Herman, Chaya2015-11-192015-10Chaya Herman (2015): Looking back at doctoral education in South Africa,Studies in Higher Education, DOI: 10.1080/03075079.2015.1101756.0307-5079 (print)1470-174X (online)10.1080/03075079.2015.1101756http://hdl.handle.net/2263/50511This article provides a quantitative picture of doctoral education in South Africa up to 2010, from the time the first doctorate was awarded in 1899. It identifies the different institutional profiles and emphases of doctoral graduation in South African universities at various periods of time in the context of economic, political and social change. In addition, it analyses the progress that has taken place in attaining the national goal of equity, redress and increased research production to allow South Africa to become a player in the knowledge economy. The article is based on a comprehensive database of all the doctoral degrees awarded by South African universities for over a century. This database was compiled by triangulating various data sources.en© 2015 Society for Research into Higher Education. This is an electronic version of an article published in Studies in Higher Education, vol. x, no. y, pp. z-zz, date. doi : 10.1080/03075079.2015.1101756. Studies in Higher Education is available online at : http://www.tandfonline.comloi/cshe20.Doctoral educationGraduate studentsHistory of higher educationHigher degree researchSouth Africa (SA)Education articles SDG-04SDG-04: Quality educationEducation articles SDG-09SDG-09: Industry, innovation and infrastructureEducation articles SDG-10SDG-10: Reduced inequalitiesEducation articles SDG-17SDG-17: Partnerships for the goalsPostprint Article