DSTI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding for the 2026 Academic Year

The DSTI and NRF are pleased to announce a call for new applications for DSTI-NRF Master’s and Doctoral Student Funding for the academic year 2026. All continuing students who are eligible for a second or third year of funding must submit a Progress Report and not a new application.

The NRF minimum academic requirement for postgraduate funding is 65% for the previous degree. 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 equal 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 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 applications will be accepted.

Students’ Applications Opening and Closing Dates:

The Designated Authority (DA) Submission to NRF Closing Dates:

NB: Honours General Scholarships will open in July 2025.

Honours applicants requiring ISFAP assessment should submit their applications by 02 September 2025.

Please refer to the Application and Funding Guide and Framework documents when completing the online application form at every step of the process.

*All postgraduate call documents can be accessed via the NRF website: https://www.nrf.ac.za/funding/nrf-call-for-proposals-for-funding-in-2025-and-2026/.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Research or Postgraduate offices at their universities for enquiries. Should there still be a need to contact the NRF, below are the contact details:

For Technical related enquiries, please contact:

NRF Support desk

Telephone: 012 481 4202

Email: supportdesk@nrf.ac.za

Queries related to specific funding opportunities can be directed to: postgraduatequeries@risa.nrf.ac.za.

The subject line of your email must have the following information in order to be routed correctly:

• Level i.e., Honours, Master’s or Doctoral
• Funding opportunity e.g., General, SARChI, NRF-MINDS, Manus MatSci
• Application reference number starting with prefix PMDS25…

For SARAO Master’s and Doctoral-related enquiries, please contact:

Annah Mashemola at amashemola@sarao.ac.za. Telephone: 011 268 3420.

For SARAO Honours-related enquiries, please contact:

Mkhululi Jodwana at mjodwana@sarao.ac.za. Telephone: 011 268 3412.

NRF FRAUD LINE to anonymously report any irregular, corrupt, or unethical conduct relating to funding:

Telephone: 0800 111 729

SMS: 30916

Email: nrf@thehotline.co.za

We would appreciate if you could advertise the funding call and disseminate the information widely within your institution.