DSI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding Call for the 2024 Academic Year

The DSI and NRF are pleased to announce a call for new applications for DSI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding for the academic year 2024. All continuing students who are eligible for a second or third year of funding must submit a Progress Report and not a new application.

Please see below for further details and information pack.

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 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 equals 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 or late applications will be accepted.

Students’ Applications INTERNAL UWC Closing Dates:
Level of study
Closing dates
Honours 20 October 2023
First-time Master’s 03 July 2023
First-time Doctoral 03 July 2023
Master’s and Doctoral Extension Support 21 July 2023

NB! 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.