UCT PhD graduates increase by almost 50% year-on-year

A total of 110 PhD students graduated from the University of Cape Town this week - an increase of almost 50% compared to a total of 75 last year.

Graduation ceremonies took place on 12 and 13 June 2014 in Jameson Hall, Upper Campus where 1,508 degrees were awarded to students across various faculties. In June 2013 the total was 1,374 and in June 2012 it stood at 1,340.

Gerda Kruger, Executive Director: Communication and Marketing Department at UCT, said, "The growth of our postgraduate programme is an important part of UCT's strategic vision and contributes to the development of South Africa and the continent. We are increasingly competitive in the global knowledge economy and strive to develop the academic leaders of tomorrow. As an Afropolitan university we are also contributing to the global pool of knowledge, with research that is based on the issues faced in Africa and other developing regions."
Kruger congratulated all graduates on their perseverance in the pursuit of knowledge and their commitment to research that addresses societal challenges. "Through their research - conducted in Africa, for the benefit of Africa and the world - our graduates help to raise the continent's stature as a research destination."

The UCT faculty breakdown for this month's PhD graduates is: six in Commerce; eight in Engineering & the Built Environment; 29 in Health Sciences; 20 in Humanities; six in Law; and 41 in Science.