NRF Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills Masters and Doctoral Scholarships Call for 2024
The Department of Science and Technology (DST), Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) are pleased to announce the call for scholarship applications for 2024 in the following categories: Free-standing, Innovation, and Scarce Skills Development fund Masters and Doctoral Scholarships; as well as Scholarships for Freestanding Doctoral Studies Abroad.
The NRF makes funds available to support NRF Freestanding, SSDF and Innovation (including DST Priority Research Areas) Masters and Doctoral (including Doctoral abroad) candidates for the 2024 academic year. Masters and Doctoral scholarships are awarded through a competitive process following a merit review process. However, NRF Freestanding Masters bursaries are released as block grants to South African public Universities.
These Scholarships are awarded to South African citizens, South African permanent residents as well as to a limited percentage of non-South African citizens registered at a South African public university for full-time studies. In addition, the NRF makes funds available to support a small number of scholarships for full-time Doctoral studies abroad, with the objective of increasing the number and quality of Doctoral graduates in South Africa. Applicants to this funding instrument will need to ensure that supplementary funding is secured, as the NRF scholarship may not cover the full cost of tuition and living expenses abroad. Furthermore, the number of Doctoral abroad scholarships to be awarded will be limited due to budget constraints.
For more details, applicants must read the NRF Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills Development Fund (SSDF) Masters and Doctoral Scholarships Framework Document which highlights the eligibility criteria and requirements for each funding instrument.
Applicants must apply on the NRF Online Submission System at: https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za and follow the application process set out in the Application and Funding Guide. 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.
The submission deadline for applicants is 21 July 2024 for funding in 2024. Please consult your Research Office or Postgraduate Office for your institutions internal closing date, to ensure validation by institutional DAs prior to submission to the NRF.
NRF Contact Persons
For programme related enquiries, please contact:
Ms Fulufhelo Malamatsho
Professional Officer –Human and Infrastructure Capacity Development (HICD)
Telephone: 012 481 4166
Email: fulufhelo.malamatsho@nrf.ac.za
Mr Mduduzi Tshabangu
Professional Officer – HICD
Telephone: 012 481 4148
Email: mduduzi.tshabangu@nrf.ac.za
For Grant Management and System Administration related enquiries, please contact:
Ms Zikhona Lose
Professional Officer
Grants Management and Systems Administration (GMSA)
Telephone: 012 481 4365
E-mail: zikhona.lose@nrf.ac.za
Ms Malebo Mohlala
Liaison Officer
Grants Management and Systems Administration (GMSA)
Telephone: 012 481 4121
E-mail: malebo.mohlala@nrf.ac.za
For Reviews and Evaluation related enquiries, please contact:
Mr Martin Tjatji
Professional Officer
Reviews and Evaluation (RE)
Telephone: 012 481 4126
E-mail: martin.tjatji@nrf.ac.za
The NRF makes funds available to support NRF Freestanding, SSDF and Innovation (including DST Priority Research Areas) Masters and Doctoral (including Doctoral abroad) candidates for the 2024 academic year. Masters and Doctoral scholarships are awarded through a competitive process following a merit review process. However, NRF Freestanding Masters bursaries are released as block grants to South African public Universities.
These Scholarships are awarded to South African citizens, South African permanent residents as well as to a limited percentage of non-South African citizens registered at a South African public university for full-time studies. In addition, the NRF makes funds available to support a small number of scholarships for full-time Doctoral studies abroad, with the objective of increasing the number and quality of Doctoral graduates in South Africa. Applicants to this funding instrument will need to ensure that supplementary funding is secured, as the NRF scholarship may not cover the full cost of tuition and living expenses abroad. Furthermore, the number of Doctoral abroad scholarships to be awarded will be limited due to budget constraints.
For more details, applicants must read the NRF Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills Development Fund (SSDF) Masters and Doctoral Scholarships Framework Document which highlights the eligibility criteria and requirements for each funding instrument.
Applicants must apply on the NRF Online Submission System at: https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za and follow the application process set out in the Application and Funding Guide. 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.
The submission deadline for applicants is 21 July 2024 for funding in 2024. Please consult your Research Office or Postgraduate Office for your institutions internal closing date, to ensure validation by institutional DAs prior to submission to the NRF.
NRF Contact Persons
For programme related enquiries, please contact:
Ms Fulufhelo Malamatsho
Professional Officer –Human and Infrastructure Capacity Development (HICD)
Telephone: 012 481 4166
Email: fulufhelo.malamatsho@nrf.ac.za
Mr Mduduzi Tshabangu
Professional Officer – HICD
Telephone: 012 481 4148
Email: mduduzi.tshabangu@nrf.ac.za
For Grant Management and System Administration related enquiries, please contact:
Ms Zikhona Lose
Professional Officer
Grants Management and Systems Administration (GMSA)
Telephone: 012 481 4365
E-mail: zikhona.lose@nrf.ac.za
Ms Malebo Mohlala
Liaison Officer
Grants Management and Systems Administration (GMSA)
Telephone: 012 481 4121
E-mail: malebo.mohlala@nrf.ac.za
For Reviews and Evaluation related enquiries, please contact:
Mr Martin Tjatji
Professional Officer
Reviews and Evaluation (RE)
Telephone: 012 481 4126
E-mail: martin.tjatji@nrf.ac.za
Opening Date:
Tuesday, 23 May, 2024
Closing Date:
Friday, 21 July, 2024