Canon Collins Master & PhD Scholarships 2027 Amounting R100,000 to Study in South Africa
If you are from Southern Africa and want to pursue a Master’s or PhD at a South African university in 2027, the Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship is one of the more flexible postgraduate funding opportunities to consider.
The award can provide R20,000 to R100,000, depending on individual circumstances, and supports both full-time and part-time study, including distance learning. Funding is normally available for up to two years for Master’s study and up to three years for PhD study, subject to satisfactory progress.
Who Can Apply?
This RMTF Canon collins 2027 scholarship is only for applicants from selected Southern African countries and you must be a national of, or hold recognized refugee status in:
- Angola
- Botswana
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Zambia
- Zimbabwe
You must also normally live in one of these countries and be applying for, or already enrolled in, a Master’s or PhD programme at a South African university. For Master’s study, applicants should hold or expect to obtain a good Honours degree, normally at least Second Class Upper Division or equivalent. PhD applicants need a strong Master’s degree.
Which Subjects Are Funded in 2027?
This is where applicants need to be careful because Canon Collins is funding only three broad academic areas for the 2027 cycle. Eligible fields are:
- Justice, including climate justice, law, economics and politics.
- Education, particularly education policy and practice.
- Humanities, including literature, history, anthropology and the arts.
Interdisciplinary projects may qualify where their central research question clearly fits one of these areas. An MBA, medical science, sports science or applied science degree will not qualify simply because the applicant can connect it loosely to social development.
Social Justice Experience Is a Real Eligibility Requirement
This scholarship is not awarded purely on academic marks.
Applicants must demonstrate at least two years of sustained engagement with social justice issues.
That experience could come through community initiatives, advocacy, teaching, mentoring, NGOs, public service, social-impact research or professional work addressing inequality, environmental justice, education, culture or human rights.
Your proposed degree or research should also contribute to understanding or addressing a significant social justice challenge affecting Southern Africa.
In practical terms, Canon Collins wants to see a connection between what you have already done, what you now want to study and what you intend to change afterward.
What Does the RMTF Scholarship Cover?
The Canon collins RMTF scholarship package ranges from R20,000 to R100,000, with the final value depending on the scholar’s circumstances.
It is therefore better to view this as substantial postgraduate support rather than automatically assuming it covers every tuition and living expense.
Recipients also join the wider Canon Collins network and are expected to participate in its annual conference and other scholar activities.
What Do PhD Applicants Need Before Applying?
PhD applicants have an additional requirement: you must have identified a supervisor or prospective supervisor who has agreed in principle to supervise your research.
You will also need a draft research proposal during the later application stage. That means applicants should not leave supervisor contact until after the scholarship application.
How Does the Two-Stage Application Work?
The first stage is deliberately shorter.
You submit the online application together with:
- Degree certificates
- Academic transcripts
- CV
- Passport, birth certificate or driver’s licence
- Refugee documentation where relevant
- Recent payslips if employed and requested
Applicants who pass Stage 1 are invited to a more detailed Stage 2 in September 2026. At that stage, Master’s applicants provide a writing sample, while PhD candidates submit their draft proposal and supervisor support letter. Two reference letters are also required.
Shortlisted applicants are then interviewed in October or November, with final outcomes expected by mid-December.
Important Warning About AI
Canon Collins has introduced a particularly strict application rule: generative AI must not be used to draft, write or substantially edit any part of the scholarship application.
Applications found to have used tools such as ChatGPT for generating application content can be disqualified. Standard spelling and grammar checking is permitted where it does not rewrite your answers.
So use guidance to understand the scholarship, but write the actual application entirely in your own voice.
Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship 2027 Deadline
The extended deadline for Stage 1 of the Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship 2027 is 21 August 2026 at 16:00 SAST. Because every section and supporting document must be complete before the system allows submission, applicants should avoid waiting until the final afternoon.
Questions Applicants Commonly Ask
Can international students apply?
Yes, but only nationals or recognised refugees from the ten eligible Southern African countries.
Can I study outside South Africa?
No. The funded Master’s or PhD must be undertaken at a South African university.
Can I apply for an MBA?
No. Canon Collins explicitly says MBA applications fall outside the funded 2027 disciplines.
Can I study part-time or online?
Yes. The programme supports full-time, part-time and eligible distance-learning study.
Do I need two years of work experience?
Not necessarily conventional employment. You need at least two years of sustained social justice engagement, which may include volunteering, advocacy, community work, research or professional activity.
Not Sure Whether Your Degree Fits the Social Justice Requirement?
If you are unsure about your country, degree subject, social justice experience, academic results or PhD research topic, leave your question in the comments below this article. Mention your proposed programme and country, and we can help you judge whether it genuinely fits the 2027 Canon Collins RMTF criteria before you invest time in the application.