NASSP Honours and Master’s in Astrophysics 2027

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

The National Astrophysics and Space Science Programme (NASSP) is a joint Honours and Master’s programme run by a consortium of universities and national research facilities, and funded through the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation and the National Research Foundation (NRF). Students register at one of three host universities, called nodes: the University of Cape Town, the University of KwaZulu-Natal and North-West University. Those accepted are considered for NASSP-DST-NRF grants, so admission and funding are decided in one selection. Applications for the 2027 intake closed on 13 September 2026 for both levels.

Why a national astronomy programme exists

NASSP grew out of the NRF’s skills plan for the astronomy national facilities in 2000 and 2001. At the time the HESS gamma-ray telescope in Namibia was about to start work, SALT was about to be built in Sutherland, and South Africa was preparing its bid to host the Square Kilometre Array. The programme’s history page is blunt about the concern: the country had few astronomers, and very few black South African astronomers, and that shortage was the biggest threat to the future of the field here. Universities agreed to cooperate on one national programme rather than compete for a small pool of students.

The first Honours class started in February 2003. Since then more than 300 students have completed NASSP Honours degrees and more than 140 have completed NASSP Master’s degrees, and the programme describes itself as a pipeline towards PhD study in astrophysics, space science and related areas.

The one-year Honours at three nodes

The Honours degree takes one year and combines coursework in astronomy and astrophysics, space science and cosmology with a research project. NASSP stresses the computational side of the degree, which it says prepares students for research degrees or for work in industry. Projects are offered by scientists across the country; at the UCT node students usually do the analysis over the winter vacation at their supervisor’s institution and present the work orally as part of the project mark.

To enter, you need a good BSc in Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy or Engineering, or must expect to complete one before the year starts. NASSP does not arrange Honours accommodation: apply for residence directly at your chosen university, and UCT applicants are urged to do so.

Coursework first, then a dissertation with your supervisor

Master’s students spend the first semester at their node completing five NASSP modules taught by researchers from partner institutions. After that they choose a dissertation project and may move to their supervisor’s institution. Co-supervision by scientists at NRF national facilities such as the South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) and the South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) is possible. The UCT node plans the degree over 18 months, from January of the first year to June of the second, and its 2026 module list included radio interferometry, data science for astronomy, instrumentation and extragalactic astronomy.

Entry requires a BSc Honours in Physics, Mathematics, Astronomy or Engineering, or the expectation of finishing one in time.

What the NASSP-DST-NRF grant covers, and what is not said

Both the Honours and Master’s pages say only that accepted students “will be considered for NASSP-DST-NRF grants”. NASSP does not publish the grant amount, what it covers, or how many grants it awards. Two other routes are named on the application page:

• Honours applicants who are not selected can still apply for a general NRF scholarship, which NASSP said would close in mid-November 2026.
• Master’s applicants who want a SARAO or SANSA bursary must also apply for it separately on the NRF online system, following the grant call documents.

The three steps for the 2027 intake

The NASSP application page set the same deadline, 13 September 2026, for Honours and Master’s at all nodes.

1. Apply for admission at the node you want to attend: North-West University, UCT or UKZN.
2. Complete the NASSP online form. Honours applicants used the 2027 Honours application form, which warned that some answers need a paragraph or more; Master’s applicants used the NASSP tracking form.
3. Honours applicants then email a full CV, official transcripts on university letterhead and a copy of their passport or ID to nasspapplications@uct.ac.za.

NASSP said Honours applicants would hear whether they had been selected before the start of November 2026. Queries go to the UCT node administrator at nassp-admin@nassp.uct.ac.za (021 650 2346), or to the node offices at nassp@nwu.ac.za and nassp@ukzn.ac.za.

Other space science funding on this site

If you missed the NASSP deadline, the DSI-NRF postgraduate scholarship is the general NRF route for Honours and Master’s funding. Space physics students can also look at the SANSA bursary, and the SARAO provider profile lists the radio astronomy observatory’s other funding.

FAQs