SAMRC Research Capacity Development Scholarships and Funding
South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
This is not an undergraduate or MBChB bursary. The SAMRC funds postgraduate health research only, through programmes such as the Postgraduate Research Associate Programme (Master's and PhD), the Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme, the Clinician Researcher Development Programme and the Researcher Development Award. It is for South African citizens and permanent residents studying full-time towards a Master's or PhD at a South African university who have a committed supervisor in an SAMRC research unit, centre or platform to host and mentor them for the full degree. The Postgraduate Research Associate call for 2027 enrolment closed on 6 October 2026.
- Amount
- Postgraduate Research Associate Programme (2027 call): PhD R250,000 a year and Master's R200,000 a year, covering tuition and stipend. Other SAMRC programmes include the Clinician Researcher Development Programme (up to R600,000 a year for full-time MBChB/BChD PhD candidates) and the Researcher Development Award (up to R250,000 once-off for a final-year PhD).
- Deadline
- Closed 6 October 2026
- Duration
- PhD: 3 years, plus a possible fourth year on compelling motivation; Master's: 1 year, plus a possible second year on compelling motivation
- Renewable
- Yes
Eligible Fields of Study
South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) supports students in the following disciplines
Eligibility Requirements
- ✓ South African citizen or permanent resident
- ✓ Full-time registration at a South African university at Master's or PhD level (postgraduate only); first-year Master's applicants need admission for 2027
- ✓ Research within the SAMRC priority research areas, with an officially approved research proposal and ethics clearance where applicable
- ✓ Written commitment from the director of an SAMRC intramural or extramural unit, research centre or platform to host you for the full degree
- ✓ Supervision by an SAMRC-based researcher committed to mentoring you for the full degree; the host unit or supervisor must have project funding and suitable facilities
- ✓ Preference for candidates from designated groups in scarce-skill, strategic and emerging fields
What's Included
- ✓ Annual scholarship covering tuition and stipend: R250,000 (PhD) or R200,000 (Master's) under the 2027 Postgraduate Research Associate call
- ✓ Supervision and mentorship by an SAMRC research unit, centre or platform
- ✓ Research experience designed to prepare scholars for research positions
- ✓ Access to the SAMRC research capacity development network
Work Commitment
No work-back is stated in the 2027 call, but scholarship holders are expected to spend at least 80% of their time conducting research.
How to Apply
Steps to complete your South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) bursary application
- 1
Check the current call on the SAMRC Scholarships and Funding and Request for Applications pages
- 2
Secure a written commitment from an SAMRC research unit director and supervisor to host and mentor you for the full degree
- 3
Make sure your research proposal is approved and has ethics clearance (or proof that it is under ethics review)
- 4
Register or log in on the SAMRC Research and Innovation Management System (RIMS) and complete the online application
- 5
Upload all the supporting documents on the call's checklist before the applicant closing date (6 October 2026 for the 2027 call, after an extension)
- 6
Your SAMRC supervisor then completes the online supervisor commitment form and submits the application (by 13 October 2026 for the 2027 call)
- 7
Only successful candidates are contacted; if you have not heard from the SAMRC by 31 December 2026, assume your 2027 application was unsuccessful
Required Documents
- 📄 Cover letter of up to 2 pages, written by the applicant
- 📄 Abridged CV listing research outputs from the last seven years and awards
- 📄 Abstract of the research proposal (up to 2 pages)
- 📄 Main university supervisor's abridged CV (up to 2 pages, on the SAMRC template)
- 📄 Research support letter from the host, signed by the SAMRC Research Unit Director
- 📄 Certified copy of your South African ID (certified within the last 6 months)
- 📄 Proof of registration for the current year, or an admission letter if 2027 is your first year of registration
- 📄 Research proposal approval letter and evidence of ethics clearance (or proof that it is under review)
- 📄 For currently registered students, an official letter confirming the date of first registration for the degree
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is there an SAMRC undergraduate or MBChB bursary?
- No. The SAMRC does not offer a generic undergraduate or MBChB medical bursary. Its Research Capacity Development funding supports postgraduate health research only, at Masters and PhD level.
- Can students apply directly?
- Yes, but only at postgraduate level and only with a written commitment from an SAMRC research unit director and supervisor to host and mentor you for the full degree. Students apply online through the SAMRC Research and Innovation Management System (RIMS), and the SAMRC supervisor then submits a commitment form.
- When is the deadline?
- The Postgraduate Research Associate call for 2027 enrolment opened on 22 July 2026 and closed for applicants on 6 October 2026 (extended from 22 September), with supervisor submissions due by 13 October 2026. Previous calls closed on 16 September 2024 and 21 August 2025. Dates for 2028 enrolment had not been announced as of 12 October 2026.
- How much funding is available?
- The 2027 Postgraduate Research Associate call pays R250,000 a year for PhD scholars (3 years plus a possible fourth) and R200,000 a year for Master's scholars (1 year plus a possible second), covering tuition and stipend. The Clinician Researcher Development Programme pays up to R600,000 a year for full-time MBChB or BChD PhD candidates, and the Researcher Development Award offers up to R250,000 once-off for a final-year PhD.
2027 applications have closed
The 2027 application window closed on 6 October 2026.
The Postgraduate Research Associate call for 2027 enrolment opened on 22 July 2026 and closed for applicants on 6 October 2026 (extended from 22 September), with SAMRC supervisors submitting by 13 October 2026. Earlier calls closed on 16 September 2024 and 21 August 2025; 2028 dates had not been announced as of 12 October 2026.
Still need funding for 2027? See bursaries that are still open.
Check South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)'s official siteNeed help? Contact South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC):
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 021 938 0442
Information verified 2026-10-12. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.
Other Postgraduate bursaries
More funding opportunities in this field
NRF Postgraduate Scholarship
National Research Foundation (NRF) / Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI)
The DSTI-NRF Postgraduate Scholarship is South Africa's flagship public research funding for Honours, Master's and PhD students at South African public universities. Awards are made at Full Cost of Study (FCS) or Partial Cost of Study (PCS) across science, engineering, technology, the social sciences and the humanities, with FCS reserved for South Africans who are financially needy, living with a disability or exceptional academic achievers. For the 2027 academic year, Honours applications close on 23 November 2026; first-time Master's and Doctoral applications closed on 3 July 2026.
View details →Agbiz Centenary Bursary
Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa (Agbiz) - administered directly by Agbiz
The Agbiz Centenary Bursary funds one academic year of postgraduate study (Master's or PhD) for South African students researching agribusiness management and related fields. Established to celebrate Agbiz member organisations that have reached 100 years, it supports high-level academic research and offers guidance from Agbiz in shaping the research topic. Typically one deserving student is funded per cycle.
View details →Gates Cambridge Scholarship
Gates Cambridge Trust (University of Cambridge; established in 2000 with a gift from the Gates Foundation; applications via the University of Cambridge Graduate Application Portal)
The Gates Cambridge Scholarship is a prestigious, full-cost award that funds outstanding postgraduate students from outside the UK - including South Africans - to study a full-time PhD, MLitt or one-year Master's at the University of Cambridge. Established in 2000 with a gift from the Gates Foundation, it covers the full University Composition (tuition) Fee, a maintenance allowance, airfares, visa costs and more. Around 80 scholarships are awarded each year to applicants who combine intellectual excellence with leadership and a commitment to improving the lives of others.
View details →