SARAO Freestanding Doctoral Scholarships for 2027

The SARAO Freestanding Doctoral Scholarships are fully funded PhD scholarships for postgraduate researchers pursuing studies relevant to radio astronomy, engineering, data science, and technologies linked to the MeerKAT and SKA telescopes. The scholarships are available to eligible applicants from South Africa and selected African countries. Awards support research projects approved by SARAO and require an agreement from a supervising academic. The 2027 intake has a specified application deadline.

Annual stipend (R210,000), tuition/fees for eligible international students, annual travel grant (R55,000), research equipment grant (R35,000), one return home ticket per year for eligible international students, repatriation costs where required, emergency medical insurance, assistive technology grant up to R20,000 for students with disabilities.

Applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of South Africa or citizens of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, or Zambia; have completed or graduated from a Master's degree since 2025 or be in the final year of a relevant Master's degree; have a minimum of 65% in a relevant Master's degree (or 65% average at Honours/BEng level for those still completing a Master); have selected an approved SARAO doctoral research project for 2027; and have a signed letter from the proposed supervisor confirming agreement to supervise.

Applicants must select an approved SARAO doctoral research project for 2027 and provide a signed letter from the supervisor confirming agreement to supervise; apply via the SARAO official scholarship webpage.