How the NRF Funds Postgraduate Study in South Africa

What the NRF Postgraduate Scholarship pays for

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is South Africa's main public funder of postgraduate research. Its flagship postgraduate scheme, the DSTI-NRF Postgraduate Scholarship (formerly named DSI-NRF), funds Honours, Masters and Doctoral students registered at South African public universities in science, engineering, technology, social sciences and the humanities. The scholarship pairs government funding from the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation with NRF administration, so you apply through one system rather than chasing separate departmental bursaries.

Funding runs on an annual cycle tied to the academic year. The NRF publishes a fresh scholarship framework each year, so check the current year's document before you apply, since rules and closing dates shift slightly from cycle to cycle.

Who qualifies

You need a minimum 65% average in your most recent qualification to be considered. Age limits also apply in the year you submit your application: 28 or younger for Honours, 30 or younger for Masters, and 32 or younger for Doctoral study. These caps exist because the scholarship targets early-career researchers moving through the pipeline rather than funding degrees taken later in a career.

Since the 2025/2026 funding cycle, these caps apply to 80% of the NRF's postgraduate funding pool only. The NRF reserves the other 20% of awards for applicants with no upper age limit, so exceeding these ages does not disqualify you from applying.

You must register, or plan to register, at a South African public university for a qualifying Honours, Masters or Doctoral program in an eligible field. International students studying in South Africa can apply for a reduced Partial Cost of Study award, but the largest awards go to South African citizens and permanent residents.

Full Cost of Study vs Partial Cost of Study

The NRF splits its postgraduate funding into two tiers. Full Cost of Study (FCS) goes to South African citizens and permanent residents who meet one of three conditions: your combined household family income sits at or below R350,000 a year, you live with a disability, or you rank as an exceptional academic achiever regardless of income. Everyone else who qualifies academically but does not meet an FCS condition receives Partial Cost of Study (PCS), a smaller contribution toward fees and living costs.

Because FCS depends partly on household income, you supply supporting financial documents with your application. Universities' postgraduate funding offices can confirm what proof they expect and can flag your application for FCS consideration where you qualify.

How the application cycle works

You apply directly on the NRF's online application system, not through your university, though your university confirms your registration status once the NRF makes an award. Applications typically open early in the year before the funding year starts, since the NRF needs time to assess a national pool of applicants across every funded field.

Missing the window means waiting for the next annual cycle.

Your university's postgraduate or research office is the best first stop if you are unsure whether your program qualifies or which supporting documents to prepare. Departments often keep a shortlist of which of their own programs the NRF has funded in past cycles, which gives you a sense of your chances before you apply.

Renewal and duration

Scholarships are awarded for a set period matched to normal completion time for your qualification, typically one year for Honours, up to two years for Masters, and up to three years for Doctoral study, with renewal conditional on satisfactory academic progress each year. Falling behind on research milestones puts your renewal at risk, so keep in regular contact with your supervisor and your funding office about progress reporting requirements.

Other NRF-linked postgraduate support

Beyond the main DSTI-NRF Postgraduate Scholarship, some students access NRF funding indirectly through a supervisor's grant. Researchers holding an NRF rating or a South African Research Chair often build postgraduate bursaries into their grant budgets, so ask a prospective supervisor whether their research group already funds Masters or PhD students this way before you apply for scholarship funding separately.

The NRF also co-funds joint programs with international partners, including exchange scholarships with agencies such as Germany's DAAD, which support a smaller number of students each year with a bilateral placement. These sit outside the main postgraduate scholarship cycle and have their own separate call and deadline, so check with your department's international office if a joint program fits your field.