The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) are offering scholarships for South African students for 2016-2017 academic year. These scholarships are available for pursuing full-time masters or doctoral studies at a South African public university or at a university abroad.
The aim of the scholarship is to support the development of a critical mass of globally competitive human resources in prioritised areas.
User Review
( votes)The NRF awards scholarships and bursaries through three modalities viz. (i) competitive scholarships awarded as free-standing scholarships following an NRF merit review process; (ii) block grants to universities that nominate students for the bursaries following an institutional selection process; and (iii) grant holder-linked bursaries in which the grant-holder nominates students linked to his/her research project.
The candidate should have a very good command over the English language.
Course Level: Scholarships are available for pursuing full-time masters or doctoral studies.
Study Subject: Scholarships are offered in diverse fields to help students in upgrading their education.
List of Subjects: NRF Freestanding: The scholarship is intended to support postgraduate candidates to pursue research studies in all areas of (i) Science, (ii) Engineering and (iii) Technology and in the (iv) Social Sciences and (v) Humanities, at public universities and research institutions in South Africa.
Innovation (including DST Priority research areas): Astronomy; Bioinformatics; Biotechnology; Cellular and Molecular Biology; Chemistry; Climate Change; Computer science; Drug Discovery and Development; Earth Sciences; Earth Observation; Ecology; Education; Engineering; Environmental Sciences; Functional Genomics; Global Change, Society and Sustainability; Health Sciences; Information Science, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Law; Mathematical Sciences; Marine Sciences; Medicinal Plant Research; Medical sciences; Nanotechnology; Nuclear Technologies in Medicine and Biosciences; Palaeosciences; Physics; Renewable Energy; Social Science and Humanities; and Space Science.
Scarce Skills Development Fund: Biological sciences (Biotechnology); Engineering (All fields of engineering); Financial sector (Accounting, Actuarial Science, Auditing, Economic Sciences, Statistics); Management (Financial Management); Physical sciences (Computer Sciences, Chemistry, Geology, Information Systems, Mathematical Sciences, Physical Sciences; and Sector specific (Agricultural Sciences, Demography, Transportation Studies, Tourism)
Scholarship Award: Scholarship values for full-time postgraduate students are:
Innovation, SSDF and students with disability
| Level of study | Scholarship value (per annum) | Maximum Funding period |
| Masters | R90 000 | 2 years |
| Doctoral
|
R120 000 | 3 years |
NRF Freestanding
| Level of study | Scholarship value (per annum) | Maximum Funding period |
| Masters | R50 000 | 2 years |
| Doctoral | R70 000 | 3 years |
Doctoral Abroad
| Level of study | Scholarship value (per annum) | Maximum Funding period |
| Doctoral | 22 000 USD | 4 years |
Scholarship can be taken in South Africa or Abroad
Eligibility: The eligibility criteria listed below applies to applicants for masters and doctoral scholarships:
- Scholarships are open to South African citizens, South African permanent residents as well as a limited percentage of non-South African citizens registered at a South African public university.
- All applicants for full-time masters or doctoral studies in South Africa must be registered or, intending to register at a South African public university.
- Applicants that already hold a degree at the level for which they are applying for funding are not eligible.
- Applicants with an in progress or a three-year undergraduate degree are not eligible to apply.
- Scarce Skills Development Fund Scholarships are open to South African citizens and South African permanent residents only registered at a South African public university
The eligibility criteria listed below applies to all applicants’ for Doctoral abroad scholarship:
- Scholarships are open to South African citizens including permanent residents only;
- All applicants for full-time doctoral studies abroad must be registered or intending to register at a university abroad; and
- Applications will only be considered if the application includes a provisional letter of acceptance for doctoral studies from the university abroad.
Nationality: South African students can apply for these scholarships.
College Admission Requirement
Entrance Requirement: Applicants must be registered or, intending to register full-time at a South African public university or at a university abroad.
Test Requirement: No
English Language Requirement: The candidate should have a very good command over the English language.
How to Apply: Applicants must apply on the NRF online system. All applicants must consult with his/her proposed supervisor in the process of submitting an application to ensure that the supervisor is in agreement with the scientific aspects contained in the application and, the proposed work plan for completion of the degree.
Application Deadline: The submission deadline for applicants is 29 July 2016 for funding in 2017.
