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Below is a list of ongoing fully-funded and partial scholarships for students in South Africa to help fund your studies abroad or in South Africa. View list, learn how to apply for scholarships and win a scholarship today.
Applications are open for the LCRF Leading Edge Research Grant Program 2025. This grant program aims to fund innovative projects across the full spectrum of basic, translational, clinical, epidemiological, health services, early detection, disparities, and social determinants of health research.
Date Posted: 04 Feb, 2025
Applications are invited for the British Council SoCreative Africa Learning Programme 2025. The programme is developed to support the British Council's wider Creative Economy strand, designed to help develop an ecosystem in which young entrepreneurs can thrive.
Date Posted: 04 Feb, 2025
The Institute of Global Value Inquiry (IGVI) invites applications from scholars specialising in African feminist philosophies to join the African Gender Equality Research Group.
Date Posted: 03 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the Royal Society Newton International Fellowship 2025. The Newton International Fellowship (NIF) programme provides support for outstanding early career researchers to make a first step towards developing an independent research career through gaining experience across international borders. The fellowships enable researchers to access expertise, gain new perspectives and build long-lasting collaborative relationships. This scheme is jointly run by the British Academy and the Royal Society.
Date Posted: 03 Feb, 2025
Get your best ideas about greenhouse gas removal off the shelf. Apply now for the Homeworld Collective Garden Grants 2025. The Homeworld Collective is funding ambitious, early-stage projects at the intersection of biotechnology and greenhouse gas removal.
Date Posted: 03 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the Trailblazer Programme 2025 for Early-Stage Innovators. The initiative seeks to identify fashion's most promising early-stage innovators and support them on their journey to scale.
Date Posted: 03 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the John Allwright Fellowship Program 2026. The John Allwright Fellowship (JAF) is a competitive scholarship program available to scientists or economists from partner countries currently or recently involved in ACIAR research projects. It offers the opportunity to obtain formal postgraduate qualifications at an Australian tertiary institution. The primary aim of the Fellowship is to strengthen scientific research capability and institutional links in ACIAR partner countries to undertake high-quality and impactful research.
Date Posted: 03 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the Einstein Award for Promoting Quality in Research 2025. The Einstein Award for Promoting Quality in Research in cooperation with the QUEST Center for Responsible Research at the Berlin Institute of Health at Charite honors researchers, institutions, and early career researchers around the globe whose work helps to fundamentally advance the quality, transparency, and reproducibility of science and research.
Date Posted: 03 Feb, 2025
With the support of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), UNESCO-TWAS launched a new programme to strengthen the capacity of African countries lagging in science and technology. The programme is aimed at early career researchers who have obtained their PhD abroad and have recently returned or will shortly return to an academic position in their home country. Grants are awarded to promising high-level research projects in Agriculture, Biology, Chemistry, Earth sciences, Engineering, Information Computer Technology, Mathematics, Medical Sciences and Physics carried out in African countries lagging in science and technology identified by TWAS.
Date Posted: 01 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the Heinrich Boll Foundation Scholarships 2025/2026. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
Date Posted: 01 Feb, 2025
Applications are now open for the 2025 Leader of Africa Institute Grant Writing and Funding (GWF) Program. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
Date Posted: 01 Feb, 2025
Are you a female mid-career professional working in a national ministry, international organization or civil society? Are you a citizen of a Global South country? Do you have proven professional experience in the field of international security? The GCSP’s New Issues in Security Course is offering a scholarship, sponsored by the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and Other International Organizations in Geneva, to build your knowledge, skills and network within an inspiring, multidisciplinary and multicultural environment! Apply now!
Date Posted: 01 Feb, 2025
Know a young leader who has shown exceptional leadership in promoting or defending democracy? Nominate them for the third edition of the Kofi Annan NextGen Democracy Prize. The Prize seeks to recognise exceptional leadership shown by a young activist in defending, renewing and promoting democracy.
Date Posted: 01 Feb, 2025
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) offers six-month internship opportunities to recent graduates or students specializing in areas relevant to IFAD’s mission. Interns can extend their experience for another six months, gaining broader exposure to IFAD’s work. Apply now!
Date Posted: 31 Jan, 2025
Applications for the Romanian Government Scholarship are open to undergraduate and graduate students for the academic year 2025. International students with good results of at least 7 (seven) corresponding to the scoring system of Romania or the “Good” score are eligible to apply.
Date Posted: 31 Jan, 2025
The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization UNESCO Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest 2025 is now accepting applications. The competition seeks to encourage and aid aspiring young photographers in their quest for artistic excellence. The UNESCO Andrei Stenin International Press Photo Contest is open to photographers from any nation.
Date Posted: 31 Jan, 2025
Applications are now open for the 2025 Baraza Media Lab Data Storytelling Fellowship. This fellowship aims to strengthen evidence-based journalism.
Date Posted: 31 Jan, 2025
Applications are open for the Inside the Greenhouse Comedy & Climate Change Short Video Competition 2025. Humor is a tool underutilized in the area of climate change; yet comedy has power to effectively connect people, information, ideas, and new ways of thinking/acting.
Date Posted: 31 Jan, 2025
Applications are open for the World Wildlife Day International Youth Art Contest 2025. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
Date Posted: 31 Jan, 2025
Applications are open for the Allianz Foundation Grants Program 2025. The Allianz Foundation's funding program focuses on projects in the areas of Arts & Culture, European Civil Society and Climate & Environment. Apply now!
Date Posted: 31 Jan, 2025
1. Why should I study in South Africa?
South Africa is home to some of the top universities in Africa, offering world-class education across various disciplines. The country has a vibrant cultural life, breathtaking landscapes, and opportunities for students to immerse themselves in a multicultural society.
2. What are the top universities in South Africa?
Some of the most prominent universities in South Africa include:
University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
3. What are the admission requirements to study in South Africa?
Admission requirements vary depending on the university and program. Generally, students need:
A high school diploma or equivalent for undergraduate programs.
Proof of English proficiency through tests like IELTS or TOEFL (for nonnative speakers).
For postgraduate programs, a relevant bachelor's degree is required.
Some programs may have specific subject or grade requirements.
4. Are there scholarships available for international students in South Africa?
Yes, scholarships are available for both domestic and international students. Scholarships can be provided by:
The South African government through initiatives like the National Research Foundation.
Universities
International organizations and partnerships such as the Commonwealth Scholarships
5. Do I need a student visa to study in South Africa?
Yes, international students need a student visa to study in South Africa. The process requires you to provide:
Proof of admission to a South African university.
A valid passport.
Proof of financial means to support yourself during your studies.
Proof of medical insurance valid in South Africa.
6. Can I work while studying in South Africa?
Yes, international students are allowed to work part-time for up to 20 hours per week during the academic year and full-time during university holidays, as long as they hold a valid study visa.
7. What is the process for recognizing foreign qualifications in South Africa?
If you obtained your qualifications outside of South Africa, you may need to have them recognized through the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA). This process ensures your previous academic qualifications meet South African standards for higher education.