Funding Opportunities

There are several bursaries, scholarship and assistantship opportunities available every year that post graduate students are encouraged to apply for. A compilation of financial assistance and scholarship opportunities for Wits postgraduate students can be found here. Please check the deadlines for applications and ensure you apply online for funding in time.

Included in the compilation above is the university’s Postgraduate Merit Award system that can provide funding that covers the tuition fees of successful applicants. The deadline for Postgraduate Merit Award applications is 31 October 2022: please visit http://www.wits.ac.za/study-at-wits/fees-and-funding/postgraduate-awards-and-assistance.

Applications for National Research Foundation (NRF) funding, mentioned in the compilation booklet linked to above, must be submitted via the NRF Online system at https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za. NRF scholarship applications for funding each year usually open on 1 July and close on 30 November (subject to change depending on the year). The NRF has a number of videos on YouTube about their funding options. Please consult this guide to using the NRF website.

Applications for Hons degree funding from the National Students Financial Assistance Scheme (NSFAS) usually close on 30 November of each year, and should be done through the university’s applications portal: see https://www.wits.ac.za/study-at-wits/fees-and-funding/postgraduate-awards-and-assistance/

The African Centre for Migration & Society (ACMS) at the University of the Witwatersrand also seeks applications for MA and PhD scholarships offered by DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) as part of its ‘In-Region Scholarship Programme South Africa’. Full scholarships are available for Four MA and Five PhD students accepted for the Migration and Displacement programme at ACMS in 2023 (see detailed DAAD call for applications here).

DAAD will make the final decisions and administer the scholarships. ACMS is in charge of the first phase of the application process, which involves pre-selecting and shortlisting candidates. ACMS will submit the shortlist to DAAD for the second phase of the application process and final decisions

Application Closing Date at DAAD (for pre-selected candidates only) for 2023: April 30, 2022