant City of Gold – the economic hub of South Africa. Join a vibrant, cosmopolitan, progressive group of students and academics on their way to re-imagining the future!
  • UJ offers an amazing on-campus experience whether you live in one of UJ’s residences, belong to a day house, or whether you just want to socialize at the Student Centres on all campuses.
  • We ensure the health, safety, and security of all our students through our own on-campus health services and UJ Protection Services.
  • Did you know that during the first five years of UJ’s existence it doubled its targeted research output and to this day, continues to break records!