We would like to invite interested candidates to engage with us in getting ready to submit applications in response to the Call:

1. Please see the Faculty-specific guidelines of the Rating process herewith. This will provide you with insight into the process undertaken with respect to rating. Please see the NRF Rating training video, the NRF Rating Q&A session as well as the NRF rating briefing session below, all of which you can follow at your own pace and within your own timeframe to guide you through the process of application.

2. Familiarise yourself with the eligibility criteria listed below to ensure you are eligible to apply.
3. Please start working on the CV section on the NRF Online Submission system. This can take a while to complete when one has lots of research outputs/publications. Please access the NRF submission system via the link below: https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za/nrfmkii/. 
4. If you require advice on whether you are ready to apply for rating and will be able to submit a responsive application, please forward your NRF CV to Natasha Jeftha as soon as possible. The research committee will provide feedback.

The NRF rating system is part of the NRF’s goal to build a globally competitive science system in South Africa, and benchmarks the quality of our researchers against the rest of the world. NRF ratings consider a researcher’s recent research outputs and impact as perceived by international peer reviewers. The rating system encourages researchers to publish high quality outputs in high impact journals/outlets. Rated researchers as supervisors will impart cutting-edge skills to the next generation of researchers.

Ratings are based primarily on the quality and impact of research outputs over the past eight years, as evaluated by local and international peers. The rating system identifies researchers who are leaders in their fields and recognises the production of high quality research outputs. Several South African universities use the outcomes of the NRF evaluation and rating process to position themselves as research-intensive institutions, while others provide incentives for their staff members to acquire and maintain a rating and give special recognition to top-rated researchers.

The ratings that are awarded fall within the following categories:

A – Leading international researchers

B – Internationally acclaimed researchers

C – Established researchers

P – Prestigious Awards

Y – Promising young researchers

The NRF rating system can be completed on the NRF Online Submission system https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za/nrfmkii/ The call for ratings has opened until the 15th of November 2021, we encourage prospective applicants to start compiling the online CV section and established researcher to update their online CVs. Once your rating application has been completed online, the Faculty of Health Sciences’ internal review panel will provide feedback. Once approved, the application will be submitted to the NRF. The internal review panel may also decide to hold back an application in order to strengthen the application. The review panel will provide feedback that will become your strategic research plan.

The Research Office will host two information sessions of approximately 2 hours each. We invite you to attend either of the sessions. The sessions will include an overview of the rating application and the requirements of the NRF as well as a discussion aimed at promoting self-evaluation and identifying a structure for your rating application. We encourage emerging researchers and currently/previously rated researchers to attend. 

Faculty of Health Sciences NRF-rating internal evaluation

• Rating Application Word template
• Instructions Document — how to complete online application
• Rating Categories — full descriptions
• Eligibility
• Rating Application Types  (last updated 2011)
• Global Research Council
• Key Research Areas and Types of Research Outputs
• Guidelines that can be used to strengthen NRF Rating proposals — Prof Henk Huismans
• What is Considerable International Recognition (CIR)?
• Reviewer response template
• Guidelines for selection of reviewers
• Guidelines and Criteria for Appeals (last updated 2017)
• Online application — https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za/nrfmkii/
• NRF ORCID Statement (last updated 2017)
• NRF Predatory Journals Statement
• NRF rating webpage