The University of Pretoria (UP) in South Africa, one of Africa’s top research-intensive institutions, is inviting applications for its prestigious Commonwealth Doctoral Scholarship 2026. This opportunity is aimed at attracting high-achieving doctoral candidates from Commonwealth countries (excluding South African citizens) to pursue full-time PhD studies at UP.
Only two scholarships will be awarded—making this a highly competitive and valuable opportunity for globally-minded scholars ready to contribute to UP’s research mission.
What Does the Scholarship Offer?
| Covered Costs | Description |
|---|---|
| Scholarship Value | R190,000 per year (up to 3 years) |
| Living Support | Funds for accommodation, living expenses, tuition fees, and books/stationery |
| Health | Medical aid coverage for 2027 & 2028 (students must cover 2026) |
| Flights | One inbound flight to South Africa + one return flight home after completion |
| Shuttle | Airport shuttle on arrival and upon graduation |
| Reimbursements | Application and visa costs reimbursed on arrival (with receipts) |
Note: Research running costs and family expenses are not covered. Students can hold other awards alongside this scholarship, but total combined funding must not exceed R300,000/year.
Where Will You Study?
- Institution: University of Pretoria (UP), South Africa
- Duration: 3 academic years (PhD must be completed within this period)
- Research Environment:
- Explore UP’s research themes: Research Focus Areas
- Find your potential supervisor: UP Supervisor Search.
Who Can Apply?
You are eligible if you meet all of the following:
- A citizen of a Commonwealth country (excluding South Africa)
- Not older than 38 years at the time of application
- Have completed a Master’s degree at least 2 years before applying for 2026 entry
- Have applied for admission to a UP doctoral program for the 2026 academic year
- Have identified a supervisor at UP and obtained a written motivation letter confirming availability of research funding
- Not a current or former UP Master’s or PhD student
- Able to obtain a study permit and pay upfront for 2026 medical aid (to be arranged personally).
Apply: https://www.up.ac.za/funding/3335924/2026-up-commonwealth-scholarship-for-doctoral-studies.
Application Timeline
The last date to apply for the University of Pretoria Commonwealth Doctoral Scholarship 2026 is 20 September 2025. Applicants must ensure they have completed their admission application to the University of Pretoria for the 2026 academic year and submitted all required scholarship documents via the official application form by this deadline.
Successful applicants will be notified of the outcome by the end of November 2025 via email. Applicants who do not receive notification by then should consider their application unsuccessful.