Announcement Of Successful Applications For Thuthuka Research Grants For 2026

The National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Department of Science, technology and Innovation (DSTI) are pleased to announce the provisional Thuthuka grant awards for funding in the 2026 academic year. The new Thuthuka awards for applicants, who responded to the 2026 Call for applications, have been made according to the strategic objectives of the Thuthuka Funding Instrument and the available budget. The successful new Thuthuka awardees for the PhD, Post-PhD and Rating Tracks are listed in Table 1, 2 and 3 respectively.

The NRF reserves the right to withdraw and cancel the grant should the applicant fail to meet all necessary conditions and/or requirements as stated in the Thuthuka research grant Call for 2026 Framework document and the Conditions of Grant.

PLEASE NOTE:

• If your name does not appear on the relevant Table below, you have not been awarded the Thuthuka research grant for 2026.
• Successful candidates will be able to view and download their award letters in January 2026, via NRF Connect against their applications.
• Read through the Conditions of Grant (CoG) letter and award letter documents carefully before accepting the award.
• Guidelines on how to accept the award: https://www.nrf.ac.za/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Acceptance-of-Award.pdf
• All required documentation must be uploaded on the awardees’ NRF Connect profile within two months of receipt of the award letter.
• The sooner the NRF obtains all the required documents, the sooner it will release the funds.
• The NRF feedback on the review of applications will be forwarded to all unsuccessful applicants between January and March 2026.

Full document below: