Potential applicants are advised to complete their applications as soon as possible. NRF applications are submitted electronically on the NRF Connect System
Contact details for assistance:
- Send an email to Heide Goedhals.
- Include in the subject line: Funding opportunity application for [NRF Application reference number/Applicant ORCID ID/Problem/issue]
NWU internal closing dates MAY SLIGHTLY DIFFER to the NRF Applicant closing date. Please adhere to NWU cut-off dates.
It is important to read the relevant documents before deciding on which funding opportunity to apply to. All eligibility criteria, as well as the applicable requirements, must be taken into consideration. All Framework and Application and Funding Guide documents are available on the NRF website.
Infrastructure grants
Concept Notes
|
Category |
Opportunity |
Funding Start Year |
Review period |
Open |
NWU Cut-off |
|
Concept notes |
Concept Notes (JINR) (Offline) |
|
1 |
05 March 2025 |
04 April 2025 |
| Concept notes | Thematic Research: ICT Concept Notes | 1 | 15 May 2025 | 10 June 2025 | |
| Concept notes | Thematic Research: Health Concept Notes | 1 | 15 May 2025 | 10 June 2025 | |
| Concept notes | Thematic Research: Energy Concept Notes | 1 | 15 May 2025 | 10 June 2025 | |
| Concept notes | Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) - Concept Notes (for Large Call) | 2025 | 1 | 17 February 2025 | 15 April 2025 |
Targeted Grants
|
Category |
Opportunity |
Funding Start Year |
Review period |
Open |
NWU Cut- off |
| Targeted Grants | DST/NRF Research Development Grants for New Generation of Academics Programme (nGAP) Scholars | 2025 | 1 | 17 February 2025 | Closed |
| Targeted Grants | Research and Innovation Rewards Programme (RIRP) (Closed Call to NRF National Facilities) | 2025 | 1 | 03 February 2025 | 27 March 2025 |
| Targeted Grants | Telkom-National Research Foundation Future Technologies Programme Ad Hoc Call for Students: First cohort | 2025 | 1 | 24 February 2025 | Closed |
|
Targeted Grants |
Telkom-National Research Foundation Future Technologies Programme Ad Hoc Call for Students: Second cohort |
|
2 |
01 October 2025 |
01 November 2025 |
Institutional Grants
|
Category |
Opportunity |
Funding Start Year |
Review period |
Open |
NWU Cut- off |
| Institutional Grants | DSI/NRF SARchI Chairs | 1 | 6 March 2025 | 8 May 2025 | |
| Institutional Grants | NRF/DHA SARChI CoP (Offline) | 1 | 6 March 2025 | 8 May 2025 | |
| Institutional Grants | NRF/DSI CoP in Gender Based Violence | 1 | 6 March 2025 | 8 May 2025 | |
| Institutional Grants | NRF/DSI CoP in Mental Health | 1 | 6 March 2025 | 8 May 2025 | |
| Institutional Grants | NRF/SAIMI Co-funded CoP | 1 | 6 March 2025 | 8 May 2025 | |
| Institutional Grants | Replacement Chairs – Review Period 2 | 1 | 6 March 2025 | 8 May 2025 | |
| Institutional Grants | SARChI 5-year Reviews (Review Period 2) | 17 Dec 2025 | 8 May 2025 |
Research Grants
|
Category |
Opportunity |
Funding Start Year |
Review period |
Open |
NWU Cut- off |
|
Research Grants |
Black Academics Advancement Programme (PhD and Post PhD Tracks) | 2026 | 1 | 17 February 2025 | 04 April 2025 |
|
Research Grants |
Support for Y-rated Researchers | 2026 | 1 | 17 February 2025 | 04 April 2025 |
|
Research Grants |
Thuthuka (PhD, Post PhD & Rating Track) Framework, Funding Guide, Institutional Support Form | 2026 | 1 | 17 February 2025 | 04 April 2025 |
|
Research Grants |
(NRF)- Sasol Yong Academics Accelarator Programme (YAAP) | 2026 | 1 | 17 March 2025 | 04 April 2025 |
|
Research Grants |
Africa-UK Physics Partnership Programme (AUPP) | 2026 | 1 | 28 February 2025 | 04 April 2025 |
| Research Grants | Africa-Japan Collaborative Research (AJ-CORE) Programme | 2026 | 1 | 15 May 2025 | 08 August 2025 |
| Research Grants | NRF co-funding programme with the French Institutes (CNRS/IRD/Cirad) (Closed call) | 2026 | 1 | 01 April 2025 | 20 June 2025 |
| Research Grants | SA - France (PROTEA) Call for Joint Proposals | 2026 | 1 | 01 April 2025 | 20 June 2025 |
| Research Grants | SA - USA (NSF) Research Programme | 2026 | 2 | 01 July 2025 | 19 September 2025 |
| Research Grants | LEAP-SE Multlateral Call | 2026 | 1 | TBC | TBC |
| Research Grants | South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF) | 2026 | 1 | 01 April 2025 | 23 April 2025 |
| Research Grants | NRF / São Paulo State Foundation (FAPESP) of Brazil Joint Science and Technology Research Collaboration | 2025 | 1 | 06 February 2025 | Closed |
| Research Grants | SA-Iran STI Bilateral Research Programme | 2026 | 2 | 01 July 2025 | 19 September 2025 |
| Research Grants | SA-Switzerland Lead Agency Funding Opportunity | 2026 | 2 | 01 July 2025 | 19 September 2025 |
| Research Grants | BRICS STI Multilateral Call (open call) | 2026 | 2 | 01 July 2025 | 19 September 2025 |
| Research Grants | SA - China (MOST) Joint Research Programme (JRP) | 2026 | 2 | 01 July 2025 | 19 September 2025 |
| Research Grants | SA - Japan (JSPS) Joint Research Proposals | 2026 | 2 | 01 July 2025 | 19 September 2025 |
| Research Grants | NEOFrontiers StartUPS and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises Innovation Support Second Cohort | 1 | 24 February 2025 | Closed | |
| Research Grants | NRF – AXA Research Fund Africa Scientific Progress Award (ASPA) (Portugese Version) | 2025 | 1 | 12 February 2025 | Closed |
| Research Grants | New Earth Observation Frontiers (NEOFrontiers) Research Accelerator Fund For Space Innovation | 1 | 24 February 2025 | 14 April 2025 | |
| Research Grants | Russia: JINR Research and Innovation Grants | 2 | 02 July 2025 | 30 July 2025 | |
| Research Grants | Thematic Research: ICT | 2 | 30 September 2025 | 10 November 2025 | |
| Research Grants | Thematic Research: Health | 2 | 30 September 2025 | 10 November 2025 | |
| Research Grants | Thematic Research: Energy | 2 | 30 September 2025 | 10 November 2025 | |
| Research Grants | ACEP Phuhlisa | 2 | 30 September 2025 | 10 November 2025 | |
| Research Grants | Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) - Large Grants (Closed Call) | 2 | 24 July 2025 | 15 August 2025 | |
| Research Grants | Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) - Small Grants 1 | 2025 | 1 |
17 February 2025 |
16 April 2025 |
| Research Grants | Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) - Small Grants 2 | 2 | 24 July 2025 | 15 August 2025 |
Travel, Training and Conference Grants
|
Category |
Opportunity |
Funding Start Year |
Review period |
Open |
NWU Cut- off |
|
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | Knowledge Interchange & Collaboration 1 (Travel from 1 July – 31 December 2025) |
1 | 2025 | 17 February 2025 | Extended: 28 March 2025 | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | DSI / NRF Conference Fund | 1 | 2025 | 17 February 2025 | 01 April 2025 | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | NRF / European Research Council (ERC) Partnership | 1 | 2025 | 17 February 2025 | Closed | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | Germany (DFG) IRTG | 1 | 03 March 2025 | 22 April 2025 | ||
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | ISC Grants for Travel & Hosting of Events | 1 | 03 March 2025 | 20 November 2025 | ||
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | Knowledge Interchange & Collaboration (KIC) 2 (Travel from 1 January – 20 June 2026) |
2 | 2025 | 01 August 2025 | 24 August 2025 | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | SA-China Young Scientists Exchange Programme (YSEP) | 1 | 2025 | 17 February 2025 | Closed | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | Equipment Related Travel & Training 1 | 1 | 2025 | 17 February 2025 | Closed | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | Equipment Related Travel & Training 2 | 2 | 01 August 2025 | 25 August 2025 | ||
Postdoctoral Grants
|
Category |
Opportunity |
Funding Start Year |
Review period |
Open |
NWU Cut- off |
| Postdoctoral Grants | Postdoctoral Fellowships | 2026 | 1 | 17 March 2025 | 28 March 2025 |
| Postdoctoral Grants | SARAO Postdoctoral Fellowships | 2026 | 2 | 01 June 2025 | 25 August 2025 |