NRF-Nuffic Doctoral Scholarships 2021 for Students to Study in South Africa & The Netherlands

The NRF issues a call for the NRF-Nuffic Doctoral Scholarship applications for South African citizens and permanent residents to study full-time in the Netherlands (i.e. single site mode) and in the Netherlands and South Africa (split site mode).

Application Deadline: 1st June 2020

Eligible Countries: South Africa

To Be Taken At (Country): South Africa, the Netherlands

About the Award: In recognition of the long standing collaboration between South Africa and the Netherlands in education and research, and with the ambition to strengthen postgraduate training while enhancing sustainable collaboration between South African and Dutch higher education institutions (HEIs), an agreement was signed in 2017 between the NRF and Nuffic (Netherlands organisation for internationalisation in education represented locally in South Africa by Nuffic’s Netherlands Education Support Office.

Doctoral scholarships will be provided for South African citizens and permanent residents to study full-time in the Netherlands (i.e. single site mode). Institutional level agreements between Dutch HEIs and Partner Institutions in South Africa to enable full-time joint doctoral degrees will also be supported (i.e. split site mode).

The two modalities of doctoral training that will be funded are:

• full-time doctoral studies at a Dutch HEI, referred to as the single site mode, and;
• full-time doctoral studies jointly developed and implemented by a Dutch HEI and a Partner University in South Africa, referred to the split-site mode and resulting in a joint degree from the partner institutions.

Type: Doctoral (PhD)

Eligibility: Full-time Doctoral Scholarships in the Netherlands (single site mode): Modalities for funding full-time doctoral studies in the Netherlands are as follows:

• Applicants must be registered or intend to register for full-time doctoral studies at a higher education institution in the Netherlands;
• The applicant must include a provisional letter of acceptance for doctoral studies from the Dutch HEI. Without such a letter, the application will be rejected;
• A letter of support from the doctoral supervisor at the host institution in the Netherlands confirming the availability of research running costs (i.e. costs that can reasonably be expected to accrue during the course of the research period) and other necessary resources for the completion of the doctoral research project. Without such support, the application will be rejected;

Full-time Doctoral Scholarships for Joint Degrees (split site mode): Modalities for funding a full-time joint doctoral degree (split site mode) are as follows:

• Applicants must be registered or intend to register for a joint doctoral degree between a Dutch HEI and a partner South African Higher Education Institution.
• Successful applicants will receive funding to spend 75% of their time in South Africa and 25% in the Netherlands;
• The applicant must include a letter of support from both supervisors in the Netherlands and South Africa, including a plan for co-supervision and for proposed mobility visits;
• The letter of support from the doctoral supervisor in the host institution in the Netherlands must also confirm the availability of research running costs and other necessary resources for the completion of the doctoral research project. Without such support, the application will be rejected;
• Applicants must upload signed institutional agreements in the case of joint degrees on acceptance of award.

Number of Awards: Not specified

Value of Award: 

Full-time Doctoral Scholarships in the Netherlands (single site mode)

• With respect to travel, the NRF will cover the cost of a single cheapest economy airfare for travel to the Netherlands as well as a single cheapest economy airfare to return to South Africa upon completion of the Doctoral studies;
• The NRF will also provide funding for visa, health insurance and subsistence; and
• The Dutch host institution will waive tuition, provide research running costs and access to research infrastructure. Without such support, the application will be rejected.

Full-time Doctoral Scholarships for Joint Degrees (split site mode):

• Over the four year maximum period of funding, the NRF will provide funding for four international visits, visa, health insurance, and subsistence;
• International visits funded in the split site mode will be for a maximum of three (3) months annually over the four (4)-year period of study;
• The NRF will provide a mobility allowance and;
• The Dutch host institution will waive tuition, provide research running costs and access to research infrastructure during these international visits.

How to Apply: Applications must be submitted electronically to the NRF on the NRF Online Submission System at https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za.

It is important to go through the Program Webpage before applying 

Visit the Program Webpage for Details