I have consulted as an academic writer, editor, researcher and instructional designer for the past 18 years, with clients in 15 countries.
EDITING. I have edited dozens of doctoral theses and journal articles and several manuscripts for scholarly books. I work closely with publisher requirements and ensure style specifications (e.g. APA 7th Edition) are met. I work on both substantive and technical levels as I edit. I'm experienced with the major style guides. I'm adept at working with translated and second language English texts.
WRITING. I've written 9 substantial research reports and a variety of other documents. I've written several funding proposals.
RESEARCH. I have designed and led 10 substantial research projects. My expertise is in qualitative research on social science topics.
INSTRUCTIONAL DESIGN. I have designed 10 modules for degree programs (including assessment activities) and reviewed and improved others.
Sample testimonials from past clients.
Bobbie has given me valuable editing input on several of my books over the past ten years, including academic and creative publications. She handles academic, technical, and creative projects with equal skill and can undertake rewrites that dramatically improve texts. Her editing has a distinctive style – she is able to pay close attention to details but also able to work on a macro level with the shape of the work overall. Of note is her ability to find extra typos and mistakes once the final preprint has been approved by publishers and their editors. She is highly committed. I do not know of another editor who has the skill set she has. Bobbie has also done doctoral editing work for me and colleagues over the last six years, all of which have resulted in successful graduations and very thankful students.
Prof Wayne Hugo
Working with Bobbie has been a privilege that exceeded my highest expectations. Her involvement in editing both my Ph.D. thesis and research articles has left an indelible mark on my academic endeavours. Bobbie’s editing of my PhD thesis was nothing short of outstanding. She meticulously checked the structure and flow of arguments throughout the entire thesis and language edited it to perfection. Her substantive expertise was invaluable, as she provided insights and perspectives that greatly enhanced the quality of my work, exceeding my expectations. Bobbie’s feedback was always clear and insightful, making it easy for me to understand areas for improvement. What truly stands out is Bobbie’s impressive track record of successfully editing and contributing to my research articles. Her editing was instrumental in the acceptance and publication of my first research article in the Eurasia Journal of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education. Her professionalism, flexibility, and responsiveness to feedback in our working relationship made the collaboration a smooth and productive one.
Dr Mzwandile W Zulu
Your input is vast and detailed! Thank you for your AMAZING attention to detail.
Prof Betty C Mubangizi, NRF/SARChI Chair in Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Between July 2019 and January 2023, Saide enlisted Bobbie's expertise on four occasions to design and develop course materials for the Advanced Diploma in Technical and Vocational Teaching (AD TVT). Throughout her engagement, Bobbie consistently demonstrated the highest degree of professionalism, consistently delivering polished and refined products. Bobbie's commitment to excellence, dedication, collaborative spirit, and professionalism contributed significantly to the overall success of the AD TVT project.
Maryla Bialobrzeska, Senior Programme Specialist and AD TVT Project Leader, Saide
I worked with Bobbie on a project developing and writing distance courses and assessments for the Bachelor of Education programme offered by SANTS. She is equally adept at conceptualizing and writing modules and is able to design exciting and stimulating activities across a number of NQF levels. She has extensive interests in education and is able to research new areas and produce high quality materials. Bobbie has written modules on topics such as Sociology of Education, Classroom Practice, School Management and Leadership and has contributed content to others (Ed Studies, Social Justice and Current Issues). She has developed challenging but fair assessments, moderated assessments and exams; and has edited numerous other modules. I have also collaborated with Bobbie on projects for the South African Institute for Distance Education. We worked together as writers of the Advanced Diploma Technical and Vocational Teaching modules, as well as on developing approaches and models for TVET. Not only did this entail editing, writing, design work, and assessments; it also meant research and constructing a whole new structure for the programme. Her skills in this regard are exceptional.
Prof Wayne Hugo, School of Education, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Academic Research
Academic Writing
Research Proposals
Research Paper Writing
Editing & Proofreading
Workshop Facilitation
Material Design
Strategic Planning
Children's Literature
Project Management Professional
Children's Writing
Report Writing
Academic Content Development
Academic Textbook
Academic Transcription
Mamosa N.
Cape Town, South Africa
$20/hr
5.0
1 jobs
Hi there!
I’m Dr. Mamosa Ngcala, a PhD graduate and Academic Consultant with over five years of university experience.
I help students, researchers, and professionals strengthen their academic writing, refine their ideas, and present their work with clarity and confidence.
With firsthand experience navigating the full research journey, from proposal development to thesis submission and defence, I understand the challenges of academic writing and how to overcome them.
My services include:
• Academic editing & proofreading (essays, theses, dissertations, journal papers)
• Research support & consultation (proposal development, literature review, structure)
• Academic writing improvement & feedback
• Formatting according to institutional or journal guidelines
Why clients choose to work with me:
• PhD-level understanding of academic standards and research integrity
• Attention to detail, clarity, and tone
• Constructive, supportive communication throughout the project
Whether you’re refining a dissertation, preparing a journal submission, or improving your writing, I’ll help you deliver polished, professional, and credible work.
Let’s collaborate to elevate your academic writing and make your research shine.
Academic Research
Literature Review
Scientific Writing
Scientific Research
Academic Writing
Editing & Proofreading
Thesis Writing
Higher Education
Academic Transcription
References & Citations
Writing
Academic Editing
Research Proposals
Article Writing
Sophia M.
Knysna, South Africa
$40/hr
4.9
86 jobs
Experienced academic proofreader, editor, and dissertation writing tutor who also offers style formatting and referencing
My services include:
Proofreading and editing journal articles, essays, theses, and dissertations
Revising academic works to incorporate feedback from supervisors or journal reviewers
Formatting documents to match the style guide set by a journal/academic institution/citation method
Referencing, proofreading, and editing citations in APA 7/6, AMA, Harvard, Chicago/Turabian, and MLA.
Ensuring that in-text and reference list citations are formatted and cited correctly.
Confirming that each in-text citation has a corresponding reference in the reference list and vice versa.
Providing extensive online research on any topic - complete with a spreadsheet listing my findings
Fact-checking academic material
Formatting
Academic Proofreading
Proofreading
Academic Writing
Linguistics
Academic Editing
Citation Style
Commenting
Track Changes
APA Formatting
Professional Journal Citations
References & Citations
Chicago Manual of Style
Thendo M.
Cape Town, South Africa
$28/hr
5.0
12 jobs
I am Dr Thendo, an academic researcher and writer on various fields of studies in Sustainable Development, Social Sciences, Humanities, Business Studies, Corporate Social Responsibility, and Urban Geography. I currently hold a doctoral degree (PhD) and have wide experience on working in project management, research, curriculum development and facilitation. I can assist you with high-quality research and writing of academic content. For example, literature reviews, cataloguing of literature in reference managers (Mendeley, RefWorks, Endnote), essay writing, book chapter writing, and dissertation and thesis methodology chapter reviews.
Academic Research
Research Methods
Sustainable Design
Urban Planning
Microsoft Office
Teaching
Content Writing
Project Management
Academic Writing
International Development
Academic Editing
Proofreading
Jane D.
Cape Town, South Africa
$60/hr
4.5
31 jobs
Hi, I am a socio-legal researcher. I am meticulous and fluent in English. I will offer my exceptional research assistance ad writing whether legal or academic.
*I will review and edit your article, dissertation whether masters or doctoral
*I will assess scientific rigour, language, syntax, and its relevance.
*I will provide minor rewrites if needed
*I am adept at both qualitative and other research methodologies
*I have knowledge of Nvivo for data analysis
*I will also provide typing and transcription services
I have ten years of experience in research, writing and review. I possess doctoral, masters, and Bachelor of Law degrees and a postgraduate diploma.
Tell us what you need. Create your own job post or generate one with AI then filter talent matches.
Hire top talent fast
Consult, interview, and hire quickly, so you can meet the freelancers you're excited about.
Collaborate easily
Use Upwork to chat or video call, share files, and track project progress right from the app.
Payment simplified
Manage payments in one place with flexible billing options. Only pay for approved work, hourly or by milestone.
Don't just take our word for it
“Upwork provides an umbrella-level of security. I can see a talent’s work history and ratings. I can hold payments in escrow. I can communicate through Upwork Messages instead of working through my email address.”
KD
Kim Darling
Emerald Tiger
“Upwork is the best platform to hire skilled professionals when we're not looking for a full-time employee. All the companies in our portfolio use Upwork to find talent across a wide range of fields.”
DM
David Merry
Kinetic Investments
“Our very specific requirements can be a challenge—With Upwork, we’re able to access a bigger community to ensure the success of our projects.”
KK
Katja Krohn
Summa Linguae
How do I hire a Academic Researcher in South Africa on Upwork?
You can hire a Academic Researcher in South Africa on Upwork in four simple steps:
Create a job post tailored to your Academic Researcher project scope. We'll walk you through the process step by step.
Browse top Academic Researcher talent on Upwork and invite them to your project.
Once the proposals start flowing in, create a shortlist of top Academic Researcher profiles and interview.
Hire the right Academic Researcher for your project from Upwork, the world's largest work marketplace.
At Upwork, we believe talent staffing should be easy.
How much does it cost to hire a Academic Researcher?
Rates charged by Academic Researchers on Upwork can vary with a number of factors including experience, location, and market conditions. See hourly rates for in-demand skills on Upwork.
Why hire a Academic Researcher in South Africa on Upwork?
As the world's work marketplace, we connect highly-skilled freelance Academic Researchers and businesses and help them build trusted, long-term relationships so they can achieve more together. Let us help you build the dream Academic Researcher team you need to succeed.
Can I hire a Academic Researcher in South Africa within 24 hours on Upwork?
Depending on availability and the quality of your job post, it's entirely possible to sign up for Upwork and receive Academic Researcher proposals within 24 hours of posting a job description.
Find more freelancers
Top cities for Academic Researchers in South Africa