PhD-OCRPL

Pretoria University Research Degree Programme in Partnership with the Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life Application for PhD by Research

In the following pages which you can complete on your computer, please provide information in support of your application as a Postgraduate Research Student of OCRPL which is a research centre based in Oxford. It is not part of either of the universities that function out of Oxford.

As a part of the admission process we will contact your referees independently for their recommendations. Once your application file is complete, it will be presented to the OCRPL Admissions Committee for consideration and you will be invited to an interview with the PhD Programme committee.

Admission decisions are based on a composite of information including your previous academic performance, comments from referees and proposed research statements and experience. You will be requested to supply credential documentation (including academic transcripts and accompanying degree certificates) in the application process.

Please include the following with this application form: scanned copies are acceptable.

Copies of all academic qualifications including academic transcripts and accompanying degree certificates.
A letter from your employers indicating their agreement to your study.
A passport sized photograph or electronic photograph.
Proof of linguistic proficiency where applicable.
A 750 - 1,000 word essay on your proposed research topic.

Personal details

Surname /Family Name

First Name

Title

First name as known

Other forenames

Date of Birth

(dd/mm/yyyy)

Gender

Marital status

Nationality (as stated on your passport)

Ethnic Origin if different from nationality

Permanent Residential Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

ZIP / Postal

Address for Correspondence

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

ZIP / Postal

Telephone number (landline)

Telephone number (mobile)

Skype

Email address

Spouse and dependents

Spouse’s Given Name

Gender

Date of Birth

(dd/mm/yyyy)

Dependent children. List given names, gender and Date of Birth

Qualifications

Standard entry

A prospective candidate wishing to enrol for the doctoral programme needs to be in possession of a University degree with a second-class honours as a minimum requirement.

Admission to doctoral studies at Stellenbosch University requires Master’s degree standard as a minimum entry requirement with a pass level of at least 60%.

Non-standard entry

An applicant holding qualifications other than those above shall be considered on his/her merits and in relation to the nature and scope of the programme of work proposed. OCRPL looks for evidence of the candidate’s equivalent ability, research skills, background knowledge and training in relation to the proposed research. Professional experience, publications, written reports or other appropriate evidence of their accomplishment and potential to undertake sound research at postgraduate level are taken into consideration.

Applicants must provide clear documentary evidence of their academic qualifications.

Please list the academic and professional qualifications you have been awarded since leaving secondary School.

Professional qualifications 1

University, Institution, College or Professional awarding body, and Country

Subject

Qualification

Result/Level

Language

Date Awarded

(dd/mm/yyyy)

Add another record?

Professional qualifications 2

University, Institution, College or Professional awarding body, and Country

Subject

Qualification

Result/Level

Language

Date Awarded

(dd/mm/yyyy)

Add another record?

Professional qualifications 3

University, Institution, College or Professional awarding body, and Country

Subject

Qualification

Result/Level

Language

Date Awarded

(dd/mm/yyyy)

Research publications

Please provide details of any research publications that you have written / contributed to.

Church background

Church Membership

Please choose from the following

Other

Role in the church

Please give a brief personal faith statement and describe your Christian service to date. (Up to 500 words)

LINGUISTIC PROFICIENCY

Applicants must be sufficiently proficient in English to complete the programme of study and to prepare and defend a thesis. English proficiency of candidates may be achieved through -

Being a national of a majority English speaking country.

Majority English - speaking countries are defined as follows: Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Ireland, Jamaica, New Zealand, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, United Kingdom and USA.

or

A minimum IELTS score in academic English of 6.5, with a minimum of 6.5 in the reading and written components.

or

Successful completion of a full Bachelors or Masters degree from recognized and accredited University where the medium of instruction is English,

Approved Universities are:

1.Any University accredited by a government of a majority English speaking country

2.The following Universities based in Hong Kong and Singapore

Singapore Polytechnic
Ngee Ann Polytechnic
Nanyang Polytechnic
Temasek Polytechnic
Republic Polytechnic

Applicants will be asked to provide such evidence as is deemed necessary by OCRPL.

First Language

Other Languages

Proficiency in English

Confirm the duration of your tertiary education where English has been the medium of instruction?

If English is not your first language, have you conducted an English language proficiency test? If yes, please attach transcript (Language tests are valid for 2 years): If no, when will you take a test?

Test

Overall Grade/Score

Lowest individual score

Date

Place

CURRENT EMPLOYMENT

Please submit any evidence, i.e. certificates, documents, reports, letters, references, that indicate that you have acquired relevant skills, training and knowledge from your professional work to equip you to undertake research at post-graduate level.

Company/Organisation Name:

Address of Employer

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

ZIP / Postal

Category of work

Full or Part time

Job Title

Date of employment

(dd/mm/yyyy)

Role and brief description of Key Responsibilities

Skills, training and knowledge gained from your professional work that have equipped you to undertake (or to embark upon) research at post-graduate level

Additional document

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Additional document

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Additional document

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PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT

Please submit any evidence, i.e. documents, reports, letters, references from your previous employment that will support relevant skills, training, and knowledge from the professional work revise as above

Organisation

Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

ZIP / Postal

Job Title

Dates

(dd/mm/yyyy)

Responsibilities

Additional documents

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PREVIOUS EMPLOYMENT 2

Please submit any evidence, i.e. documents, reports, letters, references from your previous employment that will support relevant skills, training, and knowledge from the professional work revise as above

Organisation

Address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

ZIP / Postal

Job Title

Dates

(dd/mm/yyyy)

Responsibilities

Additional documents

No File Chosen

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FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Please indicate in US Dollars how you propose to finance your research studies at OCRPL. Provide either your banking details, information from employer or proof of your scholarship.

(This must be filled in for you to be considered for Admission)

Personal Sources (amount raised):

Personal Sources (Percentage of Total):

Your Employer (amount raised):

Your Employer (Percentage of Total):

Your local Church / Denomination (amount raised):

To ensure you identify the appropriate referee a sample reference is detailed below. – Please do not send these to the referee. This will be sent by the admissions team.

QUESTIONS FOR REFEREES

What evidence can you give of the applicant’s ability to do research in their chosen area: for example, their ability to think for themselves, to engage critically with material with which they are presented, to be inquisitive and ask questions, to require evidence on which to base conclusions?

The course is part-time study at a distance. What evidence can you give of the applicant’s discipline: their application to a task they undertake, their ability to include time for study with other employment and family responsibilities?

What evidence can you give of the support that the candidate will enjoy for his studies from his home and family, his employer, and his church community?

Reference 1

Academic or Professional

Relationship to applicant

Full Name

Title

Position

Country

Email address

Telephone number

Postal address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

ZIP / Postal

Add another record?

Reference 2

Academic or Professional

Relationship to applicant

Full Name

Title

Position

Country

Email address

Telephone number

Postal address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

ZIP / Postal

Add another record?

Reference 3

Academic or Professional

Relationship to applicant

Full Name

Title

Position

Country

Email address

Telephone number

Postal address

Address Line 1

Address Line 2

City

State/Province

ZIP / Postal

HEALTH/HEALTH INSURANCE

How would you describe your general state of health?

Have you suffered any serious illness or undergone medical treatment in the last five years? If yes, please explain:

Are you currently on any prescribed medication? If yes, please explain:

Please specify any physical or learning disability which might necessitate special arrangements or facilities:

EXTERNAL RESEARCH RESOURCES

To pursue research externally please provide evidence that you will have access to adequate facilities and resources to pursue your research in their locality, including IT and internet facilities.

YOUR PROPOSED RESEARCH PROJECT

Your proposed research interest or question must be related to the broad definition of the aims of OCRPL and the Programme.

The research interest or question must have the potential to develop into a viable research proposal that is capable of completion within the normal registration periods for a research degree.

Please give below an outline of what you would propose to work on as a research student. Please state the area, the research question, and why you would want to work on it. Note also any work that you may already have done on this topic.

(NB: whilst this proposal will not be binding on you it will give us an indication of your thinking at this stage.)

Please answer the following questions in a short academic essay, including bibliography (750-1000 words)

The title of your proposed research project

The research question you will explore and why

The method you will use to do your research - e.g. library, quantitative ( data), qualitative (survey/interview)

The literature you have consulted and will consult

Why is this research important to you, or to others? – Tell us how your topic is connected to literature and other research you have done. How do you expect this research to make a contribution to the wider body of knowledge in your discipline.

What motivates you to do this research? – If your research is practitioner based explain how that is relevant to your study.

• Have you done any previous research / study / reading / writing in this area? If so give a brief description of your progress please include a bibliography of at least 25 sources relevant to your topic.

Type your essay here

Attach a 3-4 page written proposal for your research topic

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ADMISSION INTERVIEW

All applicants for enrolment into the OCRPL programme will normally be interviewed either face-to-face, by Skype, or by telephone conference.

A written report of the interview is included in the applicant’s portfolio for consideration by the Admissions Committee.

DECLARATION

I confirm that the information provided in this application is true, accurate and complete: No information requested or other material information has been omitted.

I consent to the OCRPL contacting the referees supplied. (Please tick the box)

Data Protection statement: I consent to the processing of this data for educational purposes under the provisions of the 1998 Data Protection Act. I agree that OCRPL may store and process by computer or otherwise, all personal information supplied with this form for the purpose of enrolment at OCRPL and registration for a research degree. (Please tick the box)

If I am submitting my application online, I will post a hand signed form with other documents after completing the online application when requested to do so by OCRPL. (Please tick the box)

Full Name

Signature

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Date

(dd/mm/yyyy)