Scholarship opportunity closing on 18 September 2023

Scholarship Opportunity closing on 18 September 2023

In March 2023 the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation approved a grant to the Universities of Witwatersrand (WITS), Cape Town (UCT) and the Western Cape (UWC) to support the establishment of an enduring academic pipeline model for promoting historically under-represented South African postgraduate students to complete graduate studies in the Humanities.

The four-year programme aims to capacitate fellows to be eligible and excellent candidates through activities aimed at proactively preparing them for graduate studies in a supportive environment. Support will be directed at progression from Master’s through to PhD on the four-year programme. The four-year programme will support fellows for two years of Masters and two years of PhD.

Participating South African Institutions: University of Cape Town, University of the Witwatersrand, and University of the Western Cape. These three universities make up the regional identity of the four year MPD programme.

Key overall goals of the four-year programme aim to:

develop the next generation of previously disadvantaged South African scholars in the Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; and

accelerate completion of Masters degrees within 2 years; and
achieve direct progression from Masters to PhD degrees within a four-year timeline

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION

Academic excellence: achievement within top third percentile in Honours
Full time registrations only (excludes any full time employment)
Keen interest in pursuing an academic career
South African
No older than 28 years of age by the end of the first year of registration for Masters
Preference will be given to Black, Coloured and Indian students