UKZN Denis Hurley Scholarship 2027: How to Apply

Key facts

Status: Applications closed Closed 13 March 2026
Provider: UKZN
Study level: Postgraduate
Academic year: 2027
Last checked: September 2026

The scholarship is advertised early in the honours year itself.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Closed · applications closed on 13 March 2026 Expect the 2027 round to be advertised in February 2027 and to close in mid-March 2027 . Latest update ↓

The Archbishop Denis E. Hurley Educational Trust funds honours scholarships at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) for academically strong students from disadvantaged backgrounds who show the leadership, ethical commitment and community service that Hurley, the anti-apartheid Catholic Archbishop of Durban and former Chancellor of the University of Natal, was known for. The scholarship is open to honours students in any field at UKZN and is intended as the first step towards a Master’s, a PhD and a career in academic or community service.

About the UKZN Archbishop Denis E. Hurley Scholarship

Level: honours degree studies in any field at UKZN.
Value: not published; awards contribute to tuition and living costs for the honours year. Past recipients in laboratory medicine, law, theology and the humanities have described it as covering their fees.
Purpose: to support students who will go on to Master’s and doctoral study and careers in community or university service.

Hurley Scholarship eligibility requirements

South African citizen enrolled for an honours degree at UKZN.
From a previously disadvantaged background, with financial need.
A strong academic record.
Exceptional leadership qualities and an ethical vision for society.
Involvement in community service.
The intention to pursue Master’s and PhD studies and a career in community or academic service.

How to apply for the Hurley Scholarship

Get the application form from your college’s Financial Aid Advisor or the UKZN student funding pages when the call opens.
Attach a CV of no more than five pages, your most recent degree certificate, a full academic transcript, one or more referee reports on your leadership and community involvement, a research abstract of up to three pages or a motivation for your intended research area, and a one-page letter explaining why you should be considered.
Email the application to the Financial Aid Advisor for your college with the subject line “UKZN Archbishop Denis E. Hurley Scholarship 2027” before the closing date.

Hurley Scholarship closing date

The last confirmed closing date was 13 March 2026. Expect mid-March 2027 for the 2027 honours year.

Contact details

UKZN Student Funding Centre: 031 260 2415
Financial Aid Advisors: contact details for each college are on the application form and at ukzn.ac.za.

UKZN honours students should also apply to the DSI-NRF postgraduate scholarship and see the UKZN doctoral research scholarships and our postgraduate bursaries list.

FAQs

1. When does the Hurley scholarship close for 2027? +

The scholarship is advertised early in the honours year: the 2026 round closed on 13 March 2026 and the 2023 round on 20 March 2023. Expect the 2027 round to be advertised in February 2027 and close in mid-March 2027.

2. Who was Archbishop Denis Hurley? +

The Catholic Archbishop of Durban from 1951 to 1992, a leading church voice against apartheid and a former Chancellor of the University of Natal. The Archbishop Denis E. Hurley Educational Trust funds the scholarship in his memory.

3. Who qualifies? +

South African honours students at UKZN in any field, from previously disadvantaged backgrounds, with strong academic records, leadership qualities, an ethical vision for society, involvement in community service and the intention to continue to Master's and PhD study and a career in community or academic service.

4. What does it cover? +

The trust does not publish a fixed amount; awards contribute to tuition and living costs for the honours year and past recipients have described it as covering their fees.

5. How do I apply? +

Download the application form, complete it and email it with your documents to the Financial Aid Advisor for your college, with the subject line 'UKZN Archbishop Denis E. Hurley Scholarship 2027'.

6. What documents are required? +

A CV of no more than five pages, your most recent degree certificate, a full academic transcript, at least one referee report on your leadership and community involvement, a research abstract of up to three pages or a motivation for your research area, and a one-page motivation letter.

Update note (checked September 2026): the scholarship is advertised early in the honours year itself. The 2026 round closed on 13 March 2026 and the 2023 round on 20 March 2023. Expect the 2027 round to be advertised in February 2027 and to close in mid-March 2027. The details below are from the 2026 call.

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

Visit the provider’s website

About UKZN

Public university

The University of KwaZulu-Natal came into being in 2004, when the University of Natal and the University of Durban-Westville merged. UKZN describes itself as building on more than a century of higher education in the province, and the…

Read the full UKZN profile →

Website: ukzn.ac.za