PhD for as little as $1290,66 p/a at a top 150 school.

[Docu]

Please review the main webpage for any UNISA doctorate you’re interested in. The section “Curriculum,” toward the bottom of the page, will list every “course” in the program. You will probably find there is only one course, the thesis (what in the US is called a dissertation). There are no other courses. There isn’t transfer credit in this system nor is there transfer-like waiver. Doctoral or Level 8 coursework elsewhere will bring you no closer to this doctorate than you are without it.

Thanks. 
Is this cbe or I have to really complete this in 6 years

[bjcheung77]

Unless you're looking to complete this in 6 up to 11 years like a member did, I would skip UNISA altogether... They're a good school, but not CBE or fast enough to finish for my tastes...

[Jonathan Whatley]

It’s a no-coursework, all-research degree. That’s not very similar to most US CBE degrees. Whether it falls within an extended definition of competency-based education depends on your definition.

[Docu]

It’s a no-coursework, all-research degree. That’s not very similar to most US CBE degrees. Whether it falls within an extended definition of competency-based education depends on your definition.

I hear you and I get that a no-coursework research degree is not the same as most US CBE programs. Honestly, I am looking for something quick that can realistically support a meaningful package increase. Something I can finish in three semesters or so, ideally under $15,000, with tangible output I can point to.

I hear you and I get that a no-coursework research degree is not the same as most US CBE programs. Honestly, I am looking for something quick that can realistically support a meaningful package increase. Something I can finish in three semesters or so, ideally under $15,000, with tangible output I can point to.


I have looked at options like Cumberland’s PhD, which is a year if I transfer the maximum credits, but that seems tight. Westcliff’s Level 8 path looks more doable since I could complete around 30 credits fairly quickly. The urgency is that a 40 percent salary increase is already being offered by another employer if I choose to partner with them, so I need a path that gets me the fastest recognized credential to justify a comparable bump. I am trying to avoid programs like Walden or Purdue Global.

[slammX]

It’s a no-coursework, all-research degree. That’s not very similar to most US CBE degrees. Whether it falls within an extended definition of competency-based education depends on your definition.

I hear you and I get that a no-coursework research degree is not the same as most US CBE programs. Honestly, I am looking for something quick that can realistically support a meaningful package increase. Something I can finish in three semesters or so, ideally under $15,000, with tangible output I can point to.

I hear you and I get that a no-coursework research degree is not the same as most US CBE programs. Honestly, I am looking for something quick that can realistically support a meaningful package increase. Something I can finish in three semesters or so, ideally under $15,000, with tangible output I can point to.


I have looked at options like Cumberland’s PhD, which is a year if I transfer the maximum credits, but that seems tight. Westcliff’s Level 8 path looks more doable since I could complete around 30 credits fairly quickly. The urgency is that a 40 percent salary increase is already being offered by another employer if I choose to partner with them, so I need a path that gets me the fastest recognized credential to justify a comparable bump. I am trying to avoid programs like Walden or Purdue Global.

A UNISA PhD generally takes a minimum of 3 years of dedicated work. UNISA allows up to 6 years, with an option to extend by another year. If you're looking for something quick then this one isn't it unfortunately.

[SteveFoerster]

Honestly, I am looking for something quick that can realistically support a meaningful package increase. Something I can finish in three semesters or so, ideally under $15,000, with tangible output I can point to.

Then UNISA is definitely not the droid you're looking for.

[bjcheung77]

Basically, as I mentioned before, make a short list, and select from that. It'll be one of the few you've got on hand, decide which one fits you most, it may not hit all the requirements you're looking at.

[EliEverIsAHero]

To be completely honest, if you were just able to keep a remote job (part-time) in the USA while doing your postgrad studies at UCT. 

Most American companies would not go for this. There are legal issues with overseas employees that they would have to deal with and most don't want to deal with the hassle.

What are you basing this on? I have several colleagues living in South America and Europe while having remote jobs in the US. My parents work with some of the largest companies in the world (e.g. Google, Genentech, Deloitte, Facebook), and per their experience, 'most companies' perspective is off. 

OP, thanks for all the information. My father has talked about moving to SA over the years for his Ph.D.; however, my mother talked him out of that option. Cape Town remains a holiday destination.

Yeah, to be honest even I have relatives that currently have remote jobs from the USA, that currently live in South Africa. So I wouldn't say it's impossible. Even if you are able to do just freelance work or something like that. If you can just source $1000 p/m you'll be more than fine in this country (assuming you have no dependents.)

Cape Town is great, I don't live there anymore but did for quite a while. Cape Town doesn't even feel part of South Africa it's so different, I honestly love that place so much. I think it's currently ranked the 11th best city to live in, in the world. Frequently keeping a spot within the top10/15 every year. (Beating out cities such as London, Manchester, NYC.)
https://www.goodthingsguy.com/environmen...out%20tops!

Definitely a worthy place to do a year abroad.

As someone else mentioned, remote work depends heavily on the context and sector in which you work. That said, the remote work well is drying up.

But while I "teleworked" in a U.S. government administrative role (I was still required to be in the office every now and then) due to COVID measures, I was literally not allowed to bring my job abroad. I would have most likely been thrown out on the street with a black mark on my professional record, or simply gotten a stern talking to from the same internal team that I needed to talk to after dealing with a member of the public who made a threat of violence. Or that someone would have needed to have turned themselves into if they'd looked up their own social security information in an internal database. Attempting to work from abroad would be treated the same way. Not to mention that bringing anything that identifies you as a U.S. government employee abroad, even to a friendly-ish country or for a non-security-oriented role like the one I had, is simply not a good idea. 

I did however work as a remote ESL teacher at one point, which is a job you can theoretically bring abroad.... depending on the employer. I had a job as an ESL teacher that very specifically required you to stay in the U.S. and/or Canada and would fire you on the spot for using a VPN. But that industry is rapidly disappearing, so perhaps that is a moot point.