Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship
The Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship funds postgraduate study at South African universities in Justice, Education and Humanities — open to nationals of 10 southern African countries pursuing Master's or PhD research with a focus on social change.
Eligible Fields of Study
Canon Collins Trust supports students in the following disciplines
Eligibility Requirements
- ✓ National of, or refugee status in, one of: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland (eSwatini), Zambia or Zimbabwe
- ✓ Studying or applying for a Master's or PhD at a South African university
- ✓ Full-time, part-time, or distance learning all eligible
- ✓ Completed (or completing in 2026) a good first degree — minimum second class upper division or equivalent
- ✓ Applying in one of the three eligible research areas: Justice, Education or Humanities
- ✓ Application materials must be entirely the applicant's original work — AI-generated content disqualifies the application
What's Included
- ✓ Annual scholarship between R20,000 and R100,000 (depending on circumstances)
- ✓ Tuition contribution
- ✓ Living costs contribution
- ✓ Membership of the Canon Collins community of scholars
- ✓ Mentorship and networking events
- ✓ Recognition within the social change and human rights research community
How to Apply
Steps to complete your Canon Collins Trust bursary application
- 1
Visit canoncollins.org and review the scholarship pages
- 2
Confirm your research falls within Justice, Education or Humanities
- 3
Complete the online application form
- 4
Write your application entirely yourself — do NOT use AI tools to generate or edit any part
- 5
Upload your academic transcripts, ID/passport, research proposal and references
- 6
Submit before the closing date
- 7
Wait for shortlisting and interview
Required Documents
- 📄 Certified ID copy or passport
- 📄 Academic transcripts for all previous qualifications
- 📄 Degree certificate (or expected completion letter)
- 📄 Research proposal (Master's/PhD)
- 📄 Two academic references
- 📄 Motivation letter (entirely your own work)
- 📄 CV
Frequently Asked Questions
- Which countries' nationals can apply for Canon Collins?
- Nationals of, or those with refugee status in, Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, eSwatini (Swaziland), Zambia or Zimbabwe.
- Which fields does Canon Collins fund?
- Only three areas: Justice (including Climate Justice, Law, Economics, Politics), Education policy and practice, and Humanities (Literature, History, Anthropology, Arts). MBAs, medical, sports and applied sciences are explicitly NOT eligible.
- How much funding does Canon Collins provide?
- Between R20,000 and R100,000 per year, depending on your circumstances. Master's students receive up to 2 years of funding; PhD students up to 3 years.
- Can I use AI tools to write my Canon Collins application?
- No. Canon Collins explicitly prohibits AI-generated or AI-edited content. Any application found to contain AI-generated text is immediately disqualified — write everything yourself.
Ready to apply?
Applications close on 30 September 2026
Apply on Canon Collins Trust's official siteInformation verified 2026-05-14. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.
Other Postgraduate bursaries
More funding opportunities in this field
AIMS Google DeepMind AI for Science Scholarship
African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) in partnership with Google DeepMind
The AIMS Google DeepMind Scholarship is a fully residential one-year Master's programme at AIMS South Africa, training African students in AI for Science — combining artificial intelligence and machine learning with real scientific research problems.
View details →Claude Leon Foundation Postgraduate Bursary
Claude Leon Foundation
The Claude Leon Foundation funds postgraduate research in the natural sciences, mathematics, engineering and medical sciences at South African universities — including a flagship Honours bursary and a postdoctoral fellowship programme.
View details →NRF Postgraduate Scholarship
National Research Foundation (NRF) / Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI)
The NRF Postgraduate Scholarship is South Africa's flagship public research funding — a Full or Partial Cost of Study scholarship for Honours, Master's and PhD students at South African universities, awarded across all major disciplines and prioritising financial need, disability and exceptional academic achievement.
View details →