DSTI-NRF Honours Student Funding 2027: Applications Close 23 November

The Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) have opened the call for Honours Student Funding 2027.

The call opened on 7 July 2026 and applications from students close on 23 November 2026. Institutions then have until 29 January 2027 to submit eligible applications to the NRF.

Fields Covered

Funding supports full-time Honours studies in:

• Science
• Engineering and Technology
• Social Sciences
• Humanities

at South African institutions.

Funding Options

Awards are made under two funding models:

• Full Cost of Study (FCS) — up to R180,000 per year
• Partial Cost of Study (PCS) — up to R140,000 per year

A R10,000 device allowance is included.

The model awarded depends on the applicant’s financial need and academic record.

How to Apply

Applications go through the NRF Connect System at nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za. Manual applications are not accepted.

The NRF routes each application to the university where you plan to register — and your university may set an earlier internal deadline. Contact your institution’s postgraduate or research office for its date.

Important Dates

Applications opened: 7 July 2026

Applicant closing date: 23 November 2026

Institutional closing date: 29 January 2027

Academic year: 2027

Important Notice

Always confirm the call details on the official NRF website before applying. Some universities pre-screen applications ahead of the national deadline.

Official website: NRF Connect application system

Source

Information in this article is based on the DSTI-NRF Honours Student Funding 2027 call published by the National Research Foundation.