2027 Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship in South Africa

Canon Collins Trust offers postgraduate funding in South Africa for 2027, supporting study in Justice, Education policy and practice, or Humanities.

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; scholars 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 these 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 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)
  • Only applicants meeting all eligibility criteria and submitting complete applications will proceed to Stage 2.
  • Stage 2: Invited applicants submit a more detailed application in September 2026, 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 for interviews in October/November 2026.
• All applicants will be notified of the outcome by mid-December 2026.

Good to know

• The use of generative AI tools to draft, write, or substantially edit any part of the application is not permitted and will result in disqualification.
• Standard spelling and grammar checking tools may be used, provided they do not generate or rewrite content.
• Applicants are strongly advised to submit their applications 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; do not email to inquire about the status of your application.