Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for a scholarship, you must:

• be a national of, or hold recognised refugee status in, one of the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe
• be ordinarily resident in one of the above countries
• be applying for, or currently enrolled in, a Master’s or PhD programme at a South African university
• hold, or expect to obtain in the year of application:
  • a good Honours degree (minimum Second Class Upper Division or equivalent) if applying for Master’s study
  • or good Master’s degree if applying for PhD study
• demonstrate a sustained commitment to social justice through at least two years of active engagement in activities that contributed to addressing social, educational, economic, environmental, cultural, or human rights challenges in their community, country, or region
• be pursuing studies or research that contribute to understanding, responding to, or addressing a significant social justice challenge affecting Southern Africa
• if applying for PhD study, 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

Areas of Study

In 2027, awards will be made only to those studying in the following areas:

1. Justice, which includes Climate Justice, Law, Economics and Politics
2. Education policy and practice
3. Humanities, which includes Literature, History, Anthropology and the Arts

Benefits

Canon Collins will provide funding for up to a maximum of two years for Masters and three years for PhD. The value of the scholarship package will range from R20,000 to R100,000 depending on student circumstances. Canon Collins support both full and part-time study and will consider applications from those who wish to study by distance learning.

Application Procedure

The application process consists of two stages.

Stage 1

Applicants must complete and submit a short online application by 14 August 2026 at 16:00 SAST. Required supporting documentation includes:

• 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

Stage 2

Applicants who are successful at Stage 1 will be invited to submit a more detailed application in September 2026. Required documentation includes:

• 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 has agreed in principle to supervise the proposed research

Applicants shortlisted following Stage 2 will be invited to interview in October/November 2026. All applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application by mid-December 2026.