A Doctoral Degree (NQF-10), commonly referred to as a PhD, is the highest level of academic qualification. It represents mastery in a chosen field of study and can be research-based or applied. Graduates of Doctoral programs become experts in their disciplines and often contribute new knowledge through original research.
Doctoral studies typically take three to four years to complete, depending on whether the candidate already holds a Masters degree. The program involves advanced coursework (in some cases), but the main focus is on producing a substantial research thesis or dissertation.
Here is a list of bursaries applicable for PhD / Doctoral degree studies in 2026
- Ada & Bertie Levenstein Bursary
- African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) Bursaries
- African Rainbow Minerals (ARM) Bursary
- Agbiz Centenary Bursary
- Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA) Bursary
- Agricultural Research Council (ARC) Bursary
- Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme (BM-NHSP)
- Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship
- Canon Collins Sol Plaatje Scholarship
- Canon Collins Tom Queba Scholarship
- Cecil Renaud International Scholarship
- Council for Geoscience Bursary
- CPGR Bursary
- CETA Thapelo Madibeng Bursary
- CSIR Bursary
- David and Elaine Potter Fellowship
- Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD) Bursary
- Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) Bursary
- Department of Tourism Bursary
- DSI-CSIR Bursary
- DSI-NRF Postgraduate Scholarship
- Dudley D’Ewes Scholarship
- Embassy of France Scholarship
- Energy Mobility Education Trust Scholarship
- EP Bradlow Bursary at Stellenbosch University
- Erika Theron Trust Scholarship
- Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust Bursary
- FoodBev SETA Bursary
- Fulbright Foreign Student Program South Africa
- Gates Cambridge International Scholarship
- GreenMatter Fellowship PhD at UCT
- Guy Butler Research Award Scholarship
- Harry Crossley Foundation Research Fellowship
- HWSETA Postgraduate Bursary
- Imfundo Enhle Education Trust Bursary
- Imperial Stellenbosch University Bursary
- L’Oréal-UNESCO For Women in Science South Africa Grant
- Maize Trust Bursary
- Meat Industry Trust (MIT) Bursary
- Mintek Bursary
- National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) Bursary
- Netflix Scholarship
- NMU / AIDC Postgraduate Bursary
- NMU / AIDC Postdoctoral Fellowship
- NRF Scholarship at UJ
- Poliomyelitis Research Foundation Bursaries
- Potato Industry Development Trust Bursaries
- Rhodes Trust Scholarship
- SAAFoST Brian Koeppen Memorial Scholarship
- SA Cultivar & Technology Agency (SACTA) Bursary
- SACCCS Bursary
- SAMAC Bursary
- SAMRC Internship Scholarship
- SANBI Biological Invasion Bursary
- SANBI Joan Wrench Scholarship
- SANSA Bursary
- SARAO Postgraduate Scholarship
- Sasol Bursary
- Sasol Agriculture Trust Bursary
- Scatec Bursary
- SKA South Africa Bursaries
- Sorghum Trust Scholarship
- South Africa International Maritime Institute (SAIMI) Bursary
- South African National Seed Organization (SANSOR) Bursary
- Southern African Development Community (SADC) Scholarship
- Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) Bursary
- Stellenbosch University Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Scholarship
- Stellenbosch University Doctoral Scholarship
- Stellenbosch University GEM Scholarship
- Stellenbosch University Lisa Maskell Scholarship
- Tiso Foundation Archibald Mafeje PhD Scholarship
- Transport Education Training Authority (TETA) Bursary
- UCT Archive and Public Culture Postgraduate Bursaries
- UCT International and Refugee Scholarship
- UFS & South African Society for Plant Pathology (SASPP) Fellowship
- Umgeni Water Postgraduate Bursary
- Unisa Postgraduate Bursary
- University of Johannesburg W&RSETA Bursary
- UKZN Ethekwini Maritime Cluster Bursary
- University of the Free State (UFS) Doctoral Scholarship
- UKZN College of Agriculture, Engineering, and Science Bursary
- UKZN Doctoral Research Scholarships
- UKZN Mellon Spatial Humanities Scholarship
- WENOSA Scholarship
- Winter Cereal Trust Bursary
