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 | Closed | |
| Concept notes | Thematic Research: Health Concept Notes | 1 | tba | Closed | |
| Concept notes | Thematic Research: Energy Concept Notes | 1 | tba | Closed | |
| Concept notes | Foundational Biodiversity Information Programme (FBIP) - Concept Notes (for Large Call) | 1 | 28 February 2026 | Closed |
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 | tba | Closed |
| 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 | 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 | Closed |
Research Grants | Support for Y-rated Researchers | 2027 | 1 | 04 February 2026 | Closed |
Research Grants | Thuthuka (PhD, Post PhD & Rating Track) Framework,Institutional Support Form | 2027 | 1 | 04 February 2025 | Closed |
| Research Grants | Africa-Japan Collaborative Research (AJ-CORE) Programme | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | Global Change Social Sciences Research Programme (GCSSRP) | 2027 | 1 | 26 February 2026 | Closed |
| Research Grants | SA - France (PROTEA) Call for Joint Proposals | 2027 | 1 | 25 May 2026 | 24 July 2026 |
| Research Grants | SA - USA (NSF) Research Programme | 2027 | 2 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | LEAP-SE Multlateral Call (Closed Call) | 2027 | 1 | tba | Closed |
| Research Grants | SASUF-NRF Seed Grants for Collaborative Research (2026-2028) | 2026 | 1 | 16 March 2026 | 3 June 2026 |
| Research Grants | NRF / São Paulo State Foundation (FAPESP) of Brazil Joint Science and Technology Research Collaboration | 2027 | 1 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | Tunisia-South Africa Bilateral Call | 2027 | 2 | 30 June 2026 | 1 September 2026 |
| Research Grants | SA-Switzerland Lead Agency Funding Opportunity | 2027 | 2 | 10 July 2026 | 24 August 2026 |
| Research Grants | BRICS STI Multilateral Call (open call) | 2027 | 2 | 30 April 2026 | Closed |
Research Grants | BRICS Pilot Flagship Project |
|
| 22 May 2026 | Closed |
| Research Grants | SA - China (MOST) Joint Research Programme (JRP) | 2027 | 2 | tba | tba |
| Research Grants | SA - Japan (JSPS) Joint Research Proposals | 2027 | 2 | 2 June 2026 | 4 September 2026 |
| Research Grants | NEOFrontiers StartUPS and Small Medium and Micro Enterprises Innovation Support Second Cohort | 1 | tba | tba | |
| Research Grants | South African National Antarctic Programme (SANAP) | 2027 | 1 | 15 July 2026 | 27 August 2026 |
| Research Grants | SA- Canada Seed Grants for Collaborative Research | 2027 | 1 | 7 April 2026 | Closed |
| Research Grants | Trans Atlantic Platform (T-AP) | 2 | 13 July 2026 | 9 October 2026 | |
| 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 | SA-Flanders Collaborative Research Projects (2027-2029) | 2027 | 1 | 17 March 2026 | Closed |
| 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 | 28 February 2026 | Closed | |
| 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 | Closed | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | DSI / NRF Conference Fund | 2027 | 1 | 12 February 2026 | Closed | |
| Travel, Training & Conference Grants | NRF / European Research Council (ERC) Partnership | 1 | 28 May 2026 | Closed | ||
| 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 | Closed | |
| 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 | Closed |
| Postdoctoral Grants | SARAO Postdoctoral Fellowships | 2027 | 2 | tba | tba |