AD-HOC APPLICATION PROCESS FOR PROGRAMME-LINKED NRF HONOURS, MASTER’S

AND DOCTORAL STUDENTS FOR FUNDING IN 2025

Applicants who have been recruited by an NRF-funded supervisor or supervisor linked to an NRF funded
grant, programme or project to be part of a research project and/ or group, under any of the NRF Funding
Instruments listed below, may submit an ad-hoc application as per the process indicated in Figure 1.
This will be a close call process meaning only students recruited by supervisors that have
submitted their ID numbers will be linked to the call. Supervisors must share the ID numbers of the
students recruited with their respective NRF contact points. These students must have also registered
and have an existing profile on NRF connect to be linked to the call. Students who do not have an NRF
connect profile will not be linked and will be excluded from applying.

The supervisor’s research project must be in any of the following programmes:

• South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARChI).
• DSTI-NRF Centre’s Excellence (CoE).
• DSTI-NRF Flagship Programme (active) Projects.
• DSTI-NRF National Institutes for Research Development and Innovation
• Thuthuka (TTK).
• NRF-FREF Black Academics Advancement Programme (BAAP).
• NRF-SASOL Young Academics Accelerator Programme (YAAP).
• National Equipment Programme (NEP)- The NEP Grant holders can recruit master’s and
doctoral students that will be utilizing their state-of-the-art-research equipment for the Research
and Infrastructure Professional Programme (RIPP).
• Global Change Research Plan (GCRP) programmes such as
- Earth Systems Science Research Programme (ESSRP).
- Global Change Social Sciences Research Programme (GCSSRP); and
- Centres for Global Change (CGCs).
• African Earth Observation Network (AEON).
• Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP).
• South African Earth Observation Network (SAEON).

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 • SARAO-Funded Research Groups.
• National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme (NASSP).
• African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP).
• Marine and Coastal Research Programme (MCRP).
• Manus Matsci Scholarship.
• NRF-SASOL Scholarship programme; and
• National Facilities (Innovation Masters and Doctoral).

Figure 1 indicates the process to be followed by the honours, master’s and doctoral students who are
recruited by the NRF funded supervisors at the beginning of an academic year or at the start of the 2nd
semester, after missing the main open competitive postgraduate call process in the preceding year.
These ad-hoc applications will be exempted from a merit peer-review process at the institution.
However, applicants must submit proof of acceptance of their research proposal by the higher degrees
committee either at the time of application or when they submit the progress report in November.

1. Supervisors 4. Students must

2. NRF will link 5.The NRF
and/or DAs to submit approval by
Students with their ID provides outcomes
submit ID 3. DA screens and the higher degrees
numbers to complete submit completed of successful
numbers of the committee at the
an online application applicants by end
stduents they application to the NRF. time of application
and submit to the March and
have recruited to or with the Progress
Universities. September.
the NRF. report (November).

Figure 1: Flow diagram representing the ad-hoc funding application process to be followed by
honours, master’s and doctoral students recruited by NRF-Funded Researchers in the beginning
of an academic year.

Applicants must have been recruited by the supervisor first before applying to the NRF. When an
applicant applies on the NRF Connect system, the application is routed to the university where the
applicant is registered. The NRF Connect system can be accessed on: https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za.
Further instructions on the application process will be made available in the DSI-NRF Postgraduate
Student Funding for the 2025 Academic Year – National Research Foundation. Table 1 shows the cut-
off dates for students to apply for scholarships at each postgraduate level of study.
Table 1: Students’ scholarships application closing dates for each level of study.

First Semester Second Semester

Level of
study Submission Opening Submission
Opening date Closing date Closing date
to NRF date to NRF
Honours
First-time 10 March 2025 14 April 2025 18 April 2025 02 June 2025 30 June 2025 4 July 2025
Master’s
First-time
Doctoral
This opportunity is only available to the students who will be linked to research projects/programmes
funded by the NRF as listed above. It is important to note the following:

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 a. The awarding of ad hoc student bursaries remains competitive, and will be dependent on the
availability of funds.
b. The students will be approved at Partial Cost of Study (PCS) if they cannot produce proof of
NSFAS/ISFAP funding at the time of application.
c. Students will be provided with an opportunity for a financial means test (FMT) assessment in
August, provided they submit completed consent forms that are fully signed and are stamped by
a Commissioner of Oaths to their Designated Authorities before the deadline.
d. The successful upgrade to Full Cost of Study (FCS) is contingent on budget availability and the
outcomes will be communicated in December.

This Ad hoc opportunity is being implemented aligned to the DSTI-NRF Policy for Postgraduate
Student Funding Policy and should also be read and interpretated in conjunction with the
substance of the annual call documentation.

Contact person for enquiries:

For enquiries, applicants are encouraged to contact the Research or Postgraduate Offices at their
respective universities. Should there still be a need to contact the NRF, below are the details of the NRF
contact person:

The supervisor’s research project must be in any of the following programmes:

• South African Research Chairs Initiative (SARCh

• DSI-NRF Centres of Excellence (CoE).

• DSI-NRF Flagship Programme (TUT- Flagship project).

• DSI-NRF National Research Institutes (NITheCs).
• Thuthuka (TTK).
• Research Development Grants for Y-rated Researchers.

• African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP) and the Marine and Coastal Research
Programme (MCR)

• National Equipment Programme (NEP)- The NEP Grant holders can recruit master’s and
doctoral students that will be utilizing their state-of-the-art-research equipment for the Research
and Infrastructure Professional Programme (RIPP).
• Global Change Research Plan (GCRP) programmes such as:
o Earth Systems Science Research Programme (ESSRP).
o Global Change Social Sciences Research Programme (GCSSRP); and
o Centres for Global Change (CGCs, previously RVSCs)
o African Earth Observation Network (AEON).

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 o Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP); (ONLY if students
missed call one and are already on a supervisor list from call one for GCRP
programmes)
• South African Earth Observation Network (SAEON).

• SARAO-Funded Research Groups.

• National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme (NASSP).

• Manus Matsci Scholarship

• NRF-SASOL Scholarship Programme; and

• National Facilities (Innovation Masters and Doctoral).

The Post-graduate Application and Funding Guide is also attached to guide the applicants through the
application process

Contact person for enquiries:

For enquiries, applicants are encouraged to contact the Research or Postgraduate Offices at their
respective universities. Should there still be a need to contact the NRF, below are the details of the
NRF contact person:

For Thuthuka-related enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Nthabeleng Makhetha: Professional Officer. Telephone: 012 481 4150.

Email Address: [email protected]

For the African Coelacanth Ecosystem Programme (ACEP) and the Marine and Coastal Research
Programme (MCR) enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Lerato Thokoane: Liaison Officer - Thematic Grants. Telephone 012 481 4327.

Email Address: [email protected]

For SARChI-related enquiries, please contact:

Mashudu Mbulaheni: Professional Officer – RCCE. Telephone: 012 481 4366.

Email Address: [email protected]

For DSI-NRF CoEs, DSI-NRF Flagships and DSI-NRF National Institutes-related enquiries,
please contact:

Frank Mazibuko: Professional Officer – RCCE. Telephone: 012 481 4017.

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Email Address: [email protected]

For HSDD, FBIP, GCRP, ESSRP, GCSSRP, RVSC and AOP-related enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Katleho Ralehoko: Professional Officer. Telephone: 012 481 4188. Email Address:
[email protected]

For National Facilities related enquiries, please contact:

Mr. Lehlogonolo Phaahla: Professional Officer. Telephone: 012 481 4315

Email Address: [email protected]

For Manus Matsci related enquiries, please contact:

Ms Tshepiso Masemola: Professional Officer. Telephone: 012 481 4336
Email Address: [email protected]

For NRF-SASOL enquiries, please contact:

Ms. Kgaugelo Molepo: Professional Officer – Telephone: 012 481 4148.
Email Address: [email protected]

For Technical related enquiries, please contact:

NRF Supportdesk
Telephone: 012 481 4202
Email: [email protected]

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