Hey future researchers and scholars! Are you dreaming of taking your studies to the next level at one of South Africa’s top universities? Well, get ready, because the **Stellenbosch University Postgraduate Scholarship Programme (PSP)** for 2026 is here to help make that dream a reality!
This awesome initiative from Stellenbosch University is all about finding and supporting talented students like you who want to pursue **Honours**, **Master’s**, or **Doctoral** degrees. It’s designed to give a massive financial boost to high-performing postgraduates across a whole bunch of faculties, helping to build the next generation of leading thinkers and researchers in South Africa and beyond.
Basically, this bursary helps you focus on your studies and research without constantly worrying about finances. It’s their way of investing in brilliant minds who will contribute to our knowledge economy!
Who Can Apply?
Before you get too excited (which you totally should!), let’s check if you’re eligible to join the Stellenbosch University PSP squad:
- You must be planning to study **full-time** for an Honours, Master’s, or Doctoral degree. Sorry, no PG Diplomas or part-time students for this one!
- If you’re working full-time or more than 20 hours a week, this bursary isn’t for you. It’s all about full-time dedication to your studies.
- You can’t already hold a qualification at the same or a higher level than the one you’re applying for.
- Got a good academic record? Master’s and Doctoral applicants need at least **70%** in their most recent degree. Honours applicants need at least **70%** in their intended field of study.
- You can’t hold another full-value scholarship at the same time. This one’s pretty generous on its own!
- If you were funded by NSFAS or ISFAP for your undergraduate studies, make sure to include proof of this in your application.
What Does It Cover?
Now for the exciting part – what kind of financial support are we talking about? The Stellenbosch University PSP offers substantial funding:
- **Honours Students:** R110,000 for one academic year.
- **Master’s Students:** R140,000 per annum (you could get this for up to two years!).
- **Doctoral Students:** R160,000 per annum (and this could be for up to three years!).
Just a heads-up: These amounts depend on funding availability, and continued support is based on your academic progress.
Beyond the funding, there are also expectations for research output:
- **Master’s recipients** are expected to produce at least one article ready for submission to a peer-reviewed journal.
- **Doctoral recipients** should aim for at least two submission-ready articles. Time to get those research hats on!
How to Apply?
Alright, you’re ready to apply! Here’s your step-by-step guide. Remember, this scholarship has a **separate application process** from general university admissions, so you need to do both!
- **Explore Postgraduate Options:** First things first, head over to the Stellenbosch University Prospective Postgraduate Student website at www.sun.ac.za/pgstudies. Check out the programmes and entry requirements.
- **Apply for Postgraduate Admission:** Apply for your chosen postgraduate programme at Stellenbosch University and confirm your faculty.
- **Review Faculty Criteria:** Each faculty might have specific eligibility criteria for this bursary, so make sure to check the full official call document for these details.
- **Submit Your Scholarship Application:** This is crucial! You’ll need to complete the PSP application using the **correct faculty-specific link**. These links are usually provided in the original official bursary call document, so make sure you find that document and use the right link for your faculty. Double-check everything before hitting submit!
Required Documents:
When you apply for the bursary, you’ll need to submit **one single PDF document** containing:
- A certified copy of your ID or passport.
- Certified copies of all your academic records and degree certificates (especially if they’re not from Stellenbosch University).
- A copy of a previous academic writing sample (like a thesis or research essay).
- A 500-word preliminary research proposal (for Master’s/Doctoral applicants only), clearly showing what unique contribution your research will make.
- A recommendation letter from your prospective supervisor.
- An academic CV that includes: your research outputs (if you have any), awards or grants you’ve received, work experience, and any languages or technical/research skills you possess.
Remember, all bursary offers are conditional on you meeting *both* the university admission and scholarship requirements. Late, incomplete, or inaccurate applications won’t be considered, so take your time and get it right!
If this sounds like the perfect bursary to kickstart your postgraduate journey, don’t wait! The **closing date is 31 October 2025**, so start gathering your documents and apply now to secure your funding for 2026! Explore more amazing bursaries right here on Bursaries Room!
