National Research Foundation
The NRF provides various funding opportunities for postgraduate honours, master’s and doctoral students intending to study at UCT.
DSI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding for the 2026 Academic Year - NOW OPEN
The DSTI and NRF are pleased to announce a call for new applications for DSTI-NRF Master’s and Doctoral Student Funding for the academic year 2026. 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% for the previous degree. 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 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.
|
2025 FUNDING CALLS |
NRF OPENING |
UCT CLOSING |
DA (PGFO) |
UCT INTERNAL |
DA (PGFO) |
|
FT MAST |
14-May-25 |
04-Jul-25 |
07-Jul-25 TO |
11-Aug-25 TO |
05-Sep-25 |
|
FT DOCT |
14-May-25 |
04-Jul-25 |
07-Jul-25 TO |
11-Aug-25 TO |
05-Sep-25 |
|
EXT MAST AND DOCT |
14-May-25 |
15-Aug-25 |
18-Aug-25 TO |
8-Sept-25 TO |
30-Sep-25 |
|
SARAO HONS |
01-Jun-25 |
01-Aug-25 |
18-Aug-25 TO |
NOT APPLICABLE |
31-Aug-25 |
|
*HONS GENERAL |
01-Jul-25 |
31-Oct-25 |
NOT APPLICABLE |
NOT APPLICABLE |
31-Mar-26 |
|
* NOTE Applicants requiring ISFAP assessment should submit their application no later than 2 SEPTEMBER 2025. |
|||||
Please refer to the Application and Funding Guide and Framework documents when completing the online application form at every step of the process. All postgraduate call documents can be accessed via the NRF website: https://www.nrf.ac.za/funding/nrf-call-for-proposals-for-funding-in-2025-and-2026/.
DSTI-NRF Postgraduate Scholarship Framework for 2026 Funding (download)
DSI-NRF Master's and Doctoral Application and Funding Guide 2026 (download)
Frequently Asked Questions Postgraduate Funding 2025 (14 May) (download)
Application Guide for SARAO Master's Scholarships for 2026 (download)
Application Guide for SARAO Doctoral Scholarships for 2026 (download)
NRF Statement of expectation for Postgraduate Training 2026 (download)
ISFAP – Application Consent Form (download)
As requested by the NRF, ALL postgraduate students applying for master’s or doctoral NRF scholarships must upload a referee letter from their supervisor/head of department. Please provide your supervisor or head of department (if supervision is not finalised) with this template for completion. Please upload the completed and signed referee letter to the application to be considered complete and for funding support. Please note, the Designated Authority (UCT NRF Staff) will stamp the letter during their review period.
NRF Referee letter template (download)
FOR MASTER’S APPLICANTS ONLY
If a supervisor is yet to be allocated, a signed letter on the institutional letterhead from the Head of Department (HoD) can be attached, in which the following questions are answered:
Do you support the application that has been submitted to the NRF?
Do you confirm that the master’s applicant will be allocated a supervisor timeously, thus enabling the applicant to take up the scholarship (if awarded) and start their studies by April of the year of award?
Medical Research Council (MRC)
For more information regarding the requirements for the MRC's 2 scholarships, please visit the Medical Research Council's website.