Funder: National Research Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): February 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: R320,000 stipend plus R50,000 research costs annually for up to two years; minimum R15,000 annual host contribution
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowships support research across disciplines in South Africa, strengthening scarce skills, innovation and the early-career research workforce.
Key Information: International candidates may apply for Freestanding and Innovation fellowships; Scarce Skills requires South African citizenship or permanent residency.
Description
The National Research Foundation (NRF) administers Freestanding, Innovation and Scarce Skills Postdoctoral Fellowships to develop emerging researchers and renew South Africa’s research workforce. The programme supports basic, strategic and applied research across science, engineering, technology, social sciences and humanities, including Indigenous Knowledge Systems, at public research institutions in South Africa.
Research must align with National Priority Research Areas and the Science, Technology and Innovation Decadal Plan. Its themes include the circular economy, education, sustainable energy, the future of society, health innovation, high-tech industrialisation, ICTs and smart systems, nutrition security and water security. The fellowships aim to strengthen research training, advance knowledge and socioeconomic impact, and expand career opportunities for designated groups.
