UNIZUL application

Re: Re: UNIZUL PhD update

Thanks Abner! The old dog is learning some new tricks! My wife is happy that she doesn't have to listen to me talk about how I should find a way to get my PhD anymore (that only lasted for the last 15 years or so!)

Matt

 

If they are still working with you and you aren't paying, then I'd say that you have a pretty good thing going. The question is can you drag out the application process until you are about ready to defend your dissertation?

On the other hand, a trip or two to SA would be pretty cool. I have a friend in Las Vegas who is from SA. My family and I were going to go with him and his family to SA in 2003 over Christmas. We were going to stay with his family and go on safari. It was about that time that he went into business for himself and unfortunately the trip never panned out.

I can honestly say that of all the universities I looked into, UNISA was high on my list. Like UNIZUL with you, UNISA has a program that is perfect for my professional and academic background.

 

Almost there!

Sorry once again for the long delay between updates. I have been working on my thesis proposal and also working on my employer to open the purse strings and let me purchase some lab equipment. Also I have been writing up other manuscripts for publication and doing other research (what I get paid for afterall!). However, by the end of this month (March 2007) I will be, come hell or high water, officially enrolled in the Human Movement Science PhD program at The University of Zululand. It was a long process, but as I said before I was in no hurry and in fact much of the delay was on me. I wanted to be sure everything was in place for me to be able to do the research, etc. I am pretty close on that account, so I should have the thesis proposal ready within a couple of months for my trip to SA.

I no longer care what anyone thinks about the funny sounding university name. I know it is a real university with a history and state accreditation, my promoter has been outstanding, and it is the right place at this time in my life (age 44) to finally get the PhD done.

It should take 2 to 3 years to finish the degree. I will be pretty busy, but will try to check in on the forum now and then. Please feel free to contact me with any questions. I have been looking at this stuff for several years now and have a good idea on what is and is not legit, etc.

Take care and thanks for the feedback and advice so many of you have offered!

Matt Rogers

 

I'm happy for you Matt! I've always been intrigued by the high quality and affordability of S.A degrees. I'm sure you'll enjoy your visit. I had a chance to visit the country last summer on a mission trip to Durban on the east coast of S.A. I found people very friendly and the countryside quite beautiful.

Tom

 

Steve,

Yes, that's true in my case; haven't really heard anything outwardly negative but people do say "Zululand?!?" like I made it up. It isn't the SA thing, it's just the name they think is unusual. I just say, yeah, Zululand. It's a state university, been there since 1960...it is on the Zulu homeland thus the name, and explain how I can do my research from where I am. That part is probably more confusing to people than anything else - the "you don't have to be on campus?" thing.

Good luck with the process, just don't be in a big hurry of course. My application process went something like this: e-mail all the schools that might have a program; weed through responses; discover UNIZUL will let me do Human Movement Science and a promoter is very interested in my research idea. Do some due diligence, decide UNIZUL program is the right one, get application info from promoter. Fill out application, have universities send transcripts, send notorized passport copy, etc. UNIZUL faculty recommends admission, within just a couple of weeks. A few months later the SA government determines that my master's degree is equivalent to theirs, bada bing everything is cool. Now I am filling out the final application form, sending my high school transcript (yeah, kinda strange but they want it), and another passport copy. First I have to transfer the application fee to UNIZUL's bank, which is proving to be a headache. But it will get done, and I will send a receipt for the deposit and my promoter assures me I am then enrolled. All this has taken place over about a year I guess, but could have gone faster on my end. So just be prepared for a few strange little quirks (high school transcripts, copy of college diploma, bank transfers to 'swift' accounts, etc.) along the way.

Matt

 

My experience with UNIZUL was a nightmare; my experience with Pretoria is heaven on earth. Pretoria is not only prompt, but its representatives also follow up -- by email and regular mail -- to make sure my questions are answered. I have been extremely pleased with all aspects of my enrollment.

Roscoe

 

Congratulations, Matt!

I wish you the best in your endeavors!

Roscoe

 

When I enrolled with UNIZUL a few years ago, the communications dept. provided me with proposal guidelines and samples. My Prof also encouraged me to use Paul Leedy's Practical Research book. I was pursuing a PhD in Communication Science with a focus in Journalism.

Roscoe

 

I'm in!

I received the following from my promoter yesterday:

Dear Matt

Congratulations, you are now officialy enrolled for 552ZZZ PhD Human Movement Science with the subject code SHU800 HUMAN MOVEMENT SCIENCE (DOCTOR) at the University of Zululand.

Kind regards

Marius


So, back to work on the thesis proposal I go!

 

You are now an official doctoral student. Congratulations!

 

Hi Matt - Congratulations on your enrollment. Please keep us informed about your progress and the school.

 

Thanks!

Thanks! It feels good to finally be official. In case I have not previously posted it, here is the department web site for those that are curious:

http://www.uzulu.ac.za/postgrad330.aspx

My pessimistic goal is to be done by the end of 2010; the optimist in me says the end of 2009. Actually my promoter thought my 2010 timeline was pessimistic! But it all depends on how my subject recruitment goes. If I get the subjects I need relatively quickly, then the data collection won't take that long. From current clinical exercise trial experience, it can take a really long time to get enough subjects enrolled. I'll be working on a statistical power calculation soon to determine how many subjects I need, so after that I will have a better idea of how long it will take.

Matt Rogers

 

Official 'congrats'!!

Congrat's again, Matt.

I am into the second year of my doctoral studies with Uzulu... no complaints.

(Religion Studies)

Wish you all the best!!