University of Pretoria Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme 2027: R250,000 Funding for South African and International Researchers
Overview
The University of Pretoria Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme 2027 offers emerging researchers the opportunity to advance their academic careers through postdoctoral research at the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Managed by the Graduate Support Hub under the Department of Research and Innovation Postdoctoral Framework, the initiative aims to attract high-calibre scholars, build institutional research capacity, and support research leaders across university faculties. The call features three funding pathways, with co-funding serving as the primary priority.
Who can apply
The programme is open to South African citizens, permanent residents, and international candidates. Applicants must generally have earned their doctoral degree within the five-year window preceding the application call date and must be aged 40 or younger at the time of submission. Candidates must also meet the academic and research requirements of the programme and successfully pass merit and institutional review processes.
What you get
Successful candidates receive a fellowship package of at least R250,000 per year. Under the priority co-funding pathway, the Department of Research and Innovation contributes up to R125,000 annually, while the participating university host provides a minimum of R125,000 annually. Other pathways include the UP PhD Fellow Track, which provides a one-year, non-extendable fellowship valued at R250,000 funded entirely through the department, and the standard UP-Funded pathway, which provides R250,000 per year for up to two years. For two-year categories, continuation into the second year requires a formal progress evaluation and fund availability.
Requirements
Applicants under the co-funding pathway must secure a participating university host and provide a formal written commitment from the host. This pathway also requires disclosure of the host funding source, verification of funding, and an active university Cost Centre code.
Key dates
The application deadline is 30 October 2026 at 23:59 SAST, and late applications will not be accepted.