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Is English a pre-requisite language to enter the programs at GST?
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| English is pre-requisite to enter the PhD-program at GST. If English is not your first language you have to submit an English language proficiency certificate. |
What degrees do you offer?
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| We offer distance-learning opportunities in Religious Studies and Theology leading to a BA (Honours)-, MA/MTh- and PhD-degree. Each student is supervised and supported by an individual Tutor from GST and one from the faculty of theology, NWU. Each student is expected to work continuously and closely with the two appointed tutors, using e-mail where possible. |
Is residency a requirement?
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| No, we do not have residential requirements. Each student receives a package of guidance documents, which provides information regarding the program details and the university’s requirements and regulations. Contact between the student and his/her promoters is maintained by e-mail and by Skype if this is available. You need access to a good library and the internet. You will have access to the NWU library when registered as a student of GST. |
Do you register students from Africa?
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| Yes, we do register students from Africa. |
Do I have to hold a post-graduate degree?
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| As you will see in the prospectus, we only offer distance-learning opportunities leading to a post-graduate degree – the BA (Honours) is a NQF level 8 with 144 credits – and, as such, requires the applicant to already hold a BA-degree in order to gain access. If you hold a non-theological BA degree you will be required to complete first, successfully, a colloquium doctum. |
On the average how long does it take one to complete a bachelors degree?
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| A minimum of 2 years and a maximum of 4 years. |
On average how long does it take one to complete a PhD?
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| The normal period allowed for completion of a PhD-degree is 4 years, with an option to extend that for a further year. |
I am currently a PhD student at another University. Is it possible to transfer?
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| Unfortunately a study cannot be simply transferred. You will have to apply for admission to our PhD program. If the application is accepted a promoter from GST and a co-promoter from the NWU will be appointed. You then will be required to submit a Research Proposal, which will go through the formal university processes of evaluation. This process usually takes a few months. Though you will be allowed to use existing material for a PhD, we do not allow the submission of already completed work. |
What would be the position on me using some of my published material for the degree? I have several books can I use this as the bones of the research?
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| North West University, the accrediting institution for the degrees we offer, does not accept books already published for the award of the PhD or a thesis prepared for another institution. The doctoral degree is an ‘earned’ degree, attained through research. A Research Proposal is developed first and this has to be formally evaluated and accepted by NWU before the research report is undertaken. The research must be conducted according to the rules and regulations of the university with allocated members of the GST and NWU having oversight of all the work entailed. However, if you decide to do so, you may use the subject area of your existing thesis to formulate a Research Proposal to meet the university regulations and requirements and then proceed to use the research and knowledge you have already acquired to produce a doctoral thesis. So, in effect, you are using the same subject area but presenting it to meet the regulations and requirements of North-West University. |
If accepted at GST, does that automatically make me a student at North-West University?
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| You will automatically be a student of the North-West University. Each student is supervised and supported by an individual Tutor from GST and one from NWU. The accredited degrees are conferred by NWU. |