SAMRC NHRE Doctoral Scholarship 2027

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) opened its first call for the National Health Research Enterprise (NHRE) Doctoral Programme on 28 July 2026, offering PhD scholarships of R250,000 a year for health science research starting in 2027. The SAMRC set up the NHRE to fill the hole left by a large drop in international funding for South African health research. Money for it comes from the SAMRC itself, from National Treasury through the National Department of Health, and from the Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust. Student applications were due on 22 September 2026 but the SAMRC extended the deadline to 29 September 2026 at 23:59, and supervisors now have until 6 October 2026 to complete their part.

R250,000 a year and how long it lasts

Each scholarship is worth R250,000 per year. The request for applications (RFA) funds the prescribed PhD duration of three years, and three years is the maximum funding period under this call. A fourth year of registration may be supported only on a compelling motivation from the unit director and supervisor, for students already past their first year. None of the years is automatic: renewal is decided annually and depends on satisfactory progress reports from both student and supervisor. Before money flows, the scholar must show proof of full-time registration, approval of the PhD research, and ethics clearance where the project needs it.

Six research areas the call names

• HIV, TB and other infectious diseases
• maternal, child and adolescent health
• pandemic preparedness
• non-communicable diseases
• health systems and policy research
• climate and health

Projects that also use digital health, artificial intelligence or genomics are encouraged, and the SAMRC welcomes interdisciplinary and industry-focused work. Scholars are expected to take part in structured mentorship and in science engagement with the public.

The student, the project and the supervisor

The applicant must be a South African citizen or permanent resident, hold a master’s degree, and be registered full time for a PhD at a South African university when the award starts. The online form accepts students entering any year from first to fourth in 2027. The project must sit in the health sciences and be endorsed by the prospective supervisor and the institution. Much of the weight falls on the supervisor, who must commit in writing to supervise for the whole degree and must already have research funding and suitable facilities for the project.

Nine uploads the checklist asks for

1. a cover letter of no more than one page on your suitability and career plans;
2. an abridged CV with all research outputs and awards;
3. an abstract of up to two pages covering rationale, design, feasibility, research translation and impact;
4. the institution’s official approval letter for the PhD project;
5. a one-page research support letter from the host institution, signed by the supervisory team, confirming infrastructure, supervision and project funding;
6. a letter confirming first registration date, for those seeking funding for a third or fourth year;
7. current proof of registration, or an admission letter if 2027 is your first year;
8. proof of ethics clearance or of submission for ethics review, where applicable;
9. a copy of your ID certified by a Commissioner of Oaths within the last six months.

Fourth-year applicants also attach a PhD progress and completion plan signed by the main supervisor.

Your deadline and your supervisor’s deadline

The application runs in three steps. By 29 September 2026 you complete the SAMRC online application, a REDCap survey linked from the call page, and upload the supporting documents. Your supervisor then receives a link to the research supervisor’s abridged track record and commitment form, which asks for h-index, citations, publications and students graduated in the last five years, and must submit it by 6 October 2026. SAMRC does not consider incomplete applications, so an applicant whose supervisor misses the second date loses out too. The NHRE call page also carries the full RFA, an abstract example, and the recording and slides of a pre-application webinar.

Scoring, equity and the 31 December cut-off

The SAMRC webinar slides list five review criteria: the candidate’s suitability (academic merit, research experience, career goals and past outputs), the quality and feasibility of the science within three years, the supervisor’s track record over five years, the research environment the institution provides, and equity by race, gender and institution, including whether the university is historically disadvantaged. Only successful applicants are contacted. If you have not heard from the SAMRC by 31 December 2026, the council asks you to assume the application failed.

Conditions attached to the award

• At least 80% of the scholar’s time goes to research; teaching and clinical work may not exceed 20%.
• No bursary from more than one South African government statutory entity at a time.
• No other bursary, grant or pay that binds the scholar to work for an organisation, and no other non-binding funding either, without the SAMRC’s prior agreement. Other awards for the same degree must be declared.
• Changing university needs SAMRC approval, and a change of supervisor must be reported.
• The award is for the 2027 enrolment year and cannot be deferred.

Enquiries go to Dr Lindokuhle Ndlandla, SAMRC programme manager for scholarships, at Lindokuhle.Ndlandla@mrc.ac.za or 021 938 0442.

The SAMRC also runs the Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme and the SAMRC internship scholarship. More funding for the field is on our health science bursaries hub.

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