The DSTI and NRF are pleased to announce a call for new applications for DSTI-NRF Honours Student Funding for the academic year 2026.

The NRF minimum academic requirement for the honours scholarship is an average of 65% for major subjects in the final year of the undergraduate study and is available for South African citizens and Permanent Residents only. Successful applicants will be funded either at Full Cost of Study (FCS) or Partial Cost of Study (PCS). The FCS will be awarded to students who are either financially needy (i.e., those whose combined household family income is less than o requal toR350 000 per annum), living with a disability or exceptional academic achievers. And the PCS funding will be awarded to students who could not be funded under FCS but meet other minimum requirements for the NRF scholarship funding criteria. The honours scholarship is intended to support candidates to pursue studies in all areas of Science, Engineering, Technology, Social Sciences, and Humanities.

All the interested 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.

Applications Opening and Closing Dates:

Level of studyOpening datesUCT’S INTERNAL CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICANTS
Honours14 July 202531 OCTOBER 2025
ISFAP assessment (29 August 2025)

Please refer to the Application and Funding Guide and Framework documents when completing the online application form at every step of the process.

*All postgraduate call documents can be accessed via the NRF website: https://www.nrf.ac.za/funding/nrf-call-for-proposals-for-funding-in-2025-and-2026/ 


For enquiries please email: nrfdasupport@uct.ac.za or telephone +27 21 650 3622 option 3.

NRF website: www.nrf.ac.za

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