(1) SU aspires to producing doctoral graduates with particular attributes, as summarised in this document, to be developed during the course of their work towards the scholarly outputs linked to the degree.
 

(2) The major deliverable for new doctoral students is of course a doctoral research proposal approved first by the supervisor/s, then by a properly constituted review panel, and then by the most suitable SU research ethics committee.
 

(3) The defining research output of a PhD programme is a doctoral dissertation reporting on primary research. Scroll down for formatting guidelines. Editing costs - where relevant - are the responsibility of the candidate. Every candidate is required to electronically furnish the institutional SunScholar repository with a PDF copy of the dissertation, from which sensitive personal information such as signatures and telephone numbers have been removed. This submission must be done via the thesis/dissertation nomination system. Please note this upload is a requirement for Senate approval of the result as per the Stellenbosch University Yearbook. 

During this submission process, the supervisor shall be given the option of holding the dissertation back from being released on the open website for a period of no longer than six months to provide an opportunity for publication. Do place an embargo on sections of the dissertation that may still be patented or published. Full particulars regarding the PDF format, as well as the process to be followed, are provided at http://library.sun.ac.za/.
 

(4) Doctoral candidates are expected to exemplify academic integrity, and demonstrate a personal commitment to ethical principles and conduct for rigorous research and scholarship, in order to produce truthful, accurate and reliable knowledge. No plagiarised work, or work generated by another person, or by artificial intelligence, may at any stage be submitted as the own work of a doctoral student.

• Click here to view the SU Plagiarism Policy.

• Click here to view the SU Position Statement on the Ethical Use of Artificial Intelligence.
   

(5) Primary research generates new data. Data collected or generated for the purpose of doctoral research at SU, belongs to SU, and may be uploaded to SunScholarData for possible use in future research. Careful attention should be paid to the timing and possible embargo of such uploads to avoid any detrimental impact on the publication or patenting of research outputs. More information may be obtained from the SU Library.
 

(6) Over and above the dissertation, all doctoral candidates are encouraged to submit two or more articles emanating from their research, for publication in indexed journals. Stellenbosch University must be indicated as the affiliation of the author/s. The following options are available for publication support:
a) The SU Library and Information Service has signed agreements with a number of publishers that offer discounts on article processing charges or, in some cases, allow authors to publish open access articles without paying at all. More than 7 300 hybrid journals or more than half of all subscription journals to which member institutions subscribe, are available for publishing articles via this strategy. More information can be found at this link.
b) The Senate research committee for the FMHS, Subcommittee C, has a limited fund for supporting open access publications. Application information can be found at this link.
 

(7) The FMHS Open Access Fund provides financial support towards article processing charges (APC) of research publications in peer-reviewed DHET-accredited open access or hybrid journals. Postgraduate students who do not have dedicated grant funding towards APC, are encouraged to apply on an ad hoc basis, throughout the year. Depending on the availability of funds, awards of up to R30,000 are available to support 100% of the APC for prorated FMHS-affiliated authors, Enquiries may be addressed to Mr Tashwell de Wet at [email protected].
 

(8) Doctoral students are welcome to make use of the SU FMHS template for slides when presenting at conferences, workshops, or their oral examination.
 

(9) All research outputs emanating from doctoral studies are to be reported to the Department of Higher Education for formal recognition and subsidy purposes before the deadline mentioned in the annual SU call to report outputs. Should you have queries in this regard, please contact Ms Daléne Pieterse at email address [email protected].
 

(10) All researchers are reliant on a reliable record of their research outputs for career purposes. The most recognised system for unique author identifiers is that of ORCiD. You are invited to create your ORCiD iD and connect it with your SU identity. If you already have an ORCiD, please sign into the SU portal and connect your iD with your SU identity, following the steps at this link: https://libguides.sun.ac.za/ORCID.
 

(11) ​Where intellectual outcomes of the doctoral research can be commercialised through the formation of spin-out companies, licensing, patenting, or trademark registration, candidates are encouraged to contact Innovus, a division of Stellenbosch University that is responsible for technology transfer, entrepreneurial support and development, and innovation.
 

(12) As per the guidelines of the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA), health workers who are students in a postgraduate degree that is recognised by the relevant board, may claim CEU points on submitting an academic report on progress at the end of each initial year of study that falls within the normal programme duration; and additional CEU points on completion of the degree. Please find the HPCSA CPD-guidelines at this link. Enquiries on how to claim Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points may be addressed to [email protected].