DSI-NRF FAQs

Application for funding must be made through the NRF Online submission system on https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za. The call for applications opens every year in April. All applications will be reviewed at the university and only applications that meet all the requirements will be submitted by the university to the NRF. Please consult the university at which you are intending to register for your degree for their internal closing date before you apply.
The closing dates for each level of study are as follows:
  • Honours Applications: 24 November 2023
  • First-time Master’s Applications: 11 July 2023
  • First-time Doctoral Applications: 11 July 2023
  • Master’s and Doctoral Extension Support Applications: 18 August 2023

Postgraduate student funding will be made for full-time honours, masters, and doctoral degrees only. It must be noted that the NRF will not fund the following

  1. Undergraduate qualifications, regardless of National Qualifications Framework (NQF) exit level
  2. Postgraduate certificates or diplomas, regardless of NQF exit level and
  3. Professional masters and doctoral degrees, regardless of NQF exit level. (Further clarification of the professional degrees can be obtained from the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) approved by the DHET).

A student must obtain:

  • A minimum average of 65% for major subjects in the final undergraduate year of study for honours funding;
  • A minimum average of 65% at the honours level or final year of a four year degree for masters funding; and
  • A minimum of 65% at the masters level for doctoral funding.
Only applicants with a numerical pass mark may apply for NRF funding. Exception will be made for:
  • South African citizens or permanent residents who graduated prior to 2021 academic year with a ‘Pass’ and ‘Pass with a distinction’;
  • South African citizens or permanent residents with a ‘Pass with distinction’;
  • International applicants applying for master’s and doctoral scholarships;
  • South African citizens with international qualifications applying for master’s and doctoral scholarships.

Refer to the Application and Funding Framework for more details.

A student must obtain:

  • A minimum average of 65% for major subjects in the final undergraduate year of study for honours funding;
  • A minimum average of 65% at the honours level or final year of a four year degree for masters funding; and
  • A minimum of 65% at the masters level for doctoral funding.

A student who obtains:

  • A minimum average of 75% for major subjects in the final undergraduate year of study for honours funding;
  • A minimum average of 75% at the honours level or final year of a four year degree for masters funding; and
  • A minimum of 75% (or cum laude) at the masters level for doctoral funding.
No, students from the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the rest of the world will only qualify for PCS funding.
Yes, the age limit applies to all students receiving NRF postgraduate funding across all NRF Programmes.
The proposed age limits for accessing NRF postgraduate funding are intended to significantly decrease the average age at completion of doctoral degrees to around 35 years. Early completion will allow adequate time for research productivity that leads to becoming an established and internationally recognised researcher. In addition, a high proportion of NRF-funded students pursuing full-time postgraduate studies complete their postgraduate degrees within these age limits.
The average completion age for an undergraduate degree as published by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) was 21 years. In addition, the NRF analysed a cohort of 60 000 postgraduate students funded by the NRF over a six-year period and looked at the average age at completion for honours, masters and doctoral students. The prescribed ages for qualifications were obtained as an outcome of this analysis.
No, international students will not be eligible for NRF honours postgraduate funding. International students will be only be eligible for funding at the master's and doctoral levels and will be funded at PCS only.
The NRF will identify students that have previously been assessed as financially needy by National Students Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) or the Ikusasa Students Financial Aid Programme (ISFAP). In addition, students who have not undergone a financial need assessment will be subjected to a Household Financial Means Assessment by the NRF in partnership with ISFAP. Only students that complete the consent form and provide the requested information will be subjected to a Household Financial Means Assessment by the NRF. The consent form must be completed correctly (all household contributors listed on the online application form should have their ID numbers and signatures reflecting on the consent form), and the form must be signed and stamped by the commissioner of oaths. Incomplete forms will not be accepted.
A student with a combined gross family income of R350 000.00 (three hundred and fifty thousand rand) per annum or less will be regarded as financially needy by the NRF. The combined gross family income of the student’s parents/spouses and/or legal guardians will be used to undertake the Household Financial Means Assessment. This will apply to all scholarship applicants intending to apply for full-time studies irrespective of their age or level of postgraduate study.
Combined gross family income is defined as a measure of the combined income of parents/spouses and/or legal guardians who earn income both from the formal and informal sector (e.g., salaries and wages, grants, pension and other sources of income including business and/or rental income). This applies to all students applying to the NRF for postgraduate funding.
No, applicants who were previously identified as falling into the category with a combined gross family income of R350 000.00 (three hundred and fifty thousand rand) per annum or less, by either NSFAS or ISFAP, will not need to undergo a financial means test. Such applicants must attach proof that they are financially needy on the NRF Online Application template. The attachment must be an official university stamped financial statement or acceptance of an award from NSFAS or ISFAP.
Yes, you will be required to undergo a financial means test for postgraduate funding in order to establish your financial need status i.e. whether you fall into the category with a combined gross family income of R350 000.00 (three hundred and fifty thousand rand) per annum or less.
No, you would be eligible for Partial Cost of Study (PCS) funding on condition that you meet the university requirements and NRF eligibility criteria.
The NRF offers funding support to students studying/intending to study on a full-time basis and who will not be in contractual or permanent employment whether salaried or unpaid while pursuing postgraduate studies. The financial means test will be based on the combined gross family income which is defined as a measure of the combined income of parents/spouses and/or legal guardians who earn income both from the formal and informal sector (e.g., salaries and wages, grants, pension and other sources of income including business and/or rental income). This will apply to all applicants’ for NRF funding irrespective of the age of the student.
There are four instances when a student can undergo a financial means test:
  1. A student can undergo a financial means test at the time of application for funding for a specific postgraduate qualification.
  2. In instances where a student upgrades from a masters to a doctoral degree and did not get an opportunity to undergo a financial means test.
  3. In instances where a student was awarded an extension support for masters and they want it converted into a doctoral scholarship and did not get an opportunity to undergo a financial means test.
  4. If there are compelling reasons e.g. individual contributing to household income becomes unemployed or deceased.
A financial means test is conducted annually by 01 September. Continuing NRF-funded students requesting financial means test should liaise with the institutions and complete the relevant documents to be submitted by the institutions to the NRF by 15 August. The outcomes of the financial means test will be made available by 15 December.
No, the financial means test is based on the combined gross family income, therefore all household contributors and the applicants’ ID numbers and signatures have to reflect on the consent form. If only the applicants’ details appear, the form will be deemed incomplete and a financial means test will not be conducted.

Level of study

Maximum period of support

Honours’

One (1) year

Masters

Two (2) years

Doctoral

Three (3) years

Masters upgrade to doctoral

Four (4) years, of which 1 or 2 years may be for masters studies

Extension support for master's and doctoral

Six (6) or twelve (12) months

The South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA) minimum prescribed period for full-time masters and doctoral studies are one (1) and two (2) years respectively. NRF funded students are eligible for two (2) years of funding for masters studies and three (3) years of funding for doctoral studies. Under exceptional circumstances, students may apply for extension support of six (6) or twelve (12) months for completion of the masters or doctoral degree.
Uninterrupted study support is funding of postgraduate students from the honours up to the doctoral level. Students must register for a master’s degree immediately after completing the honours degree and/or register for a doctoral degree immediately after completing the master’s degree. In addition they will have to make a new scholarship application for each study level and meet the stipulated academic entry requirements.
The maximum age limits for applying for NRF funding makes provision for an interruption period of up to six (6) years during postgraduate studies, which enables female students who wish to take a break during their postgraduate studies to raise a family. Female students that take a break during their postgraduate studies to raise a family will be eligible for uninterrupted postgraduate funding provided that they meet all other eligibility criteria. For example, a student who completes her undergraduate degree at the age of 21 has a period of 11 years in which to complete an honours and master’s degree and apply for funding for doctoral studies by the age of 32 years.
Yes, full-time students that have commenced their master’s or doctoral studies without NRF funding may apply for funding for completion of their master’s or doctoral degree provided that all other eligibility criteria have been met including the age of entry requirement. Master’s students will not be funded beyond their second year of registration and doctoral students will not be funded beyond their third year of registration and the initial date for registration of the degree will be considered.
Yes, students may enter at any level of their postgraduate studies provided that they meet the NRF eligibility criteria and university requirements. For example, a student that did not meet the 65% requirement in their honours/four year undergraduate degree will not be funded for masters studies and a student that did not meet the 65% requirement in the masters degree will not be funded for doctoral studies.
A student who is upgrading from a master’s to doctoral studies will receive funding for a total of four (4) years. A student who upgrades after receiving one (1) year of funding will receive funding for a further three (3) years and a student who upgrades after receiving two (2) years of funding will receive a further two (2) years of funding to complete the doctoral degree.
Yes, the NRF will maintain its mechanism for providing extension of funding support at the master’s and doctoral level only. Recipients of both Full Cost of Study (FCS) and PCS scholarships may apply for extension support funding, however such extension will only be provided under exceptional circumstances and will not exceed twelve (12) months. Students who are awarded extension support will be awarded according to the value of their scholarship received in the year of extension support application.
Master’s or doctoral students who started their first year of studies in 2020 or before will continue on the old funding model until completion of their degrees. The phasing out process of the old funding model will reach its end in 2023. From 2024 onwards all students will be on the new postgraduate funding model.
The Strategic Policy Framework on Disability for the PSET (2018), defines Disability as “the loss or elimination of opportunities to take part in the life of the community, equitably with others, encountered by persons having physical, sensory, psychological, developmental, learning, neurological or other impairments, which may be permanent, temporary or episodic in nature, thereby causing activity limitations and participation restriction within mainstream society. These barriers may be due to economic, physical/structural, social, attitudinal and/or cultural factors.”

A student must obtain:

  • A minimum average of 65% for major subjects in the final undergraduate year of study for honours funding;
  • A minimum average of 65% at the honours level or final year of a four year degree for masters funding; and
  • A minimum of 65% at the masters level for doctoral funding.
No, students living with a disability may be supported for an additional 12 months should the disability impact on the time for completion of the requirements for fulfilment of the degree.
Postgraduate students living with a disability that upgrade from a masters to a doctoral degree may be funded for maximum of five (5) years should the disability impact on the time for completion of the requirements for fulfilment of the degree. The NRF will only upgrade masters bursaries to doctoral level upon receipt of official university upgrade confirmation documents.
The scholarship value for FCS is indicated in the DSI-NRF Postgraduate Application and Funding Framework document.
Students living with a disability may apply for additional funding for an assistive technology device of up to R20 000 per annum. This is the maximum amount allowed during the tenure of the scholarship.
No, the assistive technology device allowance is to be used for requirements related to research purposes only.
No, only students intending to register for full-time studies at any public university in South Africa will be funded. Students who commenced their master’s and doctoral studies on a part-time basis and wish to be considered for funding for completion of their studies on a full-time basis, will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
  • Undergraduate qualifications, regardless of National Qualification Framework (NQF) exit level;
  • Postgraduate certificates or diplomas, regardless of NQF exit level;
  • Professional master’s and doctoral degrees, regardless of NQF exit level (Further clarification of the professional degrees can be obtained from the Higher Education Qualifications Sub-Framework (HEQSF) approved by the DHET).
Yes, however the DSI-NRF Postgraduate Funding Policy is adopting a one call approach, wherein scholarships will no longer be included in research grant awards as was previously the case. All students must apply through the NRF Connect system on https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za/ to be considered for postgraduate funding.
Yes, the fields of study will be aligned to the NRF strategy, in that the majority of student bursaries will be allocated in a directed manner so as to respond to national priorities, vulnerable disciplines and fields important for socio-economic development, as may be identified by the NRF from time to time.
No, the proposed gender target of 55% female is aimed at encouraging women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) not only to remain in the system, but to progress from honours up to doctoral studies.
The NRF mandate states that the objective of the foundation is to contribute to national development by supporting, promoting and advancing research and human capacity development, through funding and the provision of the necessary research infrastructure, in order to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development. It is for this reason that the NRF has taken a strategic decision based on its mandate not to fund: postgraduate certificates or diplomas (e.g. PGCE), professional masters (e.g. MBA) and doctoral degrees, regardless of the NQF exit level.
No, students will not be paid for academic service work rendered, either by the NRF or the university, as the academic service work will be done in the spirit of making a contribution to society.
Yes, you may apply with the results of your previous degree e.g. by using honours results or final year result if you have completed a four-year undergraduate degree. However, if you are awarded a scholarship, it will be provisional depending on whether you pass your masters degree with the minimum NRF academic requirement of 65%.
The number of students funded annually is dependent on the availability of the budget. Since the introduction of the policy on average 6 000 students are being funded annually.
No, while this proposal states that postgraduate funding should be allocated to 95% South Africans (including permanent residents) and 5% students from the rest of the world including students from SADC countries. The 5% allocation is expected to advance South Africa’s global partnerships, which would include commitments to SADC.
FCS will be available to South African citizens and permanent resident students, who (i) are either financially needy (ii) living with a disability; or (iii) are exceptional academic achievers.
The scholarship value for FCS is indicated in the DSI-NRF Postgraduate Application and Funding Framework document.
The PCS will be available to (i) South African citizens and permanent resident students who are not eligible to be funded under FCS; (ii) students from SADC countries; and (iii) students from the rest of the world.

A student must obtain:

  • A minimum average of 65% for major subjects in the final undergraduate year of study for honours funding;
  • A minimum average of 65% at the honours level or final year of a four year degree for masters funding; and
  • A minimum of 65% (or cum laude) at the masters level for doctoral funding.
The scholarship value of PCS is indicated in the DSI-NRF Postgraduate Application and Funding Framework document.
The scholarship will be paid out on a monthly or quarterly basis.
The NRF decides on the type of support awarded to students based on a financial means test outcomes, academic achievement, disability and citizenship.

Yes, however, they must complete their degree within the NRF funding period and obtain the required minimum of 65% in their degree.

Please note: Uninterrupted study support is funding of postgraduate students from the honours up to the doctoral level. Students must register for a master’s degree immediately after completing the honours degree and/or register for a doctoral degree immediately after completing the master’s degree. In addition they will have to make a new scholarship application for each study level and meet the stipulated academic entry requirements.

The NRF conditions of award supersedes other funder agreements and conditions of award, therefore the NRF will remain the primary funder.
Yes, all students will receive the same scholarship value as indicated in the Application and Funding Framework. In addition, students may receive supplementary funding as detailed in the following question.
Yes, students on PCS and FCS funding may receive supplementary funding from another private-sector source or other South African government or the supervisor’s running expenses (SARChI, CoEs, etc.) or any other source, provided that the total funding received from the NRF, and the other source(s) does not exceed that of the NRF FCS. Additional funding must not cover the same costs covered by the NRF scholarship.
Students who upgrade from a masters to doctoral registration and that have demonstrated exceptional achievement to date may be considered for FCS. The NRF will consider motivations from the student and supervisor submitted through the university Designated Authority.
Students on PCS and FCS may receive a merit award from their institution or funding from another private-sector source or other South African government, the NRF funding will also be reduced accordingly, so that it does not exceed the maximum value of the NRF FCS funding.
A list of successful applicants is published on the NRF website at Application Outcomes – National Research Foundation (nrf.ac.za). In addition, if a student who has been successfully awarded a scholarship logs into their account on NRF Connect they will be able to see the status of their application on the Home page where the application resides.
The value of the scholarship that has been awarded to an awardee is indicated in the award or outcome letter which student will receive in the event of a successful application.
Unsuccessful applicants’ will receive “regret” letters from the NRF. These applicants’ are those that are eligible to receive an award, but not be awarded due to budget constraints. Should additional budget become available, applicants’ in this category may then be considered for funding. With respect to feedback from the review panel, this is up to the institution to manage as the institutions run the postgraduate application review process. Please enquire with your institution should you require reviewers’ feedback.
Students should contact the Designated Authority (DA) at the institutional research or postgraduate office for any queries relating to DSI-NRF Postgraduate funding.
Yes, subject to availability of funding, if a student was awarded PCS but is eligible for FCS, the student can submit proof of academic merit (>75% for the previous degree) as well as a formal request for reconsideration to the NRF via the institutional research office. A change from PCS to FCS due to student being financially needy will be considered only if the student had indicated this in their original application and proof of NSFAS/ISFAP was attached. In addition, the NRF may consider a conversion from PCS to FCS in instances where a student is upgrading from masters to doctoral degree or upgrading from extension support masters to doctoral degree or has compelling reasons for the conversion e.g., individual contributing to household income becomes unemployed or deceased and a new means test has been undertaken.
Yes, changes are allowed, however these changes have to be approved by the NRF. A formal letter explaining the project change which is signed by the student and supervisor should be submitted to the institutional research or postgraduate office. Thereafter the office will forward the letter to the NRF. Project changes should be logged with the NRF within the first year of the grant.
The NRF requires a release letter from the previous supervisor as well as a confirmation of supervision letter from the new supervisor.
Yes, transfers are permitted. The student should contact the institutional research or postgraduate office for assistance.
Yes, an award can be deferred to the second semester of the year of award. The student will have to write a formal letter to the NRF requesting such a deferment with an explanation of why the deferment is required. Deferments to the next year are not allowed.
Yes, a leave of absence due to medical reasons is permitted. The leave of absence must be approved by the institution. A formal request must be submitted to the NRF for consideration together with letters of support from the supervisor and medical practitioner.
By accepting FCS or PCS funding from the NRF, the student agrees to complete the degree in the stipulated period i.e., within a year after NRF funding has ceased. Failure to meet this commitment, especially if it is determined that it was due to negligence, would constitute a breach of contract and students must return all the monies paid to the NRF together with interest at the prevailing prime rate charged by the NRF bankers, unless a de-registration is approved by the NRF due to exceptional and extenuating circumstances.
The execution of a fee waiver will be at the discretion of the university and guided by the university processes.
If the electronic study device funding is not claimed in the first year of the award, the NRF will allow a carry forward of funds into the second year of the award. However, should the carry forward not be utilised in the second year, these funds will be forfeited.
No, the scholarship cannot be used to pay any outstanding debt. The scholarship must be used for the degree for which it was awarded only.
The NRF has an appeal process each year after awards have been made. However, the appeal process is limited to applications that were not recommended for funding during the review process (conducted by the institution). Applicants’ whose applications were submitted to the NRF for review cannot appeal against a funding decision made by the NRF. Appeals cannot be done against a type of approved funding amount i.e., FCS or PCS.
Yes, completion of progress reports is compulsory for continuation of funding. Progress reports have to be completed by mid-February. Scholarships will be cancelled in the event of non- submission of progress reports or non-response from the supervisor.
The scholarship will be cancelled and the student will have to return the funding that has already been paid out to the NRF.
The Defaulting Student Process will be followed whereby the student will be contacted by the NRF to repay the scholarship that was awarded to them.
The Designate Authority from the institutions research / postgraduate office will complete the graduation or completion data on the NRF system.
The NRF logo as well as the NRF Corporate Identity Guidelines can be accessed via https://www.nrf.ac.za/postgraduate-grants-documents.
The applicant must select Scholarship linked to NRF-funded research in the Application Category section. Once this has been selected, a space will appear for the applicant to indicate either their supervisor’s grant number (UID) or application reference number.
No, eligibility criteria as outlined in the DSI-NRF Postgraduate Application and Funding Framework document are still applicable. Applications submitted to the NRF for review will be screened to check eligibility and application requirements. Only eligible applications will go through to the final stage of funding decisions.
Yes, the NRF provides research mobility opportunities of between 3 – 18 months abroad for doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows who are NRF funded and Early Career Researchers, through the Global Knowledge Partnerships (GKP) programme. Scholars need to apply for the research mobility programmes or be nominated to be considered for funding. In addition, doctoral students can apply for the Knowledge Interchange and Collaboration (KIC) travel grants for local and international conferences, workshops, and seminars. For more information and how to apply: