NWU Fully Funded Master’s & Doctoral Bursary 2026 (Full Cost)

North-West University (NWU) is offering Postgraduate Bursaries to eligible students who require funding for the 2026 academic year.

At a glance

Sponsor/host: North-West University (NWU)
Study level: Honours, Master’s and Doctoral (PhD)
Fields: NWU postgraduate programmes (preference allocation towards STEM; Business School programmes excluded)
Who it’s for: Eligible SA / SADC candidates who will register full-time and meet the income and academic criteria
Closing date: 31 January 2026

This bursary is for Honours, Master’s and Doctoral (PhD) study at NWU, subject to faculty and programme admission requirements.
NWU indicates a preference allocation towards STEM fields (with a stated split of 65% STEM and 35% non-STEM allocations).
Business School programmes are excluded (e.g., MBA and Business School PhD programmes).

Household income: less than R600 000 per annum.
Academic performance: at least 70% for your most recent degree. If you do not meet this requirement, NWU notes that a faculty motivation must be submitted with the supporting documents.
You must meet faculty and programme-specific admission requirements.
You must register for full-time study (part-time students are not eligible).
Funding rules: other NWU bursaries will be deducted from the NWU allocation (no double funding); applicants may not hold other full-cost bursaries.
Citizenship/residency: SA and SADC candidates (and permanent RSA residents) may be considered, subject to the submission of a SAQA certificate where applicable.

Academic transcripts of your most recent degree
Proof of income (to support the household income requirement)
Faculty motivation (only if you do not meet the ≥70% academic requirement, as indicated by NWU)

NWU describes this as a fully funded Master’s & Doctoral bursary: full tuition plus an allowance of R95 000 per year (Master’s: up to two years; Doctoral: up to three years).
NWU notes the allowance is intended to assist with living, research, and study-related expenses, and that living-related allowances are paid monthly.
Continued funding is subject to meeting milestones evaluated by faculties (reviewed every six months).

Applying without using the correct email subject line (your application can be missed).
Submitting without proof of income or without your latest academic transcript.
Applying for part-time study (NWU indicates bursaries are not awarded to part-time students).
Applying while holding another full-cost bursary, or not disclosing other funding.
Applying for Business School programmes that are excluded.

31 January 2026

Attach: (a) your most recent degree academic transcript, and (b) proof of income. Include a faculty motivation if you do not meet the ≥70% academic requirement.
Submit before the closing date.