DSI-NRF Postgraduate Scholarship 2023

The National Research Foundation was founded as an autonomous government agency around 20 years ago. It acts as an emissary between the research institutions of South Africa and the policies and strategies of the South African Government.
They aim to encourage research by developing human resources, providing funds, and establishing research facilities that could help the cause in various sectors.
The association has three major aims:
Encouraging research and innovation via the Research and Innovation Support and Advancement (RISA).
Encouraging the fields of science and technology via the South African Agency for Science and Technology Advancement (SAASTA).

Supporting research through establishing research facilities.
DSI-NRF Postgraduate Scholarship 2022 – 2023
NRF is providing an opportunity for postgraduate students via DSI-NRF Postgraduate Student Funding for the academic year 2023.

The scholarship is applicable for Honour’, Master’s, and Doctoral level studies under Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) fields and Social Sciences and Humanities disciplined (SSH).
The applicable fields are:

• Accounting
• Actuarial Science
• Agricultural Sciences
• Architecture
• Astronomy
• Astrophysics
• Auditing
• Bibliometrics and Scientometrics Science
• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics
• Biotechnology
• Cellular and Molecular Biology
• Chemistry
• Climate Change
• Computer Science
• Construction Management
• Cosmology
• Data Science
• Demography
• Dermatological Sciences
• Drug Discovery and Development
• Earth Sciences
• Earth Observation
• Ecology
• Economic and Management Science
• Economic Sciences
• Education
• Engineering
• Environmental Sciences
• Financial Management
• Functional Genomics
• Geology
• Geosciences
• Global Change
• Society and Sustainability
• Health Sciences
• Higher Education (Policy) Studies
• History and Philosophy of Science
• Information Science
• Information Systems
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems
• Law
• Materials Research
• Mathematical Sciences
• Marine Sciences
• Medicinal Plant
• Medical Sciences
• Microbiology
• Nanotechnology
• Nuclear Science
• Nuclear Technologies in Medicine and Biosciences
• Palaeosciences
• Polar Science
• Physics
• Public Understanding of Science and Technology
• Renewable Energy
• Research Evaluation and Research Impact studies
• Science Communication
• Social Science and Humanities
• Sociology of Science and Technology
• Space Science
• Statistics
• Technology and Innovation (Policy) Studies
• Transportation Studies
• Tourism
• The bursary provides the following benefits:

The full cost of study (FCS) or partial cost of study (PCS). It will be decided based on the requirements fulfilled by the candidate.
FCS will be given to economically deficient students (if the household income is less than R350 000 per year), students with a disability, or ones with extraordinary academic records. Due to budget constraints, candidates quantifying for FCS may get PCS.

FCS will cover the following:

• Cost of tuition.
• Accommodation expense.
• Living expenses.
• Transport allowance.
• Food allowance.
• Electronic devices for study.
• PCS will cover the following:
• Cost of tuition.
• Accommodation expense.
• Living expenses.
• Transport allowance.

The funding will be given from honors to doctoral-level studies depending on the performance of the candidate at each level of degree.

Eligibility Criteria Of The Bursary
The candidates must satisfy the eligibility criteria before applying for the scholarship. There should not b want exception or the application will be rejected.
Students applying for honors (first-time):

• The candidate must hold South African citizenship.
• The candidate must not be older than 28 years old at the time of application.
  For FCS (exceptional achiever): the candidate must have a combined minimum average score of 75% in all the major subjects in the last year of undergraduate.
  For FCS (economically deficient for disabled): the candidate must have a combined minimum score of 65% in all the major subjects in the last year of undergraduate.
  For PCS: the candidate must have a combined average score of 65% in the last year of under graduation.

Students applying for Masters (first-time):

• The candidate must hold South African citizenship.
• The candidate should not be more than 30 years old at the time of application.
• The candidate should be enrolled as a full-time student for the second or third year of their master’s.
  For FCS (exceptional achiever): the candidate must have a combined average score of 75% of all the subjects in their honors, diploma or four-year degree of studies.
  For FCS (economically deficient or disabled): the candidate must have a combined average score of 65% of all the subjects in their honors, diploma or four-year degree of studies.
  For PCS: the candidate must have a combined average score of 65% of all the subjects in their honors, diploma or four-year degree of studies.

Students applying for Doctorate (first-time):

• The candidate must hold South African citizenship.
• The candidate must not be more than 32years old at the time of application.
• The candidate should be enrolled as a full-time student for the second, third year, or fourth year of their doctorate.
  For FCS (exceptional achiever): the candidate must have a combined average score of 75% in all the subjects in their Master’s degree.
  For FCS (economically deficient or disabled): the candidate must have a combined average score of 65% of all the subjects in their Master’s degree.
  For PCS: the candidate must have a combined average score of 65% in all the subjects in their Master’s degree.

The candidate should be enrolled in any of the institutions of higher education mentioned below.

• Cape Peninsula University of Technology
• Central University of Technology, Free State
• Durban University of Technology
• Mangosuthu University of Technology
• Nelson Mandela University
• North-West University
• Rhodes University
• Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University
• Sol Plaatje University
• Stellenbosch University
• Tshwane University of Technology
• University of Cape Town
• University of Fort Hare
• University of Johannesburg
• University of KwaZulu-Natal
• University of Limpopo
• University of Mpumalanga
• University of Pretoria
• University of South Africa
• University of the Free State
• University of the Western Cape
• University of the Witwatersrand
• University of Venda
• University of Zululand
• Vaal University of Technology
• Walter Sisulu University of Technology

How to Apply For The Bursary?
The application needs to be submitted online. The candidate must select a university before applying and read the application guide thoroughly as well.
Click here to apply.
Documents Required
The candidates must submit the following documents along with the application form. No documents should be missing or the application will not be considered.
Certified copies of ID documents.
Academic transcripts and records (tertiary education).
Proof of enrollment at any of the institutions mentioned above.
Proof of household income (payslips/affidavit/SASSA grant letter).
Only recent progress reports if you are applying for the extension of the bursary.
Closing Date Of The Bursary

All interested candidates must apply before the deadline to avoid rejection.

• For Honours studies: 20 November 2022
• For Master’s studies (first-time): 8 July 2022
• For Doctoral studies (first-time): 8 July 2022

For Master’s and Doctoral Extension Support studies: 15 August 2022

Designated Authority (DA) closing dates:
For Honours applications: 23 December 2022
For Master’s applications (first-time): 2 September 2022
For Doctoral applications (first-time): 2 September 2022
Master’s and Doctoral Extension Support applications: 30 September 2022
Contact Details Of The Bursar
If the candidate has any queries they can contact their respective university first. If the candidate still wishes to contact NRF, please contact as per the list given below:
For General Honours and NRF-TWAS-related inquiries:
Contact person: Mr. Lehlogonolo Phaahla (Professional Officer – HICD)
Tel: 012 481 4315
Email: LA.Phaahla@risa.nrf.ac.za
For General first-time Master’s, Doctoral, and NRF-DAAD-related inquiries:
Contact person: Ms. Kgaugelo Molepo (Professional Officer – HICD)
Tel: 012 481 4148
Email: KJ.Molepo@risa.nrf.ac.za
For Master’s and Doctoral Extension Support, NRF-SASAC, PDP, and NRF-SASOL related inquiries:
Contact person: Ms. Nontokozo Kunene (Professional Officer – HICD)
Tel: 012 481 4105
Email: NS.Kunene@risa.nrf.ac.za
For National Skills Fund and NRF-MINDS related inquiries:
Contact person: Ms Busisiwe Sibiya (Professional Officer – HICD)
Tel: 012 481 4166
Email: BG.Sibiya@risa.nrf.ac.za
For Global Knowledge Partnerships related inquiries:
Contact person: Mr. Nelson Komane (Professional Officer – HICD)
Tel: 012 481 4219
Email: SN.Komane@risa.nrf.ac.za
For First-time SARChI Hhonors, Masters, and Doctoral related inquiries:
Contact person: Ms. Andisiwe Jukuda (Professional Officer – RCCE)
Tel: 012 481 4113
Email: AH.Jukuda@risa.nrf.ac.za
For First-time CoEs Honours, Masters, and Doctoral related inquiries:
Contact person: Ms. Malekgotla Finger (Professional Officer – RCCE)
Tel: 012 481 4003
Email: MD.Finger@risa.nrf.ac.za
For NRF-SARAO Postgraduate scholarship related enquiries:
Contact person: Annah Mashemola (Professional Officer, HCD, NRF-SARAO)
Tel: 012 442 2434
Email: amashemola@ska.ac.za