Honours student funding for the 2026 academic year

DSTI-NRF Honours Funding for the 2026 Academic Year

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 or equal to R350 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 scholarshipis 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.

Please note the following exclusions:

• ​International students are not eligible to apply for this scholarship.

• Professional honours degree; postgraduate diploma; postgraduate LLB; fourth year of a four-year undergraduate degree and
• Individuals that are on sabbatical leave from their current employment

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/.

Applicants are encouraged to contact the Research or Postgraduate offices at their universities for enquiries. Should there still be a need to contact the NRF, see the contact details below:

Queries related to specific funding opportunities can be directed to: postgraduatequeries@risa.nrf.ac.za.

The subject line of your email must have the following information in order to be routed correctly:

• Level i.e., Honours
• Funding opportunity e.g., General, SARChI, SASOL, EMET etc.
• Application reference number starting with prefix PMDS25

For Technical related enquiries, please contact:
NRF Support desk
Telephone: 012 481 4202
E-mail: supportdesk@nrf.ac.za

NRF FRAUD LINE to anonymously report any irregular, corrupt, or unethical conduct relating to funding:
Telephone: 0800 111 729
SMS: 30916
E-mail: nrf@thehotline.co.za

For SARAO Honours-related enquiries, please contact:
Mkhululi Jodwana at [protected email address]
Telephone: 011 268 3412

Stellenbosch University Designated Authority:
Mrs Betina van der Merwe
E-mail: betina@sun.ac.za