University of Pretoria - Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences PhD (Agricultural Economics)
University of Pretoria - Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

University of Pretoria - Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences

PhD (Agricultural Economics)

Pretoria, South Africa

PhD

2 years

English

Full time

On-Campus

Key Summary

    About : The PhD in Agricultural Economics focuses on research in economic principles related to agriculture and resource management. The program combines advanced economic theories with practical agricultural applications, preparing students for high-level research roles. Students will delve into topics like food security, policy analysis, and sustainability, contributing original research to the field over the duration of their studies.
    Career Outcomes : Graduates can pursue careers in various sectors, including academia, government agencies, NGOs, and private consulting firms. Common roles include agricultural economists, policy advisors, and researchers focused on food systems and resource management.

PhD (Agricultural Economics)

  • This Program consists of a thesis.
  • All students need to follow a preparatory Program for the thesis which is not part of the degree Program.
  • This preparatory Program should at least cover the following modules or their equivalents:
    • Any two modules in economic or applied economic theory (eg Microeconomics or Macroeconomics)
    • One module in quantitative methods (Econometrics, Applied econometrics, Quantitative methods, or Partial equilibrium modelling)
    • One module in the field of specialisation (institutional economics, science and technology policy, food policy, etc).
    • Attend the Department's Research Methods Module
  • These modules must be completed within the first two years of registration.
  • The failure of more than two modules will lead to exclusion.
  • Failed modules may be repeated once only.
  • A research proposal must be presented to the Department within 18 months of first registration.
  • If these modules or their equivalents have been completed successfully and a PhD proposal has been presented successfully to and approved by the Department's postgraduate committee, the student may proceed to the research phase and the thesis.
  • Students can be exempted from this preparatory Program if equivalent modules are completed at other universities and students can provide evidence that these prerequisites have been met.
  • For students with an MInstAgrar or similar qualification, additional modules might be recommended in order to ensure that the candidates' quantitative abilities are at the same level as someone entering the Program with an MScAgric.

Faculty Notes

The Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences is home to more than 6 500 undergraduate and postgraduate students. The Faculty presents degrees in fields ranging from the proverbial A to Z – from actuaries to zoologists, and consists of 13 departments.

All degree programmes are designed to develop problem-solving individuals who can easily adapt to changing circumstances and take the lead in their chosen fields of specialisation. The qualifications awarded are of world-class and provide access to a multitude of career opportunities for dynamic and creative people. According to the latest Times Higher Education World University Rankings the University has achieved new world rankings in Physical Sciences, a discipline which features strongly in NAS and also maintains excellent positions on the ISI Web of Science (WOS) field rankings in Plant and Animal Sciences, Agricultural Sciences, and Environment and Ecology Sciences.

In the Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, we strive to continuously improve our high impact research and significantly address the national shortage of PhD graduates that respond to global and local challenges.