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Research Scholarships

University of Cape TownRef: https://uct.ac.za/students/fees-funding-postgraduate-degree-funding-bursaries-scholarships/research-scholarships

Official source

Source domain: uct.ac.za

Collected on 17 June 2026

Always confirm details on the official source before acting.

Our copy (archived 27 July 2026)Official source

What this means

This document is a University of Cape Town (UCT) webpage section describing the National Research Foundation (NRF) postgraduate student funding opportunity for students intending to study at UCT. It announces a call for new applications for DSTI-NRF Master’s and Doctoral Student Funding for the 2027 academic year, including renewal guidance for currently NRF-funded students. It sets minimum eligibility criteria (including a 65% requirement for the previous degree), explains funding types (Full Cost of Study vs Partial Cost of Study), and provides application instructions and opening/closing dates for various NRF categories. It also directs applicants to apply via the NRF Connect system and provides UCT contact details for enquiries.

Facts

Places

City of Cape Town, Western Cape

Reference

https://uct.ac.za/students/fees-funding-postgraduate-degree-funding-bursaries-scholarships/research-scholarships

Amounts

R 350 000

Key Takeaways

  • Programme: DSTI-NRF Master’s and Doctoral Student Funding (academic year 2027)
  • Application method: apply on NRF Connect system (no manual applications)
  • Minimum academic requirement: 65% for the previous degree
  • Funding types: Full Cost of Study (FCS) and Partial Cost of Study (PCS)
  • FCS eligibility: South African citizens and Permanent Residents; financially needy (household income <= R350 000 per annum), living with disability, or exceptional academic achievers
  • PCS eligibility: 5% of international students including South African citizens and Permanent Residents who cannot be funded under FCS but meet NRF criteria
  • No age restrictions during application stage; age limitations applied during allocation (20% of recommendations may be age-limited; applied to 80% per NRF requirement)
  • Application deadlines (UCT internal closing dates): Honours (General) requiring ISFAP assessment by 24 Aug 2026; NRF-SARAO Honours 1 Aug 2026; NRF-SARAO Master’s 19 Jun 2026; NRF-SARAO Doctoral 19 Jun 2026; First-time Master’s 26 Jun 2026; First-time Doctoral 26 Jun 2026; Master’s and Doctoral Extension Support 3 Aug 2026
  • Opening dates include: NRF-SARAO Honours opens 1 Jun 2026; NRF-SARAO Master’s/Doctoral opens 1 Apr 2026; First-time Master’s/Doctoral opens 16 Apr 2026; Extension Support opens 16 Apr 2026
  • Academic referee report: required; only one referee to be listed; master’s applicants expected to have identified a supervisor (or provide HoD letter on institutional letterhead)
  • UCT enquiry contact: nrfdasupport@uct.ac.za; +27 21 650 3622 option 3; office Upper Level, Otto Beit Building, Upper Campus
  • University of Cape Town (UCT)
  • National Research Foundation (NRF)
  • Department of Science and Innovation (DSI)
  • Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI)
  • SARAO (as referenced in NRF-SARAO categories)
  • South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
  • University of Cape Town Postgraduate Funding Office (implied by contact section)
  • NRF Connect system
  • Otto Beit Building (UCT)

Dates

Closing Date

24 August 2026