NRF Freestanding Scholarships

1
NRFFree-standing Scholarships

• 19 20 May 2008

Sheona Claasen
2
Objectives

• Overview of NRF
• NRF Support for students
• Call for Free-standing Scholarships
• NRF Application process
• Other important information
• Who to contact
• Sources of information

3
National Research Foundation - overview

• promotes and supports basic and applied research
  as well as innovation
• provides services and grants to support research
  and postgraduate research training
• funding - directed towards academic research,
  developing high-level human resources

4
NRF Support for Students

• Free-standing scholarships fellowships
• Awarded only i.r.o. full-time studies (Exception
  disabled)
• Strong competition
• Selection criteria top achievers in research
  field academic performance research potential
• 2. Grant-holder linked assistantships and
  bursaries
• Researchers who receive NRF grant may nominate
  students to assist with research project
• Assistantships SA black students (African,
  Coloured, Indian) honours, BTech students in
  final undergraduate year of study
• Definitions (Oxford Advanced Learners
  Dictionary)
• Scholarship an award of money to somebody to
  help pay for his/her education
• Fellowship an award of money to a graduate
  student in return for some teaching, research
  work, etc.

5
Call for Free-standing scholarships

• Masters Studies
• DoL Scarce Skills Scholarships
• 2. Doctoral Studies
• DoL Scarce Skills Scholarships
• Pretigious/Equity Scholarships

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Current NRF call for applications

• Masters Studies
• DoL Scarce Skills Scholarships
• Fields of study (ONLY)
• Accounting, Actuarial Sciences, Agricultural
  Sciences, Auditing, Biotechnology, Chemistry,
  Computer Science, Demography, Engineering,
  Financial Management, Geology, Information
  Systems, Mathematical Sciences, Physics,
  Statistics, Tourism, Transportation Studies
• Amount
• R50 000 p.a. for full-time studies
• R15 000 p.a. for part-time students (only
  students with disabilities are eligible under
  this category and must adhere to the
  specifications of the Code of Good Practice on
  Employment of People with Disabilities and the
  Employment Equity Act, 1998.

7
Current NRF call for applications

• Masters Studies
• DoL Scarce Skills Scholarships
• Eligibility
• South African citizens only
• Full-time MASTERS studies in 2009
• Part-time category is only available to
  disabled applicants
• Must have obtained an aggregate of at least 60
  for the final year
• undergraduate subject(s) they are pursuing for
  honours/final year BTech
• Applicants must have obtained their previous
  degree in the minimum
• prescribed period. An exception is made for
  Black (i.e. African,
• Coloured and Indian) students who may have
  taken an additional
• year to complete the previous degree.
• Applicants who already hold a qualification at
  this level are not
• eligible to apply.

8
Current NRF call for applications

• Doctoral Studies
• DoL Scarce Skills Scholarships
• Fields of study (ONLY)
• Accounting, Actuarial Sciences, Agricultural
  Sciences, Auditing, Biotechnology, Chemistry,
  Computer Science, Demography, Engineering,
  Financial Management, Geology,
• Information Systems, Mathematical Sciences,
  Physics, Statistics, Tourism, Transportation
  Studies
• Amount
• R75 000 p.a. for full-time studies

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Current NRF call for applications

• Doctoral Studies
• Prestigious / Equity
• Eligibility
• South African citizens only
• Full-time Doctoral studies in 2009
• Must have obtained an aggregate of at least
  65 for Masters studies
• Applicants must have obtained their previous
  degree in the minimum
• prescribed period. An exception is made for
  Black (i.e. African,
• Coloured and Indian) students who may have
  taken an additional
• year to complete the previous degree.
• Applicants who already hold a qualification at
  this level are not
• eligible to apply.

10
Current NRF call for applications

• Doctoral Studies
• Prestigious / Equity
• Fields of study (All fields of study)
• (SSH) Social Health Sciences
• (SET) Science, Engineering Technology
• Amount
• R55 000 p.a. for full-time studies in SA
• US12 000 p.a. for study abroad
• 1 x conference attendance (locally or abroad)
• 1 x laboratory visit (locally or abroad)

11
Current NRF call for applications

• Doctoral Studies
• DoL Scarce Skills Scholarships
• Eligibility
• South African citizens only
• Full-time Doctoral studies in 2009
• Must have obtained an aggregate of at least
  65 for Masters studies
• Applicants must have obtained their previous
  degree in the minimum
• prescribed period. An exception is made for
  Black (i.e. African,
• Coloured and Indian) students who may have
  taken an additional
• year to complete the previous degree.
• Applicants who already hold a qualification at
  this level are not
• eligible to apply.

12
Current NRF call for applications

• NRF Scholarship Conditions
• Scholarship-holders
• are allowed to hold supplementary bursaries,
  grants or emoluments with unlimited values
• may not be held simultaneously with a
  bursary/scholarship from any other NRF
• source
• may NOT hold full-time salaried employment
  during the tenure of the scholarship
• maximum of 12 hours teaching, tutorials,
  assistance or demonstration duties per
• week on average during the year of study
• remunerated for these duties _at_ institutional
  rate
• may NOT be employed on a part-time basis if
  working hours exceed 12 hours
• per week on average during the year of study

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Current NRF call for applications

• Application process
• applications are made online ONLY
  http//nrfonline.nrf.ac.za/
• electronic attachments of
• - copy of SA ID
• - student record (may be obtained from Student
  Records Office,
• 1st Floor, Embizweni Bld. Must be scanned and
  uploaded
• - proof of registration (electronic version may
  be obtained from nafeesa.seedat_at_nmmu.ac.za)
• details of 2 or more referees required online
  referee report
• make an appointment between 1200 1400
  (Monday Friday)
• should you require assistance with your
  application / proposal
• consult with Mrs Sheona Claasen before
  submitting the application electronically
• Tel. [phone]
• E-mail Sheona.Claasen_at_nmmu.ac.za

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Other NB information

• Limitations
• Students may
• only receive one scholarship from NRF or any
  other statutory body (e.g. MRC)
• apply and receive scholarships from other
  donors (other than NRF)
• 2. Students who receive external bursaries of
  more than
• R80 000.00 p.a. will not be eligible for NMMU
  Scholarships
• Who to contact
• Honours Applications Financial Aid
• Masters Doctoral Applications Mrs Sheona
  Claasen
• Post Doctoral Applications Ms Belinda du Plooy

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Sources of Information

• RCD Homepage (access via internet)
• http//www.nmmu.ac.za gt
• Research and Services gt Research gt Research
  Capacity Development gt Post graduate Bursaries
  and Scholarships
• Bursary booklet contains information regarding
• NMMU funded administered bursaries/scholarships
• Other sources of funding in SA and abroad
• Student Portal (http//portal.nmmu.ac.za) (access
  via intranet)
• Research Support Development notice board
• post calls for application ad hoc bursary
  notices
• Reflection of what is contained on internet
  homepage
• Inhouse links gt Research Capacity Development
• NB limited funds available must seek
  alternative sources of funding

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Power quotes

• The roots of true achievement lie in the will to
  become the best that you can become
• Harold Taylor
• The only place success comes before work is in
  the dictionary
• Donald Kendall

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Sources of Funding

• NMMU funded and administered bursaries
• NMMU Postgraduate Research Scholarship Council
  Funds
• See Postgraduate Student Scholarship Bursary
  Funding Policy Doc
• 2. NMMU administered bursaries external funds
• Medical Research Council (MRC)
• National Research Foundation (NRF) - online
  applications
• Public Servants Association of SA (Stiglingh
  Memorial Bursary)
• Goldstein Bursary
• HB Webb Gift
• Joshua Fullard Research Scholarship
• The Sepp Blatter Scholarship
• Winifred Wilson Bursary Fund
• 3. Bursaries not administered or funded by NMMU
• NB limited funds available must seek
  alternative sources of funding
• Supplement efforts with internet searches

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Hints / Tips

• Tough competition for bursaries and scholarships
• The better your academic performance, the better
  your chances of securing a bursary/scholarship/stu
  dent assistantship
• Read the instructions carefully
• Rather be screened IN than screened OUT because
  you have omitted important information
• Documents usually required
• Academic record
• Proof of registration
• Application form hard copy or online
• Referee reports
• Curriculum vitae or resume - prepare in advance
• Research proposal - tweek according to
  requirements of donor
• Deadlines
• Ensure that you meet the internal deadline