The Wits School of Law and the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, the Netherlands, invites applications from prospective, joint PhD applicants on a range of topics in international law, society and development such as:

  • Critical, development-oriented aspects of trade and investment
  • Socio-economic deprivation and inequalities
  • Human rights, / humanitarian law and practice
  • Gender, law and development
  • Health and the environment

Successful applicants will receive a fee waiver from both Wits University and Erasmus University.

The ISS-Wits joint programme forms part of the ISS research group on Governance, Law and Social Justice (GLSJ) and the ISS Research Programme on Global Development and Social Justice: www.iss.nl/research. Research performed by members of the research group combine multiple academic disciplines in order to explore how and to what extent governance arrangements help or hinder the achievement of development and/or social justice.

Applicants must be eligible for entry-level to a PhD with an average of at least 70% from a South African university, or equivalent mark from another university in a Master’s degree within a relevant area. Applicants must have obtained an LLB degree and have a background, or strongly motivated interest in development studies.

Fee Waivers

Applicants who are successfully admitted to the programme will be waived of tuition fees from both ISS and Wits.

Method of Application

Interested applicants may apply for consideration into the ISS-Wits Joint PhD Programme by submitting the following:

1.          An expression of interest, with a working title, that outlines the gist of the PhD study that you wish to undertake (approximately five pages in length, excluding your preliminary bibliography);

2.         Academic transcript; and

3.        Curriculum Vitae.

Applications should be emailed to Judy.Mafika@wits.ac.za by no later than 1 March 2021.  It may not be possible to contact all applicants, so if you have not heard back from us within one month of this date, please consider that your application as unsuccessful.

For more details visit: www.iss.nl/jointwitsphd

General enquiries i.e. degree structure, admissions and timelines:Judy.Mafika@wits.ac.za

Academic Related enquiries:(Wits) tracy-lynn.field@wits.ac.za /(ISS) handmaker@iss.nl

Application Deadline: March 1st 2021

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage