Master’s and Doctoral bursary

About the bursary

The master's and doctoral bursary aim to assist returning master’s and doctoral students with their research activities and tuition fees, enabling them to register for and complete their degrees. The bursary is intended to provide financial support to Unisa South African and international master’s and doctoral students, subject to eligibility, academic performance, and the availability of funds.

Important Notices:

2026 Masters & Doctoral Bursaries Q&A Session

The details of the 2026 Q&A session where you will learn more about the Unisa Masters and Doctoral Bursary application, awarding and refunds process are as follows: 

Date: Wednesday, 15 October 2025
Time: 10am (CAT)
Direct Link: Microsoft Teams, 2026 Masters & Doctoral Bursaries Q&A Session 

To all 2025 Approved & Awarded students:

• Kindly note that the processing of refund(s) and research allowance(s) is still in progress, hence please ensure that all the required documentation have been submitted to the correct administrator as per the email request.

M&D Bursary guidelines, terms, and conditions

Who can apply?

Only master’s returning students who registered first time not more than 3 years ago, from the academic year of the bursary application (e.g. for 2026, only students who registered first time between 2023 and 2025 are eligible). Students with previously approved deferments can be considered for each academic year(s) of deferment.

Only doctoral returning students who registered first time not more than 6 years ago from the academic year of the bursary application (e.g. for 2026, only students who registered first time between 2020 and 2025 are eligible). Students with previously approved deferments can be considered for each academic year(s) of deferment.

Returning Bursary Beneficiaries – previously funded by UNISA PG Bursary.

• UNISA Master’s and Doctoral South African and international students continuing with their research study in their previously funded NQF level 9/10 qualifications, subject to academic performance, eligibility, and availability of funds.

New Bursary applicants – never been funded by UNISA PG Bursary.

• UNISA Master’s and Doctoral South African and international research students who have passed their Research Proposal (by 31 January 2026, previously submitted by November 2025).
• UNISA Master’s by coursework students who have passed 2 coursework modules in the same previously registered qualification (by 31 January 2026), with the exception of students who have 2025 outstanding results.

Please note the vetting committee will be reviewing M&D activities recorded by your supervisors.

Masters and Doctoral students whose qualifications are (not counting the year of application e.g., 2026):

• 3 or more years old since, first year of registration (with approved deferments considered) – are required to have a minimum of 2 or more chapters submitted to supervisor in addition to passed research proposal phase/chapter.
• 2 years old since, first year of registration (with approved deferments considered) – are required to have a minimum of 1 chapter submitted to supervisor in addition to passed research proposal phase/chapter.

Who can NOT apply?

• UNISA permanent staff members.
• First-year Master’s and Doctoral students.
• Graduate School of Business Leadership students registered for:
  • Master’s of Business Administration
  • Master’s of business Leadership
• Students registered for special study programmes, including certificates (e.g., PGCE) and non-degree purpose programmes are not eligible for this bursary.
• Students who already hold a postgraduate degree with UNISA or any other institution of higher learning, at the same or a higher NQF level to the currently registered qualification are not eligible for this bursary.
• Students who have submitted their thesis/ dissertation research component for examination are not eligible for the bursary.

What does the bursary fund?

• The bursary covers Tuition Fees and Research Essentials (visit Frequently asked questions for more information on research essentials/ activities):
  
  
  • Master’s degree by research and experimental research allowance limited to R55 000 over the first three consecutive years of funding (subject to an approved re/application).
  • Master’s degree by coursework research allowance limited to R25 000 over the first three consecutive years of funding (subject to an approved re/application).
  • Doctoral degree by research allowance limited to R80 000 over the first four consecutive years of funding (subject to an approved re/application).
  • Doctoral degree by experimental research allowance limited to R120 000 over the first four consecutive years of funding (subject to an approved re/application).
• Subject to the availability of funds, academic performance and eligibility, 2^nd year Master’s and Doctoral students with no ethical clearance certificate are only eligible for a once off laptop allowance from the above allocated research allowance subject to an approved application and a passed research proposal.
• Master’s and Doctoral students will be eligible to the remaining balance of the research allowance subject to confirmed ethical clearance certificate by 31 January each academic year and an approved re-application based on academic performance, eligibility, and availability of funds. Final ethical clearance application (post corrections) should have been submitted in the previous year.
• The bursary does NOT fund additional years beyond the above-mentioned number of years.
• The bursary does NOT cover failed/ repeating modules in the case of Master’s by Coursework students.
• The bursary does NOT fund additional or different NQF level 9/10 qualification from the one previously funded.
• The bursary does NOT cover historic debt.
• Note that priority will be given to South African (citizens) students according to an 80/20 per cent ratio over international students for funding.

Outcome will be communicated to student’s mylife email account:

• Unsuccessful students who paid for their own registration should deregister before cancellation closing date (through their nearest regional centre / myUnisa) if they cannot find alternative funding.
• Students who paid for their own registration should retain/ keep their registration proof of payment (ATM receipt/ speed point receipt etc) which will be required should they be awarded and are eligible for a refund.
• Master’s and Doctoral students may submit an appeal between 1 May – 7 May, supported by their supervisor:
  • Appeals should be submitted as a formal email to CGS-pgb@unisa.ac.za with information/ evidence proving that the rejection reason(s) provided contradicts student’s status quo.
• Students who can NOT appeal
  • Students who have been fully funded for the full bursary period.
  • Students who are unsuccessful due to insufficient funds
  • Students who have adequate external/ alternative funding (double dipping)
  • Students who were rejected by the college vetting process due to unsatisfactory academic performance.
  • Students who are NOT eligible for the bursary as per bursary guidelines, terms, and conditions

What should awarded students do? 

• Send the signed bursary contract to the designated bursary officer as per email instructions before closing date thereof.

South African students (South African citizen)

• Students who paid their registration fees from their own pocket and or have been award research allowance:
  • Submit their banking details through the provided link as per email instructions from the award section, student can NOT use a third-party bank account (bank account should be the student’s account)
    
    

    If your banking details verification is rejected you will be resent a new link to resubmit correct details, should the attempt fail you’ll be emailed a claim/ refund form to submit instead. 
    
    Include the following documentation in your email submission: 

1. 1. 1. Certified ID copy not older than 6 months.
      2. Proof of payment (bank statement/ bank payment confirmation/ receipt) that reflects the exact payment(s) made and account holder’s name (in this case student’s name). – if you had paid for your own fees. And or 

• Student whose registration fees were paid by a 3^rd party (e.g., company, another person/ organisation): 
  • In the case where the company has provided a loan for the tuition fees to the student, a refund of the awarded tuition can be refunded back to the company. (Documentation from the company will be required as proof of the loan, e.g. signed loan agreement).
  • Refund will only be paid to individual 3^rd parties that paid for student’s tuition fee on your behalf as a student.
  • The company/ organisation/ 3rd party bank account confirmation letter from the bank will be required and completed Claim/ Refund form with the 3^rd party bank account details along with 3^rd party ID copy not older than 6 months, as per email instructions from the award section.
    
    Include in your email submission:

1. 1. Student certified ID copy not older than 6 months along
   2. Proof of payment (bank statement/ bank payment confirmation/ receipt) that reflects the payment(s) and the 3^rd party’s name as an account holder/ payer. 
   3. 3^rd party’s bank account confirmation letter reflecting the 3^rd party’s name as an account holder.
   4. 3^rd party certified ID copy not older than 6 months

The period of processing the claim will take 15-21 working days after receiving the correct refund documents.

International students (foreign citizen)

• Students who paid their registration fees from their own pocket and or have been award research allowance:
  1. International students with South African Bank accounts
     • Your bank account confirmation letter from your bank will be required and completed Claim/ Refund form with South African bank account details, as per email instructions from the award section.
       
       Student can NOT use a third-party bank account (bank account should be the student’s account)
       
       Include in your email submission:

• • • • Certified Passport not older than 6 months,
      • Bank account confirmation letter reflecting student’s name as the account holder,
      • Proof of payment (bank statement/ bank payment confirmation/ receipt) that reflects the payment(s) and student’s name as an account holder/ payer. – if you had paid for your own fees.

Or

2. International students with International (foreign) Bank accounts

• • • Completed international bank Claim/ Refund form reflecting international banking details is required.
      
      Include the following documentation in your email submission: 
      
      • Certified Passport not older than 6 months,
      • Proof of payment (bank statement/ bank payment confirmation/ receipt) that reflects the payment(s) and student’s name as an account holder/ payer. – if you had paid for your own fees.

And or

International students whose registration fees were paid by a 3^rd party (e.g., company, another person/ organisation):

• • Only in the case where company is loaning the tuition fees to the student, a refund of the awarded tuition can be refunded back to the company. (Documentation from the company will be required to proof the loan)
  • Refund will only be paid to individual 3^rd parties that paid for student’s tuition fee on your behalf as a student.
  • The company/ organisation/ 3rd party bank account confirmation letter from the bank will be required and completed Claim/ Refund form with the 3^rd party bank account details, as per email instructions from the award section.
    
    Include in your email submission:

• • Certified ID copy not older than 6 months along
  • Proof of payment (bank statement/ bank payment confirmation/ receipt) that reflects the payment(s) and 3^rd party as an account holder/ payer. 
  • 3^rd party’s bank account confirmation letter reflecting 3^rd party name as an account holder.
  • If 3^rd party bank account is an international (foreign) bank account, use the international bank Claim/ Refund form using their banking details.
    
    The period of processing international claims is between 21-30 working days after acknowledgment of the correct refund documents. 

Please note: 

• Unisa gives no guarantee that the bursary will be awarded to all eligible students, as the bursary is subject to the availability of funds.
• If a student:
  • fails to comply with any of the terms and conditions of the award, and/or
  • terminates their studies, their Unisa postgraduate bursary will be cancelled, and the current year’s Unisa postgraduate bursary amount awarded will be charged to the student’s account, which will be handed over to the Unisa legal and finance department to affect the collection process.

• Student who wishes to cancel their registration/ modules will have to deregister before cancellation closing date (through their colleges/ myUnisa) and once cancellation is confirmed, communicate an award withdrawal to DSF PGB Award Section at DSF-POSTGRD@unisa.ac.za and cc the designated officer whom you submit bursary contract to.

• Note that Division of Student Funding DOES NOT administer deregistration/ module cancellations.
  • It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that they cancel before cancellation closing date and note that student may forfeit any amounts paid by the student and or may remain liable to pay the full outstanding fees.
  • For Master’s and Doctoral cancellations, visit: After you register

2026 PG Bursary application app guide for M&D students is now available, Click here to download

Click here to apply.