Competitive Support for Unrated Researchers (CSUR) 2025
Supports full-time Master's and Doctoral students at South African public universities to build research capacity among emerging, unrated researchers across all fields.
Funder: National Research Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): May 2026: Full application (projected) | May 2026: Designated Authority (DA) institutional submission (projected)
Funding Amounts: Typical award: R182,836/year (Master's, FCS) | R126,836/year (Master's, PCS) | R188,820/year (Doctoral, FCS) | R131,320/year (Doctoral, PCS); duration: up to 2 years (Master's), 3 years (Doctoral)
Summary: Supports full-time Master's and Doctoral students at South African public universities who do not currently hold an NRF rating, aiming to build research capacity among emerging and unrated researchers.
Key Information: Applicants must apply via the NRF Connect system; only complete, eligible, and institution-endorsed applications will be considered.
Description
This program provides competitive research funding to support Master's and Doctoral students at South African public universities who do not currently hold an NRF rating. The aim is to encourage and enable emerging and previously unrated researchers to establish a research track record and contribute to the advancement of knowledge across all fields, including science, engineering, technology, social sciences, and humanities.
The funding is intended to support full-time postgraduate studies, with a focus on developing the next generation of South African researchers. Awards are made on a competitive basis, considering academic merit, research potential, and alignment with national research priorities.
