About the Stellenbosch University Residential PhD Scholarships 2025
The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at Stellenbosch University, in partnership with the Gerda Henkel Foundation, announces the availability of full-time scholarships for PhD studies.
Managed by the Graduate School, this program supports structured doctoral research aimed at addressing Africa’s key challenges such as poverty eradication, peace promotion, and democracy enhancement.
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The program emphasizes collaborative research, co-supervision, and exchange opportunities through the PANGeA initiative, fostering partnerships with leading universities across Africa.
Scholarships cover research in fields supported by departments and centers within the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
— Be from African countries, with priority given to candidates from PANGeA partner institutions.
— Have achieved a minimum of 70% in their final year of previous studies.
— Provide a writing sample with their application:
— MA thesis for PhD applicants
— Published academic articles related to their field
— Be no older than 35 years at the time of application.
— Begin their studies in February 2025.
— Apply for admission to Stellenbosch University in addition to applying for this scholarship.
— Contact the department they wish to study in and obtain a letter of support indicating supervisory capacity for their research project, which must be included in the application.
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Applicants from institutions within the PANGeA network must obtain a nomination letter from their institution and include it with their application.
Selection Criteria
Scholarships will be awarded based on the following factors:
On an individual level:
— Strong academic performance and intellectual capability suitable for doctoral studies.
— Demonstrated personal motivation to successfully complete the program.
— Alignment of the proposed research topic with the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences’ research program.
— Availability of suitable supervisors for the proposed research.
Candidates under the age of 40 will be prioritized, although applicants over 40 may also be considered.
On a collective level:
— Promotion of gender equity.
— Preference will be given to applicants from African countries south of the Sahara to enhance university and linguistic compatibility.
— Within the South African applicant pool, preference will be given to CBI (Coloured, Black, and Indian) applicants who meet all other requirements.
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— Among non-South African applicants, preference will be given to those nominated by officials from PANGeA institutions (including universities of Botswana, Dar es Salaam, Ghana, Makerere, Malawi, Nairobi, and Yaoundé I), provided they meet all other criteria.
Applicants should note that the University may request additional information beyond the application to make a decision on scholarship awards.
Benefits of the Stellenbosch University Residential PhD Scholarships 2025
PhD scholarships: Up to R420,000 over three years.
If successful applicants already hold scholarships that do not meet the full value of the Graduate School scholarship, lower amounts may be awarded.
How to Apply
Please be aware that the application deadline is August 1, 2024.
Interested applicants should click the link provided below to apply.
Before proceeding, ensure you have prepared the following:
— Official application form
— A motivation letter (not exceeding 600 words)
— A pre-proposal or research idea (up to 500 words) outlining your research question, conceptual framework.
— Contribution to existing knowledge, problem statement, methodology/theoretical framework, philosophical underpinnings, and feasibility of the study
— Certified copy of your complete academic transcript
— Certified copy of your MA degree certificate or equivalent (if the certificate is not yet available, provide official proof from the institution that it will be awarded before February 2024).
— Certified copy of your South African ID or passport (for international students).
— List of publications
— Awards or grants received
— Relevant professional or artistic experience
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