NRFNational Research Foundation 

The NRF provides various funding opportunities for postgraduate honours, master’s and doctoral students intending to study at UCT.

DSI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding for the 2026 Academic Year - NOW OPEN

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.

 

2025 FUNDING CALLS

NRF OPENING
DATES

UCT CLOSING
DATE

DA (PGFO)
APPLICATION SCREENING

UCT INTERNAL
REVIEW

DA (PGFO)
CLOSING DATE

FT MAST
(incl. SARAO MAST)

14-May-25

Extended to 11-Jul-25

07-Jul-25 TO
08-Aug-25

11-Aug-25 TO
29-Aug-25
(excl. SARAO MAST)

05-Sep-25

FT DOCT
(incl. SARAO DOCT)

14-May-25

Extended to 11-Jul-25

07-Jul-25 TO
08-Aug-25

11-Aug-25 TO
29-Aug-25
(excl. SARAO DOCT)

05-Sep-25

EXT MAST AND DOCT

14-May-25

15-Aug-25

18-Aug-25 TO
05-Sept-25

8-Sept-25 TO
22-Sept-25

30-Sep-25

SARAO HONS

01-Jun-25

01-Aug-25

18-Aug-25 TO
31-Aug-25

NOT APPLICABLE

31-Aug-25

*HONS GENERAL

01-Jul-25

31-Oct-25

NOT APPLICABLE

NOT APPLICABLE

31-Mar-26

* NOTE Applicants requiring ISFAP assessment should submit their application no later than 2 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/.

DSTI-NRF Postgraduate Scholarship Framework for 2026 Funding (download)

DSI-NRF Master's and Doctoral Application and Funding Guide 2026 (download)

Frequently Asked Questions Postgraduate Funding 2025 (14 May) (download)

Application Guide for SARAO Master's Scholarships for 2026 (download)

Application Guide for SARAO Doctoral Scholarships for 2026 (download)

NRF Statement of expectation for Postgraduate Training 2026 (download)

ISFAP – Application Consent Form (download)

 

PLEASE NOTE - Application Support Input on NRF Connect 
The Application Support Input section allows an applicant to include the names and email addresses of academic referees who can comment on the applicant’s academic abilities. On final submission of the application, emails requesting a referee’s response, are sent automatically to the nominated referees to provide a report on the academic and research capabilities of the applicant. *If the referee did not receive an email, the report can be accessed on their NRF Connect profile.

References for Master’s-level Applicants
At master’s level, an applicant is expected to have identified a supervisor at the time of application. If not yet identified, the applicant is expected to capture the information of the Head of School/Department who will guarantee that the applicant will be allocated a supervisor in case their application is successful.

References for Doctoral-level Applicants
At doctoral level, applicants are expected to have identified a supervisor at the time of application. *If the referee does not respond by the closing date, the system will not allow the institution to submit the application to the NRF. A referee response is an application requirement!

 

Medical Research Council (MRC)

For more information regarding the requirements for the MRC's 2 scholarships, please visit the Medical Research Council's website.