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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 now open for the 2025 World Food Prize Foundation Innovate for Impact Challenge. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
Date Posted: 05 Feb, 2025
Applications are now open for the GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI. The GSMA Innovation Fund for Impactful AI will provide grants and venture building support to small and growing enterprises that leverage AI and other emerging technologies, in conjunction with mobile technology, to have a positive impact on the lives of people in LMICs.
Date Posted: 05 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the NASW Peggy Girshman Idea Grants Spring 2025. NASW invites proposals from individuals or groups for grants of up to $5,000 to support projects and programs that will help science writers in their professional lives and benefit the field of science writing. Projects must be aligned with NASW's mission and should be accessible to U.S.-based science writers.
Date Posted: 05 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the Pernod Ricard Scholarship to Attend the One Young World Summit 2025. The scholarship will identify and connect an interdisciplinary team of 10 committed young leaders who are working to build positive social spaces and tackle harmful drinking and its wider impacts in their countries and communities. Scholars will receive full funding to participate in the One Young World Summit 2025 which takes place in Munich, Germany from 3 - 6 November.
Date Posted: 05 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the International Brain Research Organisation (IBRO) Parenthood Grant 2025. These grants ensure continuity for scientific projects run by early-career researchers who are approaching parental leave.
Date Posted: 05 Feb, 2025
Applications for the IDOS Postgraduate Programme for Sustainability Cooperation (PG) 2025 are now open. The Postgraduate Programme for Sustainability Cooperation (PG) enhances the competence of master's graduates aspiring to a career in international cooperation for development and sustainability. Each year, they select 18 people for the 9-month programme.
Date Posted: 04 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the UC Berkeley LSEC Entrepreneur in Residence Program 2025. UC Berkeley's Life Sciences Entrepreneurship Center (LSEC) is launching an Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EIR) Program alongside its signature LSEC- Nucleate Venture Fellows Program. LSEC's new EIR program offers a unique opportunity for a seasoned entrepreneur to explore cutting-edge UC Berkeley life sciences research with the potential to become CEO as you lead the commercialization of a groundbreaking innovation.
Date Posted: 04 Feb, 2025
Applications are now open for the 2026 University of Bonn SDG Fellowships. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
Date Posted: 04 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the Nordic Africa Institute African Scholarship Programme 2026. The purpose of the African Scholarship Programme is to provide opportunities for early career researchers based in Africa to work and develop their ongoing research at the Nordic Africa Institute. Apply now!
Date Posted: 04 Feb, 2025
Applications are open for the United Nations Foundation Next Generation Fellow 2025-2027. The United Nations Foundation's Next Generation Fellows Initiative, powered by the Our Future Agenda program, equips exceptional young leaders to shape global governance and drive transformative change.
Date Posted: 04 Feb, 2025
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
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.