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). 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 equals 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 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.

Students’ Applications Opening and Closing Dates:

NB: Honours General Scholarships will open in July 2024 and institutions will have until end of March 2025 to claim funds of recommended eligible students.

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.

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

For General honours related enquiries, please contact:

Mr Lehlogonolo Phaahla

Professional Officer
Telephone: 012 481 4315

Email Address: LA.Phaahla@risa.nrf.ac.za

For General First-time master’s and doctoral, and NRF-DAAD related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Kgaugelo Molepo

Professional Officer

Telephone: 012 481 4148

Email Address: KJ.Molepo@risa.nrf.ac.za

For master’s and doctoral Extension Support, NRF-SASAC, PDP and NRF-SASOL related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Nontokozo Kunene
Professional Officer

Telephone: 012 481 4105

Email Address: NS.Kunene@risa.nrf.ac.za

For National Skills Fund and NRF-MINDS related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Busisiwe Sibiya

Professional Officer

Telephone: 012 481 4166

Email Address: BG.Sibiya@risa.nrf.ac.za

For Global Knowledge Partnerships related enquiries, please contact:
Mr Nelson Komane: Professional Officer
Telephone: 012 481 4219
Email Address: SN.Komane@risa.nrf.ac.za

For First-time SARChI honours, master’s and doctoral related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Andisiwe Jukuda
Professional Officer
Telephone: 012 481 4113
Email Address: AH.Jukuda@risa.nrf.ac.za

For First-time CoEs honours, master’s and doctoral related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Malekgotla Finger
Professional Officer
Telephone: 012 481 4003
Email Address: MD.Finger@risa.nrf.ac.za

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

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

For SARAO Honours related enquiries, please contact:

Mkhululi Jodwana
Email Address: 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 701 701
SMS: 39772
Website: https://www.nrf.ac.za/pixpopup-item/fraud-hotline-popup/