DSI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding for the 2025 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 2025. All continuing students who are eligible for a second or third year of funding must submit a Progress Report and not a new application.

Eligibility criteria:

• 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 the first year of registration.

Successful applicants will be funded either at Full Cost of Study (FCS) or Partial Cost of Study (PCS).

Full Cost of Study (FCS)

The FCS funding will be awarded to

• South African citizens and Permanent Residents only, who are either financially needy
• living with a disability or
• exceptional academic achievers.

Partial Cost of Study (PCS)

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 applications will be accepted.

Please use the attached application guidelines to complete your application thoroughly.

Please adhere to internal closing dates, applications received thereafter will not be regarded.

Students’ Applications Opening and Closing Dates:

Please ensure that you apply for the correct scholarship, incorrect applications will not be considered (attached is the SARAO framework guidelines for criteria)

NB: Honours General Scholarships will open in July 2024

Honours applicants requiring ISFAP assessment should submit their applications by 02 September 2024.

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

Announcement of Calls DSI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding for the 2025 Academic Year
DSI-NRF Masters and Doctoral Application and Funding Guide for 2025
DSI-NRF Extension Support for Masters and Doctoral Application and Funding Guide for 2025
DSI-NRF Postgraduate Scholarship Framework for 2025 Funding_May 2024_F
Frequently Asked Question_FINAL
ISFAP - Application Consent Form FINAL
NRF Statement of expectation for Postgradute Training - FINAL
SARAO Doctoral Scholarships Application Guide for the 2025 Academic Year
SARAO Master's Scholarships Application Guide for the 2025 Academic Year

For all enquiries, contact Lindiwe Booi BooiLM@ufs.ac.za/ 051 401 7222. Centre for Graduate Support, Office 9 Johannes Brill Building

Research Funding for Master's and Doctoral Students 

Terms and Conditions for UFS Tuition Fee: 
Masters and Doctoral Tuition Fee Bursary Terms and Conditions

The Centre for Graduate Support (CGS) is providing partial funding for research-related costs for registered master’s and doctoral students. The funds are to be used for the collection of primary data for the purpose of meeting a specific research goal for the final presentation of the research.

Funds are awarded on a competitive basis and depend on the availability of funds at the time of application. The research conducted must adhere to all university requirements, including policies related to the ethical conduct of research.

Application forms are to be submitted at least eight weeks before the fieldwork is scheduled to take place to allow for timeous processing.

ELIGIBILITY

• Students must be registered for master’s or doctoral studies.
• Students must have received research ethics approval.
• Master’s students are eligible for research funding within the first two years of registration.
• Doctoral students are eligible for research funding within the first three years of registration.
• Students must demonstrate that all relevant UFS requirements relating to research have been met.
• Students must submit a detailed timetable for research-related travel.
• Students must provide a satisfactory progress report.
• Students must provide information on the rationale for the study, aims, objectives, and methods to be employed.
• Meeting the eligibility criteria does not guarantee a successful application. Funds are awarded on a competitive basis and depend on the availability of funds at the time of application.
• Retrospective applications are not permitted.
• Applications must be supported by the student’s supervisor.

Attached find the application form: CGS Funding 2024