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The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) are pleased to announce a call for new applications for DSI-NRF postgraduate student funding for the 2024 academic year. All continuing students who are eligible for a second or third year of funding must submit a Progress Report and not a new application.

The NRF minimum academic requirement for postgraduate funding is 65%. The entry age requirement is 28, 30 and, 32 years or younger, for honours, master’s and doctoral studies respectively, in the year of application, regardless of the first year of registration. Successful applicants will be funded either at Full Cost of Study (FCS) or Partial Cost of Study (PCS). The FCS funding will be awarded to South African citizens and Permanent Residents only, who are either financially needy (i.e., those whose combined household family income is less than or equal to R350 000 per annum), living with a disability, or exceptional academic achievers. However, the PCS funding will be awarded to 5% of international students including South African citizens and Permanent Residents who could not be funded under FCS, but meet other minimum requirements for the NRF scholarship funding criteria. The scholarships are intended to support honours, master’s and doctoral candidates to pursue studies in all areas of Science, Engineering, Technology, Social Sciences, and Humanities.

All the postgraduate students will be expected to apply on the NRF Connect System by accessing the link: https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za/. No manual applications will be accepted.

Students’ application closing dates:

Please refer to the Application and Funding Guide and Framework documents when completing the online application form at every step of the process.

For enquiries, applicants are encouraged to contact the Research or Postgraduate offices at their universities. Should there still be a need to contact the NRF, below are the contact persons and details:

For general honours related enquiries, please contact:

Mr Lehlogonolo Phaahla: Professional Officer – HICD. Telephone: 012 481 4315.

Email address: LA.Phaahla@risa.nrf.ac.za

For general first-time master’s and doctoral, and NRF-DAAD-related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Kgaugelo Molepo: Professional Officer – HICD. Telephone: 012 481 4148.

Email address: KJ.Molepo@risa.nrf.ac.za

For master’s and doctoral extension support, NRF-SASAC, PDP and NRF-SASOL-related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Nontokozo Kunene: Professional Officer – HICD. Telephone: 012 481 4105

Email address: NS.Kunene@risa.nrf.ac.za

For National Skills Fund and NRF-MINDS-related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Busisiwe Sibiya: Professional Officer – HICD. Telephone: 012 481 4166

Email address: BG.Sibiya@risa.nrf.ac.za

 For Global Knowledge Partnerships-related enquiries, please contact:

Mr Nelson Komane: Professional Officer – HICD. Telephone: 012 481 4219.

Email address: SN.Komane@risa.nrf.ac.za

For first-time SARChI honours, master’s and doctoral-related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Andisiwe Jukuda: Professional Officer – RCCE. Telephone: 012 481 4113.

Email address: AH.Jukuda@risa.nrf.ac.za

For first-time CoEs honours, master’s and doctoral-related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Malekgotla Finger: Professional Officer – RCCE. Telephone: 012 481 4003.

Email address: MD.Finger@risa.nrf.ac.za

For NRF-SARAO postgraduate scholarships-related enquiries, please contact:

Annah Mashemola: Professional Officer, HCD, NRF-SARAO. Telephone: 012 442 2434.

Email address: amashemola@ska.ac.za