Applications are invited for NRF–TWAS doctoral fellowship programme from scientists to enable them to pursue PhD research in South Africa. These doctoral fellowships are available for the nationals of developing country or Africa (other than South Africa).
The NRF provides modern educational and research environments that will enable students and researchers to face current challenges and to focus on knowledge as a principle driving force for development.
User Review
( votes)The mandate of the NRF is to promote and support research through funding, human resource development and the provision of the necessary research facilities in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of science and technology, including indigenous knowledge, and thereby contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of all South Africans.
Applicants must meet the following requirements of the English Language Proficiency Academic test: IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0); or TOEFL (paper) 575 (TWE 4.5); or TOEFL iBIT (min. 20); or Cambridge minimum 58. Information on the IELTS tests can be obtained from the British Council in the home country.
Course Level: Fellowships are available to scientists for the doctoral research programme at research institutions in South Africa.
Study Subject: Applicants who wish to pursue research in Science; Engineering and Technology (SET) disciplines will be supported through the Scholarship.
Scholarship Award: NRF – TWAS Doctoral Fellowships:
The package for the TWAS doctoral scholarships for 2017 is broken down as follows:
R110 000 – Non-taxable stipend per annum
R25 000 -Maximum local travel costs
R50 000 -Maximum international travel costs
-Mobility costs of the scholar Mobility grants for once off travel from home country to South Africa, and from South Africa to home country on completion of a degree, subject to cost breakdown.
The breakdown of the award will be as follows: Category of support Value (Rand) Duration
Stipend 120 000 Per Annum
Local travel 25 000 Maximum allowed during the funding period based on need
International travel 50 000 Maximum allowed during the funding period based on need
Cost towards mobility of the scholar 15 000 Once off travel (from home country to South Africa and from South Africa to home country)
The costs for the mobility of the scholar will include the following:
-Travel visa and study visa; subject to submission of proof of expenditure.
-A single economy airfare for travel from the scholar’s home country to South Africa; to the maximum of 15 000.
-A single economy airfare from South Africa to the scholar’s home country, upon completion of the doctoral degree to the value of 15 000.
Scholarship can be taken at: South Africa
Eligibility: The following criteria must be met in order for applicants to be eligible for fellowship:
In selecting applicants for consideration for the doctoral scholarships, the following criteria will apply:
-The NRF-TWAS Doctoral Scholarship funding Instrument is open to citizens and permanent residents from developing countries outside Africa. Refer to Appendix 1 for the list of eligible developing countries. The NRF-TWAS African Renaissance Doctoral Scholarship funding instrument is open to citizens and permanent residents from Africa except South Africa. Refer to Appendix 2 for TWAS endorsed countries;
The following individuals are not eligible to apply under either funding instrument:
-South African citizens; Foreign citizens who hold permanent residency permits of South Africa;
-Foreign citizens who are already resident in South Africa or in any developed country and hold temporary residence permits (this includes study permits);
-Citizens and permanent residents of any developed country; and
-Foreign citizens who were previously employed or studying towards a degree or undertaking research in South Africa, and have returned to their country of origin but have been in their country of origin for less than two (2) years.
-Applicants must be thirty-five (35) years of age on 31 December of the year of application for the doctoral scholarship ;
-Applicants must hold a university degree that will satisfy requirements for admission to doctoral studies at a South African public university, which is generally a Master’s Degree; and Visa and immigration laws of the applicant’s home country and South Africa must be met by the applicant.
Nationality: These doctoral fellowships are available for the nationals of developing country or Africa (other than South Africa):
List of Countries: Afghanistan, Guatemala, Palau, Albania, Guinea, Palestine, State of, Algeria, Guinea-Bissau, Papua New Guinea, Angola, Guyana, Paraguay, Antigua and Barbuda, Haiti, Peru, Argentina, Honduras, Philippines, Armenia, Hong Kong, SAR, Qatar, Aruba, India, Romania, Azerbaijan, Indonesia, Rwanda, Bangladesh, Iran, Islamic Rep., Samoa, Bahamas, Iraq, Sao Tome and Principe, Bahrain, Jamaica, Saudi Arabia, Barbados, Jordan, Senegal, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Belize, Kenya, Seychelles (Transitional), Benin, Kiribati, Sierra Leone, Bhutan, Korea, Dem Rep., Solomon Islands, Bolivia, Kosovo, Somalia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kuwait, South Sudan, Brunei, Kyrgyz Republic, Sri Lanka, Brazil, Lebanon, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Bulgaria, Lesotho, Sudan, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Suriname, Burundi, Libya, Swaziland, Cabo Verde, Macedonia, FYR, Syrian Arab Republic, Cambodia, Macau, Taiwan, China, Cameroon, Madagascar, Tajikistan, Central African Republic, Malawi, Tanzania, Chad, Malaysia, Thailand, Chile, Maldives, Timor-Leste, China, Mali, Trinidad and Tobago, Colombia, Marshall Islands, Togo, Comoros, Madagascar, Tonga, Congo, Dem. Rep, Mauritania, Tunisia, Congo, Rep., Mauritius, Turkey, Costa Rica, Mayotte, Turkmenistan, Ivory Coast, Mexico, Tuvalu, Cuba, Micronesia, Fed. Sts., Uganda, Djibouti, Moldova, Ukraine, Dominica, Mongolia, United Arab Emirates, Dominican Republic, Montenegro, Uruguay, Ecuador, Morocco, Uzbekistan, Egypt, Arab Rep., Mozambique, Vanuatu, El Salvador Myanmar, Venezuela, Eritrea , Namibia, Vietnam, Ethiopia, Nepal, Western Samoa, Fiji, Nicaragua, Yemen, Rep., Gabon, Niger, Zambia, Gambia, The, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Georgia, Oman, Ghana and Pakistan.
College Admission Requirement
Entrance Requirements: The NRF-TWAS Doctoral Scholarship funding Instrument is open to citizens and permanent residents from developing countries outside Africa. Refer to Appendix 1 for the list of eligible developing countries. The NRF-TWAS African Renaissance Doctoral Scholarship funding instrument is open to citizens and permanent residents from Africa except South Africa. Refer to Appendix 2 for TWAS endorsed countries.
English language Requirements: Applicants must meet the following requirements of the English Language Proficiency Academic test: IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0); or TOEFL (paper) 575 (TWE 4.5); or TOEFL iBIT (min. 20); or Cambridge minimum 58. Information on the IELTS tests can be obtained from the British Council in a home country.
Supporting Material: -Applicants must provide an official letter from their host South African institution, department or laboratory and motivation from the applicant’s host. It is the responsibility of the applicant to contact the respective institution to apply for acceptance. In addition, it is also the responsibility of the applicant to secure a supervisor for the study;
-The research project must be registered and approved by the host institution (a letter of support from the prospective supervisor must be attached to the application.; and
-Applicants must have all foreign qualifications (obtained from non-South Africa universities) evaluated by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA). An SAQA evaluation certificate must be submitted with the application, failing which the application will be rejected. Further information on the process can be accessed by logging on to www.saqa.org.za.
-The applicant must secure their own visa’s or study permits under the programme for study in South Africa. The NRF will not be responsible for assisting with visa requirements.
How to Apply: The mode of application is online.
Application Deadline: The application deadline is 29 June 2016 for funding in 2017.
