Current funding opportunities
These lists provide the UCT research community with information regarding internal and external grants and awards, NRF funding opportunities and more.
- Internal Funding Opportunities & Awards Nominations
- External Funding Opportunities & Awards Nominations (non-NRF)
- NRF Funding & Grants
- Other Opportunities & Notices
New funding opportunities are sent out via the Research Announcement newsletter every second week: Subscribe here.
For specific Faculty of Health Sciences funding opportunities and related events, visit the FHS Research Noticeboard.
For specific Postdoctoral Research Fellowship current and archived grant and funding calls, visit the PDRF Fellowships Noticeboard.
For specific Postgraduate funding calls, visit the Postgraduate degree funding noticeboard.
For archived calls or any queries, contact researchvisibility@uct.ac.za.
Internal Funding Opportunities & Awards Nominations
Notice | Contact person(s) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| URC Hosting a Conference Grant | Zam.Ndzotyana@uct.ac.za | 31 July 2026 |
| UCT Alan Pifer Research Award | Werner.VanderRoss@uct.ac.za | 14 August 2026 |
| URC Vera Davie Study and Research Bursary | Zam.Ndzotyana@uct.ac.za | 31 August 2026 |
| Short Research Visit (SRV) / Short Research Course (SRC): Round 2 | Lezette.Daniels@uct.ac.za | 17 September 2026 |
| EthicsLab webinar series, academic retreats, academic residencies and catalyst grants | ethicslab@uct.ac.za | 30 September 2026 |
| UCT Enabling Grant Seeker Excellence Awards (EGSE) 2026 | Lezette.Daniels@uct.ac.za | 15 October 2026 |
| URC Start-up Grant | ResearchFunding@uct.ac.za | 10 November 2026 |
For more information visit internal funding opportunities or contact Research Support Services.
External Opportunities & Awards Nominations (non-NRF)
| Funding opportunity | Contact person(s) | UCT Intention to submit deadline | Funder Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| IARU Early-Career Collaboration Awards | Isha.Dilraj@uct.ac.za | n/a | 30 July 2026 |
| IDRC: Addressing neglected areas of sexual and reproductive health and rights in sub-Saharan Africa (ANeSA) - revised | InternationalGrants@uct.ac.za | 23 August 2026 | |
| Oppenheimer Memorial Trust (OMT) Sabbatical Study Award | InternationalGrants@uct.ac.za | 31 August 2026 | |
| Jana Robeyst Trust Fund: Small conservation grants | InternationalGrants@uct.ac.za | 31 July 2026 | 31 August 2026 |
| EDCTP3 Global Health – Coordination and Support Action (CSA) | InternationalGrants@uct.ac.za | 22 July 2026 | 2 September 2026 |
| EDCTP3 Enhancing integrated research and healthcare through digital innovation & AI - CSA | InternationalGrants@uct.ac.za | 22 July 2026 | 2 September 2026 |
| Stockholm Water Prize 2027 | Werner.VanderRoss@uct.ac.za | 7 September 2026 | 15 September 2026 |
| Horizon Europe Work Programme 2026-2027: Africa Initiative IV | InternationalGrants@uct.ac.za | -- | Various |
Recurring funding opportunities | ||
|---|---|---|
The Wellcome Trust awards below currently have three submission cycles each year. Specific dates change but the calls for applications generally run between February to May; July to September; and October to December. Please start with the UCT Intention to submit form if you would like to apply to any of these opportunities. The appropriate team from the Research Office or the Faculty of Health Sciences will be in touch. Or contact us as follows:
| ||
| Intention to submit deadline | Funder deadline | |
| 18 August 2026 | 10 November 2026, 17:00 GMT | |
| 25 August 2026 | 17 November 2026, 17:00 GMT | |
| 22 September 2026, 17:00 GMT | ||
Pivot-RP offers a comprehensive, user-friendly tool to explore funding from international and national funding agencies, private foundations, non-profits, and others. Read more.
NRF Funding & Grants
Other opportunities & notices
Notice | Contact person(s) | Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Honorary Research Associate notice | Research Funding | none |
New funding opportunities are sent out via the Research Announcement newsletter, every second week: Subscribe here.