Tom Queba and Pegasys Scholarships for Social Change

Who can apply

A Black or Coloured South African national, under South African BEE law definitions, residing in South Africa
Under 34 years of age at the start of the course
Holds a good first degree, minimum Second Class Upper Division or equivalent, or is about to graduate in the year of application
Studying or applying to study at Honours or Master's level at a South African university
Proposed study contributes directly to social or environmental development, particularly the betterment of the poorest people in South Africa
A two-stage application process, the same as Canon Collins' other scholarships; generative AI use in the application is prohibited and grounds for disqualification

Restricted by race and age, unlike its sister Canon Collins scholarships

Unlike its sister Canon Collins RMTF Scholarships, this one is restricted by race under South African BEE law definitions, open to Black or Coloured South African nationals only, alongside an age cap of 34 at the start of the course. It also covers a wider range of fields than RMTF, including sciences and applied sciences, not just the humanities and social sciences.

The test that matters is what your study contributes to, not your field

The overriding test the Trust applies isn’t your field exactly, it’s what your study contributes to: work that directly supports social or environmental development, with explicit emphasis on benefiting the poorest people in South Africa. Two candidates in the same subject could have very different odds depending on how clearly their proposed study connects to that goal. Canon Collins frames this across all its scholarships as looking for scholars who can drive change toward “just and equitable civil societies,” with organised events built in specifically to develop leadership skills alongside academic study, not just fund a degree in isolation.

A flat package, and a two-stage process that mirrors Canon Collins’ others

The package is a flat R85,000 for 2026, not a range like the RMTF award, funded for up to two years and supporting full-time, part-time, or distance study. The application process mirrors Canon Collins’ other scholarships closely: a short Stage 1 form, mandatory supporting documents at that stage, a more detailed Stage 2 for those shortlisted in September, interviews in October or November, and results by mid-December, all for study starting in 2027.

The rules on late applications and AI use are strict

As with the Trust’s other scholarships, late applications are flatly not accepted, and generative AI use anywhere in the application is grounds for disqualification, stated even more forcefully here than on the RMTF page.

This round has closed, even though the funder’s page still shows the old date

Stage 1 closed 24 August 2026, and that date has already passed as of this check, even though Canon Collins’ own page still displays it as the live deadline rather than marking the round closed. Treat this cycle as closed and watch the official page directly for the next Stage 1 date rather than trusting the date currently shown there at face value.