Canon Collins Master & PhD Scholarships

The Canon Collins Trust invites applications for postgraduate study in South Africa. The scholarship provides funding for up to a maximum of two years for Master’s and PhD, with the ability to reapply for a third year. Continued funding depends on satisfactory progress and academic reports.

Awards are made only for study in three areas: Justice (including climate justice, law, economics and politics), Education policy and practice, and Humanities (including literature, history, anthropology and the arts). Interdisciplinary courses and doctoral studies may sometimes be difficult to categorise, and applicants are urged to use judgement, while programmes that clearly do not fit (examples given include MBAs, medical sciences, sports sciences, and applied sciences) are not considered.

Selection is structured in two stages. Stage 1 requires submission of a short online application by a stated deadline and uploading required supporting documents; only applicants meeting all eligibility criteria, with a complete application and all Stage 1 documents uploaded, are considered for Stage 2. Stage 2 involves a more detailed application, references, and additional materials depending on level, followed by interviews for shortlisted applicants and notifications by email.

Funding lasts up to a maximum of two years for Master’s and up to three years for PhD, with continued funding linked to satisfactory progress and academic reports. Scholarship holders are expected to participate in an annual conference for current scholars and several smaller events, and to become part of and contribute to the network.

• Must be a national of, or hold recognised refugee status in, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, or Zimbabwe.
• Must be ordinarily resident in one of the listed countries.
• Must be applying for, or currently enrolled in, a Master’s or PhD programme at a South African university.
• For Master’s study: must hold, or expect to obtain in the year of application, a good Honours degree (minimum Second Class Upper Division or equivalent).
• For PhD study: must hold, or expect to obtain in the year of application, a good Master’s degree.
• Must demonstrate sustained commitment to social justice through at least two years of active engagement in activities addressing social, educational, economic, environmental, cultural, or human rights challenges in the community, country, or region. Examples include community-based initiatives, advocacy, teaching or mentoring, public service, civil society or NGO involvement, social impact research, professional practice, or leadership in activities promoting equity and inclusion.
• Must pursue studies or research contributing to understanding, responding to, or addressing a significant social justice challenge affecting Southern Africa.
• If applying for PhD study: must have identified a supervisor (or prospective supervisor) who has agreed in principle to supervise the proposed research and submit a draft research proposal as part of the application.
• Must apply only if the programme of study falls into one of the listed disciplines (Justice; Education policy and practice; Humanities).
• Interdisciplinary courses and doctoral studies may sometimes be difficult to categorise; applicants should use judgement on whether to apply.
• Programmes that clearly do not fall within these areas (examples given: MBAs, medical sciences, sports sciences, and applied sciences) will not be considered.
• Applications must represent the applicant’s own work and own voice; use of generative AI tools to draft, write, or substantially edit any part of the application is not permitted; applications found to have used generative AI will be disqualified.

• Funding for up to a maximum of two years for Master’s and up to three years for PhD.
• Scholarship package value ranges from R20,000 to R100,000 depending on student circumstances.
• Supports both full-time and part-time study.
• Considers applicants who wish to study by distance learning.
• Organises an annual conference for current scholars and several smaller events throughout the year.
• Scholarship holders are expected to participate in these activities and to become part of and contribute to the network.

1. Submit an online application using the online application form accessed on the scholarship website.
2. Complete and submit the short online application within the Stage 1 deadline (21 August 2026 at 16:00 SAST).
3. For Stage 1, upload required supporting documentation: copy of degree certificates, academic transcripts, CV, and an ID document (passport, birth certificate, or driver’s licence). You may also need to submit proof of refugee status if applicable and two recent payslips if currently employed.
4. Ensure eligibility criteria are met, the application is complete, and all Stage 1 supporting documents are uploaded to be considered for Stage 2.
5. Applicants successful at Stage 1 are invited to submit a more detailed application in September 2026; invitations are sent by email.
6. Complete the Stage 2 application requirements: two reference letters; draft PhD research proposal for PhD applicants; sample piece of writing for Master’s applicants; and a letter of support from the supervisor (or prospective supervisor) for PhD applicants.
7. After Stage 2, shortlisted applicants are invited to interview in October/November 2026.
8. Wait for the outcome notification by email by mid-December 2026.
9. Do not email to ask about the outcome; notifications are sent by email.

• Copy of degree certificates.
• Academic transcripts.
• CV.
• ID document (passport, birth certificate, or driver’s licence).
• Proof of refugee status, if applicable.
• Two recent payslips, if currently employed.
• Two reference letters.
• Draft PhD research proposal (PhD applicants only).
• Sample piece of writing (Master’s applicants only).
• Letter of support from the supervisor (or prospective supervisor) who agreed in principle to supervise the proposed research (PhD applicants).