Key facts
- Status
- Applications closed Closed 15 August 2026
- Provider
- UJ
- Study level
- Postgraduate
- Academic year
- 2027
- Last checked
- September 2026
UJ's rule is that Master's and doctoral merit awards close on 15 August of each academic year, so the 2026 window has passed; values are from UJ's 2024 bursary booklet, the latest available.
VerifiedThe University of Johannesburg (UJ) pays a Merit Award to Master’s and doctoral students whose previous degree was strong enough to earn it. The award depends on marks, not on a research project or a supervisor’s grant, and UJ pays it directly to the student’s fee account. Students apply for it themselves after registering, and they must apply again each year of the degree.
UJ publishes the values and rules in its undergraduate and postgraduate bursary booklet. The most recent booklet that can be opened on the UJ website is the 2024 edition. The Bursaries page links to a 2025 booklet, but that file no longer loads, and UJ has not posted a booklet for 2026 or 2027. The figures below come from the 2024 booklet, and they match UJ’s 2022 Master’s and doctoral merit bursary form, so the amounts have not changed across those years. Check them with the Bursary Office before relying on them for 2027.
Award values by average mark
| Level | Mark used | 70% to 74% average | 75% average or higher | Maximum years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master’s (full-time or part-time) | Final Honours or BTech average, or final year of a four-year degree | R7,130 a year | R10,970 a year | 2 |
| Doctoral (full-time or part-time) | Master’s average | R10,970 a year | R16,460 a year | 3 |
An average below 70% earns no Merit Award. Students in the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment have a second option: with 65% or more in the Honours year they can apply to their department for a merit student assistantship of R6,000 at Master’s level, or with 65% or more in the Master’s year, R12,000 at doctoral level. The assistantship requires at least four hours of work a week in the department.
The 15 August deadline and how to apply
UJ’s booklet sets the closing date as 15 August of the academic year in which the student registers. A student starting a Master’s or doctorate in 2027 therefore registers first and then applies before 15 August 2027. UJ’s 2022 application form explains that the award is paid only to registered students and that anyone whose previous degree came from another university must attach a certified copy of their academic record. Continuing students in the second year of a Master’s, or the second or third year of a doctorate, need their supervisor to complete a progress report. The form also stated that UJ assessed applications weekly and let applicants know the outcome within about ten days.
UJ’s Internal Bursaries page now lists the “M&D Merit Bursary” among the merit bursaries handled through the online Bursaries and Scholarships Hive portal, which replaced the old paper forms dropped in boxes on each campus. The Bursaries Division of Student Finance takes enquiries on 011 559 3761 or 011 559 4436.
How the award combines with other funding
- Postgraduate merit awards are open to South African and international students, unlike UJ’s undergraduate and Honours merit bursaries, which are limited to South African and SADC citizens.
- A student whose other bursaries already reach UJ’s annual maximum for their level does not get a Merit Award. If the other funding falls short, UJ pays a top-up only up to that maximum.
- UJ can claim the money back if a Master’s student does not finish within three years or a doctoral student within five, or if the student cancels registration.
- Students registered for non-degree purposes do not qualify, and all internal and external funding must be declared. The booklet treats non-disclosure as fraud.
The Supervisor-Linked bursary is separate
UJ’s second internal postgraduate bursary goes through supervisors rather than straight to students. It is paid from a supervisor’s research grant, and the supervisor or faculty chooses the recipient, weighing financial need as well as marks. The 2024 values were R7,200 for full-time Master’s students, R3,600 part-time if awarded, R13,200 for full-time doctoral students and R6,600 part-time if awarded. Students approach their prospective supervisor or faculty representative; the Faculty of Science runs its own process. Full-time holders may be asked to do up to twelve hours a week of academic work in the department.
UJ’s Postgraduate School also administers external awards, such as the NRF scholarship at UJ. The UJ profile and the UJ bursaries overview cover the university’s other funding.
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