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SAMRC Postgraduate Research Associate Programme: PhD Scholarships for Clinical/Health Research
rfa
SAMRC Postgraduate Research Associate Programme
PhD Scholarships for Clinical/Health Research
July 2026 RFA 2027 Enrollment
Opening date: 22 July 2026
Closing date: 22 September 2026, 23:59
Supervisor submission to SAMRC closing date:
29 September 2026, 23:59

SAMRC Postgraduate Research Associate Programme: PhD Scholarships for Clinical/Health Research

22, Jul 2026
SAMRC Intra & Extramural Research Units, Research Centres and Platforms

The long-term goal of the SAMRC Postgraduate Research Associate Programme is to transform the composition of the country’s health and clinical research human capital to be more representative of the demographics of the nation, by substantially increasing the number of scientists from designated groups in strategic and emerging fields within the health and clinical research where these groups are underrepresented. Within the context of the SAMRC, the purpose of the programme is to (i) contribute towards the SAMRC's transformation agenda to increase the representation of quality postgraduate scientists from designated groups, and (ii) grow the number of PhD candidates from Historically Disadvantaged Institutions (HDIs). The programme attracts young scientists of the highest calibre to complement SAMRC senior researchers and foster sustainable long-term collaboration with national and international institutions through joint supervision of South African students. This programme promotes the training and development of emerging scientists whose research supervisors are employees or researchers at SAMRC. These research supervisors may be working for SAMRC as researchers within SAMRC's intramural or extramural research units, research centres, or platforms. Therefore, preference will be given to candidates of the designated groups, registered for a doctoral degree or master's in scarce skills and strategic and/or emerging fields within the health and clinical research where these groups are underrepresented, such as, but not limited to, Biostatistics, Demography, Data Science, Genomics, Epidemiology, Implementation, and Translational Science.

The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to attract PhD and Master's candidates within the following research fields, which will be given preference: Behavioral Sciences, Biostatistics, Bioethics, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Digital Health, Demography, Epidemiology, Environmental Public Health, Evolutionary Virology, Implementation and Translational Science, Health Economics, Genomics, Immunology, and Structural Biology.

Level

Funding Period (Years)

Value of scholarship p.a.

Notes

PhD

3 + (1 year extra, on compelling motivation from the hosting Unit Director and Supervisor)

R250 000.00
  1. Candidates will only be funded for the prescribed PhD duration (i.e., the first 3 years of study), notwithstanding that the previous years were not funded by the SAMRC. Funding for the fourth year is not automatic and will be contingent upon demonstrated progress and a compelling motivation.
  2. Candidates must i) provide proof of being registered full-time, ii) have PhD research approval, and iii) ethics clearance, where applicable.

Masters

1 + (1 year on compelling motivation from the hosting Unit Director and Supervisor)

R200 000.00
  1. Candidates will only be funded for the prescribed MSc duration (i.e., maximum of years of study), notwithstanding that the previous year was not funded by SAMRC. Funding for the second year is not automatic and will be contingent upon demonstrated progress and a compelling motivation.
  2. Candidates who are applying for funding for 2nd year Masters enrollment in 2027 must i) provide proof of full-time registration, ii) have a master’s research proposal approval, and iii) ethics clearance where applicable.
  3. Candidates who will be enrolling for 1st year of a master’s degree in 2027 must provide i) a support letter from the proposed supervisor at the institution where they will register, and ii) an admission letter.

Requirements for the application:

PhD Candidates

Masters Candidates

All PhD candidates

  1. South African citizen or permanent resident.
  2. A fully developed and officially approved research proposal.
  3. Must be registered as a full-time student at a South African university.
  4. The research project must fall within the SAMRC priority research areas
  5. A written commitment of participation by a research unit director from the SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre or platform who is willing to host the student for the entire duration of the degree.
  6. The candidate must receive supervisory support from a researcher based at the SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre or platform, who is committed to training and mentoring the student for the entire duration of the degree.
  7. The hosting research unit or supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the research project.

2nd year Masters candidates

  1. South African citizen or permanent resident.
  2. A fully developed and officially approved research proposal.
  3. Must be registered as a full-time student at a South African university.
  4. The research project must fall within the SAMRC priority research areas
  5. A written commitment of participation by a research unit director from the SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre or platform who is willing to host the student for the entire duration of the degree.
  6. The candidate must receive supervisory support from a researcher based at the SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre or platform, who is committed to training and mentoring the student for the entire duration of the degree.
  7. The hosting research unit or supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the research project

1st year Masters candidates

  1. South African citizen or permanent resident.
  2. Admitted into a Master’s programme at a South African university for studies in 2027.
  3. Letter of support from your proposed supervisor at the university.
  4. Letter of recommendation from your proposed supervisor at SAMRC
  5. A written commitment of participation by a research unit director from the SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre or platform who is willing to host the student for the entire duration of the degree.
  6. The hosting research unit or supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the research project.

How to apply

Opening date: 22 July 2026

Closing date: 22 September 2026, 23:59

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

Application Process 

  • Step 1a – External Applicants and Supervisors must register or login to the Research and Innovation Management System (RIMS) by 22 September 2026.
  • Step 1b – Internal Applicants must login to the Research and Innovation Management System (RIMS) by 22 September 2026.
  • Step 2 – All Applicants to complete the online application and upload all the required supporting documents by 22 September 2022. All required supporting documents are listed in this document.
  • Step 3 – The SAMRC research supervisor must complete the research supervisor’s commitment form and submit the application by 29 September 2026.

Please refer to the Applicant and Supervisor Manuals for a comprehensive step-by-step guide guidance on completing the application process.

Attached are three documents to assist you with your application (1) SAMRC Postgraduate Research Associate Programme: PhD Scholarships for Clinical/Health Research RFA, which includes the checklist of the required supporting documents, (2) Abstract example, and (3) Supervisor CV template.

For enquiries, contact Dr Lindokuhle Ndlandla at Lindokuhle.Ndlandla@mrc.ac.za / Tel. 021 938 0442.

The South African Medical Research Council reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications, change the conditions of the award, extend the closing date, or make no awards at all. Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted after completion of the review, selection, and approval processes. Should you not hear from the SAMRC by 31 December 2026, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

Deadline
Tue, 22-09-2026 - 23:59