National Health Research Enterprise Doctoral Programme - PhD Scholarships for Health Science Research

The National Health Research Enterprise (NHRE) Programme is an initiative of the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) to fill a gap left by the substantial reduction in international funding available to the South African health research ecosystem. The NHRE is supported by funding from the SAMRC, National Treasury, through the National Department of Health, Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust. It is founded on a shared commitment to retaining the research infrastructure and high-calibre cadre of clinicians and scientists who have led pioneering research and innovation that has been impactful, not just for South Africa, but for the whole world. Maintaining this world class infrastructure and capacity relies on continuing to develop the next generation of health researchers through multidisciplinary, innovative doctoral training. The NHRE Doctoral Programme is a new initiative that aims to strengthen health research capacity in South Africa by supporting outstanding doctoral candidates undertaking innovative research that addresses priority health challenges.

The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to build a pipeline of highly skilled PhD graduates in the health sciences who will drive health research and innovation in South Africa and contribute to global health impact.

Applications that also include cross-cutting technologies such as digital health, artificial intelligence, and genomics are encouraged.

Requirements for application

• Must be a South African citizen or permanent resident.
• Must hold a master’s degree.
• Must have a PhD research project that has been endorsed by the prospective supervisor and institution.
• The proposed PhD research project must be within the health sciences, preferably with the potential to deliver meaningful health impact.
• Must be registered as a full-time PhD student at a South African university at the commencement of the award.
• Must provide a written commitment of participation from an appropriately experienced research supervisor who is willing to train the student for the entire duration of the degree.
• The research supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the PhD research project.

Application Timelines

Opening date: 28 July 2026

Closing date: 22 September 2026, 23:59

Supervisor submission to SAMRC closing date: 29 September 2026, 23:59

Application Process

Application steps 1 to 3 below must be completed before the specified deadlines.

• Step 1 – Applicant to complete the online application form by 22 September 2026.
• Step 2 – Applicant to upload all the required supporting documents by 22 September 2026.
• Step 3 – The research supervisor must complete the research supervisor’s abridged track record and commitment form and submit the application on or before 29 September 2026.

Attached are two documents to assist you with your application (1) SAMRC NHRE Doctoral Programme RFA 2026, which includes the checklist of the required supporting documents and (2) Abstract example