Key facts
- Status
- No current round published Last closed 2 October 2023
- Provider
- Bradlow Foundation
- Study level
- University, Postgraduate
- Academic year
- 2027
- Last checked
- September 2026
The last confirmed call, for a doctorate starting in 2024, closed on 2 October 2023.
VerifiedThe EP Bradlow Bursary is funded by the Bradlow Foundation in memory of Esther Phillips Bradlow and supports doctoral research in human rights law. It is hosted by the Department of Public Law at Stellenbosch University under the HF Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law, and is one of the most generous law research bursaries in the country, worth about R200 000 a year for three years.
About the EP Bradlow Bursary
- Degree: LLD by research thesis at Stellenbosch University, in human rights law.
- Value: approximately R200 000 a year for three years, covering fees and living costs.
- Supervision within the HF Oppenheimer Chair’s research programme, with access to its networks and seminars.
- Conditions: reside in Stellenbosch for the full three years, acknowledge the Bradlow Foundation in the thesis and send the Foundation a copy on completion.
An earlier version of the bursary funded an LLM by research at the University of the Western Cape.
EP Bradlow Bursary eligibility requirements
- South African citizen or permanent resident.
- An LLB, or on track to complete one before the doctorate starts, and admission to the LLD programme under the Law Faculty’s requirements.
- A strong academic record and research potential in human rights law.
- A demonstrated commitment to human rights, through practice, activism or scholarship.
- A dissertation topic, ideally aligned with the Chair’s focus areas: socio-economic rights, equality, sustainable development, the environment and future generations.
How to apply for the EP Bradlow Bursary
Applications are emailed to the Department of Public Law with the subject line “EP Bursary Application” and the year, attaching:
- Certified copies of all academic qualifications and transcripts.
- A covering letter with your motivation and details of your involvement in human rights work.
- Two signed reference letters with the referees’ contact details.
- A full CV.
- A description of the proposed dissertation of no more than 2 000 words, explaining its relevance to the Chair’s research areas.
EP Bradlow Bursary closing date
The last confirmed closing date was 2 October 2023 at 16:00. Calls usually close at the end of September or start of October for a doctorate beginning the following year.
Contact details
- Department of Public Law, Faculty of Law, Stellenbosch University
- Departmental secretary: Mrs Sibulele Vala, sibulele@sun.ac.za
- Academic enquiries: Prof Sandra Liebenberg, HF Oppenheimer Chair in Human Rights Law, sliebenb@sun.ac.za
Law postgraduates should also look at the NRF and the funders on our law bursaries page.
