Canon Collins RMTF Scholarships 2027 for Postgraduate (Masters & PhD) Study in South Africa

Canon Collins RMTF Scholarships 2027 fund postgraduate study in South Africa for students committed to social justice.

What it offers

• Funding for up to two years for Masters and three years for PhD, with the possibility of reapplying for a third year for Masters.
• Scholarship value ranges from R20,000 to R100,000, depending on student circumstances.
• Supports both full-time and part-time study, including distance learning.
• Organises an annual conference and smaller events for scholars, who are expected to participate and contribute to the network.

Who can apply

• Must be a national of, or hold recognised refugee status in, one of the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
• Must be ordinarily resident in one of the above countries.
• Must be applying for, or currently enrolled in, a Master’s or PhD programme at a South African university.
• Must hold, or expect to obtain in the year of application:
  • A good Honours degree (minimum Second Class Upper Division or equivalent) for Master’s study.
  • A good Master’s degree for PhD study.
• Must demonstrate a sustained commitment to social justice through at least two years of active engagement in relevant activities.
• Must be pursuing studies or research that contribute to addressing a significant social justice challenge affecting Southern Africa.
• For PhD applicants, must have identified a supervisor (or prospective supervisor) who has agreed in principle to supervise the proposed research, and submit a draft research proposal.

How to apply

• Applications are submitted online via the Canon Collins Trust website.
• The application process consists of two stages:
  • Stage 1: Submit a short online application by 14 August 2026 at 16:00 SAST. Required documents include:
    • Copy of degree certificates
    • Academic transcripts
    • CV
    • ID document (passport, birth certificate, or driver’s licence)
    • Proof of refugee status (if applicable)
    • Two recent payslips (if currently employed)
  • Stage 2: Successful Stage 1 applicants will be invited in September 2026 to submit a more detailed application, including:
    • Two reference letters
    • Draft PhD research proposal (PhD applicants only)
    • Sample piece of writing (Master’s applicants only)
    • Letter of support from the supervisor (PhD applicants only)
• Shortlisted applicants will be invited to interview in October/November 2026.
• All applicants will be notified of the outcome by mid-December 2026.

Good to know

• Applications must represent your own work; the use of generative AI tools to draft, write, or substantially edit any part of your application is not permitted.
• All sections of the application form must be completed before submission.
• Start and submit your application well before the deadline to avoid technical issues due to high portal traffic.
• Follow @canoncollinstrust on social media and subscribe to the Scholarship Alert for application guidance.
• Outcome notifications will be sent by email only.