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<div class=Section1>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Hi all<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>We have decided to continue using it as follows (the SA
convention). It has been investigated by one of our researchers:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Masters Dissertations<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Doctoral Thesis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>In the end the type for all will be “Thesis” in
order for the harvesters to harvest all.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Kind regards<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Ina<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> Matizirofa, Lazarus
[mailto:lmatizirofa@uj.ac.za] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> 11 March 2010 08:42<br>
<b>To:</b> Smith, Ina <ismith@sun.ac.za>; irtalk@lists.lib.sun.ac.za<br>
<b>Subject:</b> RE: Dissertation vs Thesis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Hi
Everyone,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>According
to the Wikipedia, “A dissertation or thesis is a document submitted in
support of candidature for a degree or professional qualification presenting
the author's <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Research" title=Research><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>research</span></a> and findings.
In some countries/universities, the word thesis or a cognate is used as part of
a bachelor's or master's course, while dissertation is normally applied to a <a
href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doctorate" title=Doctorate><span
style='color:windowtext;text-decoration:none'>doctorate</span></a>”.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>So
which is what now?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Kind
regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Lazarus<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD","sans-serif";
color:gray'>Matizirofa, Lazarus </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:7.5pt;
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& Information Centre </span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:7.5pt;
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of Johannesburg <br>
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color:#E36C0A'>(</span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:
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color:gray'>Private Box 524, Auckland Park 2006<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:7.5pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD","sans-serif";
color:gray'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD","sans-serif";color:#E36C0A'><a
href="http://ujdigispace.uj.ac.za:8080/dspace/"><span style='color:#E36C0A'>UJDigiSpace
Online</span></a></span><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:
"Maiandra GD","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F'> | </span><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD","sans-serif";color:#E36C0A'><a
href="www.uj.ac.za/library"><span style='color:#E36C0A'>www.uj.ac.za/library</span></a></span><span
lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD","sans-serif";
color:#7F7F7F'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span lang=EN-US><a
href="http://www.uj.ac.za/"><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif";
color:#B74000;text-decoration:none'><img border=0 width=121 height=121
id="Picture_x0020_1" src="cid:image001.gif@01CAC10A.3CB180E0"
alt="University of Johannesburg Home"></span></a></span><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD","sans-serif";color:#7F7F7F'><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span lang=EN-US
style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD","sans-serif";color:#E36C0A'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<table class=MsoNormalTable border=0 cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 width="93%"
style='width:93.94%;background:white'>
<tr>
<td style='padding:0cm 0cm 0cm 0cm'></td>
<td width="80%" valign=bottom style='width:80.3%;padding:7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt 7.5pt'>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Maiandra GD","sans-serif";
color:#B74000'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:8.0pt;font-family:"Gill Sans MT","sans-serif";
color:#00B0F0'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> irtalk-bounces@lists.lib.sun.ac.za
[mailto:irtalk-bounces@lists.lib.sun.ac.za] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Smith, Ina
<ismith@sun.ac.za><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Thursday, March 11, 2010 8:21 AM<br>
<b>To:</b> irtalk@lists.lib.sun.ac.za<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Irtalk] Dissertation vs Thesis<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Hi everybody<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>Would love to hear how you use the following at your
institutions and whether all use it consistently throughout SA. According to
this newsletter:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'>“ </span><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>In
other words, a thesis is investigated in a dissertation. But often (in South
Africa and elsewhere), the word dissertation is used to describe a Master's
degree dissertation, while the word thesis is used to describe the Ph.D.
dissertation." (Prof Eric Hofstede)<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Therefore:<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Disseration
– Masters<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Thesis
– PhD<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Kind
regards<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Ina<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:11.0pt;font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif";
color:#1F497D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0cm 0cm 0cm'>
<p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> The Dissertation Bulletin (Exactica)
[mailto:exactica@majesticinteractive.co.za] <br>
<b>Sent:</b> 10 March 2010 11:26<br>
<b>To:</b> ismith@sun.ac.za<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Vol. 1: The Craft of the Dissertation<o:p></o:p></span></p>
</div>
<p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<p style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Dear
Ina<br>
<br>
If there's one theme that's going to run consistently through the <i>Dissertation
Bulletin</i>, it's that nothing about a dissertation should be left to chance.
Good dissertations don't happen by chance. They're an expression of knowledge;
knowledge of your academic subject, knowledge of how to research and write a
dissertation, and ideally, knowledge of yourself.<br>
<br>
As this is the first issue, I'm going to try convince you of the importance of
learning about dissertations and dissertation writing before you go out and
create one. Not a particularly heavy subject, but vitally important
nonetheless. Knowledge is, after all, power.<br>
<br>
At the end there'll be a short Q and A.<br>
<br>
Dr Erik Hofstee<br>
<br>
<b><span style='color:#000099'>Exactica</span></b><br>
PO Box 78069<br>
2146 Sandton<br>
Tel: (0)12 807 1188</span><br>
<span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Fax: 086 501
1755<br>
<a href="http://www.exactica.co.za/">www.exactica.co.za</a></span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><span
style='font-size:13.5pt'><br>
<b>THE DISSERTATION BULLETIN, Vol. 1</b></span><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>
</span><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#000099'><br>
The Craft of the Dissertation</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>
<br>
Probably more people drop out of their degrees while working on their
dissertations than at any other part of their academic programme. It's not for
nothing that ABD (All But Dissertation) is popularly believed to stand for All
But Dead. The reason for this is that dissertation writers are often not in
control of their work. They're lost right from the beginning.<br>
<br>
By and large, it comes down to three problems: not really knowing what to do,
not knowing how to do it, and a lack of planning (we'll leave a lack of
discipline out of it). I'll deal with planning towards the end, because,
obviously, you can only plan if you know where you want to go. Otherwise it's
all just wishful thinking put down on paper.<br>
<br>
<b>What To Do</b><br>
<br>
Let's deal with "<i>not really knowing what to do</i>" first. To take
it down to the very basics, what you're supposed to do is hand in a passing
dissertation so you can get your degree. It may sound obvious, but most
dissertation writers don't take that as their point of departure. Most
dissertation writers either try tackle their hobbies, try solve world hunger,
or else try to create a masterpiece. Some simply try to please their
supervisors on an <i>ad hoc</i> basis as best they can. They're all asking for
trouble from the beginning.<br>
<br>
You need to know and own the reason why you're writing a dissertation. Always.
Explicitly ask yourself why you're doing the dissertation, what's most
important about it to you, and then make all your actions consistent with your
answer. Hint: For most people the correct answer is "Because I need to
hand in a good dissertation to pass my degree."<br>
<br>
Only once you've defined your goal, can you develop a strategy to reach that
goal.<br>
<br>
A dissertation is effort enough as it stands, and there is no reason to make it
harder than it needs to be. Given that truth, practicality should be your
guiding light when you think about your dissertation. You should be searching
for a topic, problem, and thesis that will allow you to create a good
dissertation with a minimum amount of risks. You should know the answers to
practical questions like:</span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Do
I have a clear, focussed and worthwhile problem?</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Can
I get to a reliable conclusion about it (i.e. "Can I figure out a
method that will lead me to that conclusion?")</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Do
I have the time and money to complete this particular project?</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>If
I choose to tackle this problem, can I get reliable data?</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Can
I make a good thesis or a research hypothesis about the problem?</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Is
there enough secondary literature, and can I get hold of it?</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l0 level1 lfo3'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>If
I do this, will I get the best possible advice from my supervisor?</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>These are just some of the practical matters
that you should be considering before you start working seriously on your
dissertation project. They, and others like them, are more important than
whether you'll solve world hunger (you won't) or create a masterpiece (you
might, but it's a lot more likely if you get the practicalities sorted out
first).<br>
<br>
<b>How To Do It</b><br>
<br>
The next one, "<i>not knowing how to do it</i>" is an ongoing
process. For just about every important skill, people train themselves and
learn how to do it properly before they go out and do it. Okay, parenting is an
exception, but it's an exception. Strangely enough, most dissertation writers
don't bother to learn how to plan, research, structure, write or edit a
dissertation. And it's not that hard.<br>
<br>
Learning to research and write a good dissertation is just like learning any
other skill. There are rules, and things you just need to know if you're going
to do it right. Inspiration counts, but without knowing how to turn it into a
good dissertation, it's worthless. Learning how to create a good dissertation
is probably not the most difficult intellectual task that you need to do to get
your degree, but it may well be the most worthwhile one.<br>
<br>
Reading the <i>Dissertation Bulletin</i> is a step in the right direction. So
is reading a good book about dissertation writing. So is taking a practical
course to teach you how. A careful reading of your department's guidelines is
obligatory. It's simply the right way of going about it. You just can't afford
to leave it to luck.<br>
<br>
<b>Planning</b><br>
<br>
Once you know why you're doing the dissertation, and how to do it, you need to
plan. You have to plan. There's no option.<br>
<br>
If you're going to complete a dissertation, well and on time, you should be
constantly in control of your project. There are going to be too many balls in
the air for you to hope to hold them all in your mind at the same time and not
to drop a few. The disasters that can be avoided by planning and making
rational choices are endless. The frustrations that come from not planning are
heart-wrenching (and expensive and a waste of time and ...)<br>
<br>
Planning is about structure; structure and order. It's an art to do it really
right, but any plan works better than no plan. The essentials of planning are
naming the end goal, breaking the task that needs to be accomplished into
manageable chunks, ordering those properly, and then attaching timelines to the
various milestones you need to reach.<br>
<br>
Of course things like breaking steps into specific tasks and checking
beforehand to see if there are likely to be problems anywhere are a big part of
it too. So is checking in with your supervisor at critical junctions. Once you
have your plan on paper, it's a good idea to draw up a timeline too. A Gantt
chart works well for this. It doesn't have to be fancy, but it should be clear,
realistic and prominently displayed.<br>
<br>
While every dissertation is unique, in broad lines there are a lot of
similarities between good ones. The reason for this is that they all have the
same end-goal: They need to arrive at a well-substantiated, non-obvious
conclusion about a worthwhile problem. That means you can learn how to plan
your dissertation properly from the beginning without having to reinvent the
wheel.<br>
<br>
Admittedly, there's a lot more to be said about good dissertation planning, far
more than we have space for today. If there's enough interest, maybe in one of
the future editions of the <i>Dissertation Bulletin</i> I'll discuss it in more
depth.<br>
<br>
<b>Conclusion</b><br>
<br>
I'll finish with a quote from Dave Allen: "So in order to achieve clarity
and be fully and positively engaged in what you're doing, you must (1) know the
goal or outcome you're intending and (2) decide and take the next physical move
to propel you in that direction."<br>
<br>
Creating a good dissertation is about knowing where you want to get, knowing
how to get there, and bringing structure to the task at hand. It's about
practical choices, keeping a sense of perspective and making sure you do your
homework before you go out and commit yourself.<br>
<br>
Do that, and you won't end up caught in the ABD stage indefinitely.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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<p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>
</span><b><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#000099'>Comments,
Suggestions and Questions</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:
"Arial","sans-serif"'><br>
<br>
<br>
<b><i>Editorial Comment</i></b><br>
<br>
In some email programs, especially web-based ones, the formatting of the <i>Dissertation
Bulletin</i> might not always be perfect. There may be things like extra spaces
in words, font sizes showing inconsistently, and similar errors.<br>
<br>
I've checked in most common browsers, but pre-checking in all is impossible.
Besides, I want to keep the <i>Dissertation Bulletin</i> as light on bandwidth
as possible. That's why it's largely text-based and without extra graphics. So
if you do occasionally see strange formatting issues on your email program,
please ignore them!<br>
<br>
<br>
<b><i>What's the difference between a thesis and a dissertation?</i></b><br>
<br>
This is a question that crops up regularly. I'll take the answer straight from
the FAQs on Exactica's web site.<br>
<br>
"There is a fair amount of confusion as to the meaning of the words thesis
and dissertation. Strictly speaking, a thesis is a hypothesis, a conjecture,
proposition or a statement that can be tested or rationally argued. A
dissertation is an academic work, a treatise that offers new insight as the
result of structured research.<br>
<br>
In other words, a thesis is investigated in a dissertation. But often (in South
Africa and elsewhere), the word dissertation is used to describe a Master's
degree dissertation, while the word thesis is used to describe the Ph.D.
dissertation."<br>
<br>
In the <i>Dissertation Bulletin</i>, we go with the dictionary definition: a
dissertation is the document you're required to hand in, whether you're doing a
Honours, Master's or Ph.D. degree.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b><i>Is it correct to include a summary and references in a Research Proposal?</i></b><br>
<br>
It's a matter of university guidelines, but it certainly isn't incorrect unless
your university explicitly says not to include them. I feel that there
definitely should be references, and a list of references or works consulted at
the end. A summary is a nice extra.<br>
<br>
<br>
<b><i>I want to enrol for a Masters degree in psychology. Which university
should I choose?</i></b><br>
<br>
I'm going to answer your question in general terms that apply to this kind of
decision regardless of field of study. There's a lot to take into account, not
least of all your personal circumstances and goals. Here are a couple of things
you'll want to think about:</span><o:p></o:p></p>
<ul type=disc>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Check
the programme's accreditation status, especially if you're going to sign
up with a university not based in South Africa.</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Look
at costs upfront, especially if it's an MBA. They can vary widely. Also
find out if there are financial support options.</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Universities,
or more accurately, departments within universities, specialize. Know what
the specialties are, and favour those that are strong in the areas you're
interested in, especially (but not only) if you're planning an academic
career.</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Especially
if you're enrolling for a doctoral degree, try to get to know your
supervisor before you commit.</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>If
you're doing a degree to advance a non-academic career, ask around in HR
departments and the like how they rate the qualification. If it's for an
academic career, ask around at universities.</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Look
at the programme's pass and failure / incomplete stats. They're not the
same between institutions. Balance this one against the reputation of the
programme though.</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Read
all the degree requirements carefully before you commit. They're not all
the same either.</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Look
at how the programme is put together, and whether that matches your goals,
and very importantly, the amount of time you can realistically commit to
your studies.</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class=MsoNormal style='mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto;
mso-list:l1 level1 lfo6'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Get
feedback from people currently in the programme. Ask for references, make
a list of questions and call them. More is better.</span> <o:p></o:p></li>
</ul>
<p class=MsoNormal style='margin-bottom:12.0pt'><span style='font-size:10.0pt;
font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Doing a postgraduate degree is a major
commitment of time, money and effort, and it's worth doing a bit of homework
before you make up your mind.</span><o:p></o:p></p>
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