The DSI-NRF Masters and Doctoral Applications for 2026
Application deadline - 4 July 2025
The National Research Foundation invites all 2026 postgraduate students, full-time students not in salaried employment (contractual or permanent) while studying to apply for funding support NOW. You should apply for this funding opportunity even if you are not sure if you are going to be accepted into Honour/Masters/Doctoral studies for 2026.
All Master's and Doctoral scholarship recipients currently receiving NRF funding and eligible for a second or third year of funding are required to submit a progress report, but they do not need to submit a new application.
Important to Note:
- The NRF minimum academic requirement for postgraduate funding is 65%.
- 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 with a combined annual household family income of less than or equal to R350 000), living with a disability or exceptional academic achievers (achieved 75% or higher for the previous degree). 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.
- International students do not qualify for Honours scholarship funding.
Please note the following exclusions:
- Masters Coursework students with a thesis/research component weight of less than 50%;
- professional master's or professional doctoral degree and
- Individuals that are on sabbatical leave from their current employment
All 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.
For technical assistance please contact the Support Desk at: supportdesk@nrf.ac.za from Monday to Friday between 08:00 and 16:30.
Queries related to specific funding opportunities can be directed to: postgraduatequeries@risa.nrf.ac.za.
DSI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding Documents
DSI-NRF Postgraduate Scholarship Framework for 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions - NRF Postgraduate Funding.
ISFAP Application Consent Form.
NRF Statement of expectation for Postgraduate Training.
Communique - Update on Age Criteria for NRF Postgraduate Funding.
HOW TO APPLY (APPLICATION GUIDELINE DOCUMENTS)
NRF Profile Registration Guide.
NRF General Application Guide 2025-2026.
DSI-NRF Master's and Doctoral Application and Funding Guide for 2026.
SARAO Doctoral Scholarships Application Guide for the 2026 Academic Year.
SARAO Masters Scholarships Application Guide for the 2026 Academic Year.
Stellenbosch University NRF Information Session - 16 May 2023
| Funding Opportunities | Eligibility | SU Application Closing dates
(No late applications will be processed) | Contact Person |
| Honours General Scholarships | Minimum average of 65% for major subjects in the final year of undergraduate study Only South African citizens and permanent residents are eligible for honours scholarships.
Applicants who do not have final year examination results at the time of application, must submit their applications without the marks. However, as soon as the exam results are made available by the university, the applicant must ensure that they send the marks to the Postgraduate Funding Office for the screening and scoring process.
| 25 August 2025 (for students who must undergo a financial means test)
21 November 2025 (for the rest of the applications) | Betina van der Merwe (betina@sun.ac.za) |
| SARAO Honours Scholarships | South African citizens and permanent residents Bachelor of Science – Honours: in Physics and Electronics or Astronomy or Astrophysics or Computer Science OR Bachelor of Science - Honours at NASSP (National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme) | 31 August 2025 | Betina van der Merwe (betina@sun.ac.za) |
| Master's General Scholarships | All fields of study All citizenship
| 4 July 2025
| Betina van der Merwe (betina@sun.ac.za) Rozelle Petersen (rnp@sun.ac.za) |
| Doctoral General Scholarships | All fields of study All citizenship
| 4 July 2025
| Betina van der Merwe (betina@sun.ac.za) Rozelle Petersen (rnp@sun.ac.za) |
| DAAD (Masters and Doctoral Scholarships) | Only South African citizens and permanent residents Applicants should have a general interest in education and cultural exchange with Germany. | 4 July 2025
| Betina van der Merwe (betina@sun.ac.za) Rozelle Petersen (rnp@sun.ac.za) |
| NRF-MINDS (Doctoral Funding only) | Applicants must be a national of an African country and residing in any African country. Not for SA citizens. The priority research fields are Water-Energy-Food Nexus; Smart Economy; African Heritage (People, Spaces and Settlements); Information and Communication Technologies; Artificial Intelligence and Robotics; and Health and Well-being. Applicants must produce evidence of demonstrated leadership abilities or potential. | 4 July 2025
| Betina van der Merwe (betina@sun.ac.za) Rozelle Petersen (rnp@sun.ac.za) |
| SARAO Masters and Doctoral Scholarships | South African citizens and permanent residents, AND citizens of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia and Zambia Students who wish to pursue postgraduate-level research relevant to the scientific and technical goals of the SKA and MeerKAT radio telescopes. All projects approved by SARAO for postgraduate research for 2026, as well as the contact details of the relevant supervisors, are available at: https://www.sarao.ac.za/students/funding/ | 4 July 2025
| Betina van der Merwe (betina@sun.ac.za) Rozelle Petersen (rnp@sun.ac.za) |
| Master's and Doctoral Extension Support | Applicants must be NRF scholarship-holders in 2025. Applicants applying for extension support at the master's level must have registered for their master's degree in 2024 or July 2023. Applicants applying for extension support at the doctoral level must have registered for their doctoral degree in 2023 or July 2022. | 15 August 2025 | Betina van der Merwe (betina@sun.ac.za) Rozelle Petersen (rnp@sun.ac.za)
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