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 |
tba |
tba |
| Concept notes | Thematic Research: ICT Concept Notes | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Concept notes | Thematic Research: Health Concept Notes | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Concept notes | Thematic Research: Energy Concept Notes | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Concept notes | Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) - Concept Notes (for Large Call) | 1 | tba | tba |
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 (closed call) | 2026 | 1 | 04 February 2025 | 2 March 2026 |
| Targeted Grants | Research and Innovation Rewards Programme (RIRP) (Closed Call to NRF National Facilities) | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Targeted Grants | Telkom-National Research Foundation Future Technologies Programme Ad Hoc Call for Students: First cohort | 1 | tba | tba | |
|
Targeted Grants |
Telkom-National Research Foundation Future Technologies Programme Ad Hoc Call for Students: Second cohort |
|
2 |
tba |
tba |
Institutional Grants
|
Category |
Opportunity |
Funding Start Year |
Review period |
Open |
NWU Cut- off |
| Institutional Grants | DSI/NRF SARchI Chairs | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Institutional Grants | NRF/DHA SARChI CoP (Offline) | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Institutional Grants | NRF/DSI CoP in Gender Based Violence | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Institutional Grants | NRF/DSI CoP in Mental Health | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Institutional Grants | NRF/SAIMI Co-funded CoP | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Institutional Grants | Replacement Chairs – Review Period 2 | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Institutional Grants | SARChI 5-year Reviews (Review Period 2) | tba | tba |
Research Grants
|
Category |
Opportunity |
Funding Start Year |
Review period |
Open |
NWU Cut- off |
|
Research Grants |
Black Academics Advancement Programme (PhD and Post PhD Tracks) | 2027 | 1 | 04 February 2025 | 10 April 2026 |
|
Research Grants |
Support for Y-rated Researchers | 2027 | 1 | 17 February 2025 | 10 April 2026 |
|
Research Grants |
Thuthuka (PhD, Post PhD & Rating Track) Framework,Institutional Support Form | 2027 | 1 | 17 February 2025 | 10 April 2026 |
|
Research Grants |
(NRF)- Sasol Yong Academics Accelarator Programme (YAAP) | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
|
Research Grants |
Africa-UK Physics Partnership Programme (AUPP) | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | Africa-Japan Collaborative Research (AJ-CORE) Programme | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | NRF co-funding programme with the French Institutes (CNRS/IRD/Cirad) (Closed call) | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | SA - France (PROTEA) Call for Joint Proposals | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | SA - USA (NSF) Research Programme | 2027 | 2 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | LEAP-SE Multlateral Call | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | South Africa–Sweden University Forum (SASUF) | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | NRF / São Paulo State Foundation (FAPESP) of Brazil Joint Science and Technology Research Collaboration | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | SA-Iran STI Bilateral Research Programme | 2027 | 2 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | SA-Switzerland Lead Agency Funding Opportunity | 2027 | 2 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | BRICS STI Multilateral Call (open call) | 2027 | 2 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | SA - China (MOST) Joint Research Programme (JRP) | 2027 | 2 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | SA - Japan (JSPS) Joint Research Proposals | 2027 | 2 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | NEOFrontiers StartUPS and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises Innovation Support Second Cohort | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Research Grants | NRF – AXA Research Fund Africa Scientific Progress Award (ASPA) (Portugese Version) | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | New Earth Observation Frontiers (NEOFrontiers) Research Accelerator Fund For Space Innovation | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Research Grants | Russia: JINR Research and Innovation Grants | 2 | tba | tba | |
| Research Grants | Thematic Research: ICT | 2 | tba | tba | |
| Research Grants | Thematic Research: Health | 2 | tba | tba | |
| Research Grants | Thematic Research: Energy | 2 | tba | tba | |
| Research Grants | ACEP Phuhlisa | 2 | tba | tba | |
| Research Grants | Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) - Large Grants (Closed Call) | 2 | tba | tba | |
| Research Grants | Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) - Small Grants 1 | 1 |
tba |
||
| Research Grants | Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) - Small Grants 2 | 2 | tba | tba |
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 2026) |
2026 | 1 | 4 February 2026 | 2 March 2026 | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | DSI / NRF Conference Fund | 2027 | 1 | 12 February 2026 | 27 March 2026 | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | NRF / European Research Council (ERC) Partnership | 1 | tba | tba | ||
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | Germany (DFG) IRTG | 1 | tba | tba | ||
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | ISC Grants for Travel & Hosting of Events | 1 | tba | tba | ||
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | Knowledge Interchange & Collaboration (KIC) 2 (Travel from 1 January – 20 June 2026) |
2 | tba | tba | ||
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | SA-China Young Scientists Exchange Programme (YSEP) | 1 | tba | tba | ||
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | Equipment Related Travel & Training 1 | 2026 | 1 | 4 February 2026 | 2 March 2026 | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | Equipment Related Travel & Training 2 | 2 | tba | tba | ||
Postdoctoral Grants
|
Category |
Opportunity |
Funding Start Year |
Review period |
Open |
NWU Cut- off |
| Postdoctoral Grants | Postdoctoral Fellowships | 2027 | 1 | 4 February 2026 | 28 March 2026 |
| Postdoctoral Grants | SARAO Postdoctoral Fellowships | 2027 | 2 | tba | tba |