Fully Funded Master’s & Doctoral Bursary

Empowering Excellence: The NWU Fully Funded Master’s & Doctoral Bursary

“The reality is that jobs are scarce. Rather than completing your honours degree and spending another 24 months looking for work, you could have completed your master’s degree and started your PhD. We are increasing financial assistance for master’s and PhD students to cover all costs, so those without immediate job prospects can continue their studies with us.” – Professor Bismark Tyobeka, Vice-Chancellor, North-West University

North-West University (NWU) is proud to introduce the Fully Funded Master’s and Doctoral Bursary, a flagship initiative that removes financial barriers for exceptional postgraduate students. At NWU, we believe that financial barriers should never stand in the way of brilliance. This bursary opens doors for high-performing South African and SADC students who are ready to take the next step in their academic journey.

It supports students who have demonstrated exceptional academic performance and the potential to make a lasting contribution through research and innovation. Through it NWU offers more than financial support, we make an investment in future leaders, thinkers, and problem-solvers.

What the bursary covers:

  • Master’s degree: Full tuition + R95 000 per year (for up to two years)
  • Doctoral degree: Full tuition + R95 000 per year (for up to three years)

The allowance is intended to assist with living, research and study-related expenses.

Who can apply:

To be eligible, you must:

  • Be a South African or SADC citizen (with valid residency or SAQA certification).
  • Have achieved at least 70% for your most recent degree.
  • Have a household income of less than R600 000 per year.
  • Qualify for the specific admission requirements of your chosen faculty and programme.
  • Be registered full-time for your postgraduate degree.
  • Not be enrolled in an MBA or Business School programmes.
  • Not already hold another full-cost bursary (double funding is not permitted).

Students who already receive partial funding from other sources may still be considered, provided that the total value of the funding does not exceed the full funding value.

Expectations of bursary recipients:

Recipients of this prestigious bursary are expected to:

  • Stay on track academically: your progress will be reviewed every six months.
  • Contribute to NWU’s research and learning community by dedicating 20 hours per month to teaching, research or graduate assistance. This will give you practical experience opportunities.
  • Engage in research publication: students must publish or prepare a paper for submission to a peer-reviewed journal or academic book.
  • Complete your qualification on time and uphold the standards of excellence that define NWU.

Application Process

  • Bursary applications will open before 31 October each year.
  • Students are encouraged to apply early, even if their final marks are still pending, as conditional offers may be made based on preliminary results.
  • Final offers will be confirmed once your final results and eligibility have been verified.

Further details on the application platform and guidelines will be communicated via the NWU website and faculty channels.

Opportunities show up when you do – and with the right support, your potential can truly soar.