SAJHR Human Rights Bursary 2027: How to Apply

Key facts

Status: Applications closed Closed 31 May 2026
Provider: SAJHR
Field of study: Law
Study level: Postgraduate
Academic year: 2027
Last checked: September 2026

The journal has closed its bursary in the first half of the year: 11 April in 2025 and 31 May in 2026.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Closed · applications closed on 31 May 2026 Expect the next call between March and May 2027, and email the managing editor to confirm. Latest update ↓

The South African Journal on Human Rights is one of the country’s leading law journals, edited from Wits. Its top-up bursary helps young black African lawyers take on an LLM in human rights or constitutional law, with a deliberate preference for graduates of the historically disadvantaged universities.

About the SAJHR Bursary

Value: a once-off top-up of up to R50 000 towards study-related fees.
Level: first or second year of an LLM.
Focus: human rights, constitutional and justice-related law.

Eligibility requirements

Black South African or other African citizen.
A recently completed LLB with at least a 65% average.
Registered for an LLM in a relevant area.
Preference for graduates of Fort Hare, Univen, Limpopo, Zululand, UWC and Walter Sisulu University.

How to apply

Prepare a certified ID or passport, an academic transcript on the institution’s letterhead, a CV, two referees’ contact details and a motivation letter showing financial need.
Email them to kok.joey@gmail.com with “SAJHR top-up bursary” and the year in the subject line. There is no form.
Submit before the closing date in the year’s call.

Closing date

31 May 2026 in the most recent round. Expect March to May 2027 for the next one.

Contact details

Dr Joey Kok, Managing Editor: kok.joey@gmail.com

Law postgraduates should also see the Canon Collins RMTF scholarship, the University of London LLM scholarship and our law bursaries list.

FAQs

1. When does the SAJHR bursary close for 2027? +

The journal has closed its top-up bursary in the first half of the year: 11 April in 2025 and 31 May in 2026. Expect the next call between March and May 2027, and email the managing editor to confirm.

2. What is the SAJHR? +

The South African Journal on Human Rights, a leading academic law journal based at Wits, which funds postgraduate students working on human rights and constitutional law.

3. How much is it? +

A once-off top-up bursary of up to R50 000 towards study-related fees.

4. Who qualifies? +

Black South African or other African citizens who have recently completed an LLB with at least a 65% average and are in the first or second year of an LLM in human rights, constitutional or justice-related law. Preference goes to graduates of the University of Fort Hare, Univen, the University of Limpopo, the University of Zululand, UWC and Walter Sisulu University.

5. Which documents? +

A certified ID or passport, an academic transcript on the institution's letterhead, a CV, two referees' contact details and a motivation letter showing financial need.

6. How do I apply? +

There is no form. Email the documents to Dr Joey Kok, the journal's managing editor, at kok.joey@gmail.com with 'SAJHR top-up bursary' and the year in the subject line.

Update note (checked September 2026): the journal has closed its bursary in the first half of the year: 11 April in 2025 and 31 May in 2026. Expect the next call between March and May 2027, and email the managing editor to confirm.

This round is not open right now. Check the provider’s own site for the next round.

Visit the provider’s website

Or send your application by email:

kok.joey@gmail.com

Put SAJHR top-up bursary in the subject line.

About SAJHR

Academic law journal (Wits School of Law and CALS)

The South African Journal on Human Rights (SAJHR) is a peer-reviewed public law journal founded in 1985 by the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) and housed at the School of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand.…

Read the full SAJHR profile →

Student funding in numbers

2025811 011students funded by NSFAS580 000 at universities, 231 000 at TVET colleges, on a budget of R48.7 billion.

20261 026 091students approved for NSFAS funding609 403 first-year applicants qualified and 416 688 continuing students met the progression criteria, out of 893 847 applications.

2027 projectedR53.4bnbudgeted for NSFASThe allocation rises from R48.7 billion in 2025 to R51 billion in 2026 and R53.4 billion in 2027. Student numbers for 2027 are not published yet.

Figures from the Minister of Higher Education’s Budget Vote of 3 July 2025 and the NSFAS statement of 2 January 2026. NSFAS is the largest funder, not the only one – we track the rest.