Funding Opportunities

Funding your Postgraduate Studies

In order to build a knowledge economy through higher education, the University of Pretoria (UP) offers various types of bursaries to academically deserving students who are in financial need.

The "I" in Funding

Don’t ignore your role in securing funding.

Investigation

There are many forms of financial assistance for postgraduates, so be sure you investigate all the options.

Industriousness

While some forms of funding are based on financial need, most consider academic merit as a priority. So, the better your academic scores, the more options you have.

Intention

If funding is vital to your study, then start looking well in advance. Deadlines for applications could be months before the deadline to register for your degree.

Categories of Funding

There are two broad categories of bursaries: internally funded and externally funded bursaries. These bursaries are offered to honours, master's and doctoral students. Different funding organisations have different eligibility criteria and conditions for the bursaries they offer, so make sure you are familiar with their requirements.

Some bursaries are for South African nationals only, while others cover South African as well as non-South African students. The Postgraduate Support Office (PSO) helps current and prospective students access funding for postgraduate studies and research by announcing calls for funding through the University website, social media platforms, faculties and information sessions.

Funding opportunities are also communicated through the weekly UP research funding bulletin managed by the Research Capacity Development Unit within the Department of Research and Innovation (DRI). Calls for applications open at different times during the course of the year.

Postgraduate Support Office (PSO)

The Postgraduate Support Office (PSO) helps current and prospective students access funding for postgraduate studies and research by announcing calls for funding through the University website, social media platforms, faculties and information sessions.

Find out more here

Different forms of funding opportunities (internal and external) are made available and administered through the PSO. The different available funding programmes support successful students either on a full cost or partial cost basis; subject to the funder's discretion.

IMPORTANT: Only students registering for honours, master’s and doctoral degrees are eligible to be nominated for the UP Postgraduate bursaries. Students who register for postgraduate diplomas and certificates, or for the fourth year of any bachelor’s degree, are not eligible for UP postgraduate awards.
IMPORTANT: Please do not rely only on the institution for funding. You are encouraged to look for funding from several sources when applying for postgraduate studies. It is crucial to look for funding at the same time as you are applying for admission to UP. In fact, it is recommended that you start your search for funding at least a year in advance in order to secure funding prior to registration.
IMPORTANT: If you are planning to study towards master’s or PhD, investigate your research area and identify a supervisor as early as possible in order to start the communication process with them prior to application.
TIP: You can ask for a one-on-one funding information session from the Postgraduate Support Office (PSO) – but only once you have applied for admission.
[email protected]

Postgraduate Funding

Postdoctoral funding

The postdoctoral fellowship programme at the University of Pretoria (UP) provides opportunities to candidates who have completed their PhD degrees to develop their careers in the academic field.

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