Canon Collins RMTF Scholarships for Postgraduate Study

Who can apply

Applying for, or currently enrolled in, a Master's or PhD programme at a South African university
A good Honours degree, minimum Second Class Upper Division or equivalent, for Master's applicants, or a good Master's degree for PhD applicants, held or expected in the year of application
At least two years of sustained, active engagement in work addressing a social, educational, economic, environmental, cultural, or human rights challenge
Research or study that addresses a significant social justice challenge affecting Southern Africa
PhD applicants need a supervisor who has agreed in principle to supervise the research, plus a draft research proposal, at application
A two-stage application process: a short Stage 1 form, then a detailed Stage 2 for those shortlisted, followed by interviews; generative AI use in the application is prohibited and grounds for disqualification

Read the field restriction closely before you spend time here

Read the field restriction closely before you spend time on an application. For 2027, Canon Collins is funding only three areas: Justice, including climate justice, law, economics, and politics; education policy and practice; and the humanities. The Trust is explicit that MBAs, medical sciences, sports sciences, and applied sciences will not be considered, no matter how strong the application otherwise is.

The eligibility bar goes beyond grades

The eligibility bar goes beyond grades. Alongside academic requirements, a good Honours degree for Master’s applicants or a good Master’s for PhD applicants, you need at least two years of documented, active engagement in social justice work: community initiatives, advocacy, mentoring, civil society involvement, or similar, not just an interest in the topic. PhD applicants have an extra hurdle too, needing a supervisor already lined up who has agreed in principle to take them on, plus a draft research proposal, before they can apply at all.

A needs-adjusted contribution, not a flat scholarship, and flexible study modes

The money itself varies quite a bit, R20,000 to R100,000, depending on individual circumstances rather than a flat rate, which makes this closer to a needs-adjusted contribution than a fixed scholarship. It funds up to two years for a Master’s or three for a PhD, with continued funding conditional on satisfactory progress each year. Unusually for a scholarship this size, the Trust explicitly supports full-time, part-time, and distance-learning study, not just conventional on-campus enrolment.

Two application stages, and what each one asks for

The application runs in two stages, a short initial form followed by a more detailed submission only for those who clear Stage 1. Stage 1 asks for degree certificates, academic transcripts, a CV, and an ID document, plus proof of refugee status or recent payslips where relevant. Stage 2, for those shortlisted, adds two reference letters, a sample piece of writing for Master’s applicants or a draft research proposal for PhD applicants, and a supervisor’s letter of support for PhD applicants specifically. The Trust is direct that generative AI use anywhere in the application gets you disqualified.

For this cycle, watch for Stage 2 and interview news rather than a new deadline

For this cycle, watch for Stage 2 and interview news rather than a new deadline; Stage 1 has already closed. If you’re only discovering this scholarship now, the practical next step is watching Canon Collins’ own page for the 2028 round to open, since no date for it has been published yet. If leadership and social impact within South Africa specifically is more your focus than the wider Southern African social justice remit here, the Mandela Rhodes Scholarship is worth comparing.