Master and Doctoral Student Supervision

The Department of Business Management at the University of South Africa (UNISA) are committed to providing exceptional postgraduate supervision that empowers our students to excel in their research endeavours. Our experienced faculty members are dedicated to guiding students through the complexities of their research projects, ensuring a supportive and enriching academic environment.

Successful applications are paired with a supervisor who has expertise in their specific area of interest, facilitating tailored guidance throughout the research process. Our supervisors are not only knowledgeable in their fields but are also passionate about mentoring students, providing constructive feedback, and fostering critical thinking. The Department of Business Management has a number of staff actively engaged in supervising in the field of business management. Fellow academics, Master and Doctoral (M&D) students, and industry stakeholders have the opportunity to engage with our supervisors. Supervisors can be identified according to their research topics, captured in our Research Focus areas.  The M&D Coordinator for the Department of Business Management is Dr Iréze van Wyk and can be contacted on vanwyki@unisa.ac.za.

We prioritize open communication and collaboration, encouraging students to engage actively with their supervisors and the broader academic community. Our department also offers workshops and resources to enhance research skills, covering topics such as methodology, data analysis, and academic writing.

By fostering a culture of innovation and intellectual curiosity, we aim to produce high-quality research that contributes to both academic knowledge and practical solutions for real-world business challenges. We are dedicated to supporting our postgraduate students in achieving their academic and professional goals, preparing them to make meaningful contributions to the field of business management.

Research Focus Areas

The Department of Business Management has specific Research Focus Areas (RFA) within which our research takes place. These RFAs include:

• Business Ethics
• Corporate Sustainability
• Intellectual Capital
• Responsible Management
• Strategy-As-Practice
• The digital business environment and user engagement
• Women in management and leadership in the private and public sector
• Business Management in South Africa – Growth and Profitability of SMMEs
• Business Remodelling: Rethinking value and building an open collaborative micro enterprise network to achieve greater societal good.
• Competitive Intelligence
• International Business Strategies and Finance 

Some of these RFAs may be closed for a particular academic year. Visit the  Research Focus areas page to see which RFAs take students in for the academic year.

What's new for 2025?

There is exciting news for 2025 that our current and prospective students should know about. These highlights can be obtained from the Master’s and Doctoral degree site. Key take aways:

• The compulsory African Academic Support Programme.
• The requirement of Doctoral students (who registered for the first time in 2022) to do a viva voce.
• The PhD by publication route that may be considered as from 2024.

Relevant links for your consideration

• Click here for current and prospective students.
• Click here for current students and supervisors.

To avoid disappointment, we encourage students to determine whether their envisaged research is suitable for the Department of Business Management and falls within one of the RFAs.  Important is to note the scope and or the agenda of the RFAs, and to ensure that your topic falls in this area. The respective RFAs also indicate the structure and outline of the expression of interest. Students may consult with potential supervisors with regards to their topics, however all applications will go through the same selection process.