DHET Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP) 2026 for Young South Africans | Fully Funded Master's degree scholarships in South Africa & France

Omran Aburayya
4 days ago
4 min read

If you are a talented young South African planning to pursue postgraduate studies and aspire to an academic career, applications are now open for the 2026 Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP).

Administered by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET), NESP Phase 2 offers exceptional opportunities for aspiring scholars to advance their studies through a Master’s scholarship and an academic internship at a South African university.

This initiative aims to revitalise and transform the academic profession by identifying promising graduates and equipping them with the necessary academic and professional foundations for a career in higher education. Here's everything you need to know.

🎓 Scholarship Summary

Location: South Africa and France
Host Institutions: South African Public Universities and French Public Universities (through the French Embassy partnership)
Study Level: Honours and Master’s degrees
Target Group: South African citizens with strong academic performance aspiring to academic careers
Duration: 3–4 years (2 years of Master’s study + 1-year internship; 4 years for Honours pathway)
Fields of Study: Multiple disciplines across sciences, engineering, humanities, social sciences, and health
Value & Coverage: Full tuition, living allowance, travel costs (for France), academic support, and internship stipend
Application Deadline: 7 November 2025
Programme Start Date: Beginning of the 2027 academic year
Eligibility: South African citizens with a completed NQF Level 7 or 8 qualification and a minimum 65% average

🧭 Scholarship Overview

The Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP) is a three-year initiative designed to build a pipeline of future academics in South Africa. The programme includes:

Two years of Master’s degree funding, either in South Africa or France.
A one-year academic internship at a South African university upon completion of the Master’s degree.

Through its three opportunities—Honours Scholarships, Master’s Scholarships in France, and Master’s Scholarships in South Africa—the NESP provides a comprehensive platform for developing high-level academic, research, and leadership competencies.

🎁 Programme Benefits

Full tuition and registration fees
Living allowance and accommodation support
Research funding and mentorship
International exposure for candidates studying in France
One-year structured academic internship with professional supervision
Networking and training through the University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP)

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must:

Be South African citizens;
Hold a relevant NQF Level 7 qualification for Honours or Level 8 qualification for Master’s study;
Have achieved a minimum overall average of 65%;
Intend to pursue a career in academia;
Be available to begin studies in 2027.

📝 Application Procedure

Visit the official application portal at Rhodes University NESP Application Page.
Review the list of available fields and universities.
Select the relevant opportunity (Honours, South Africa Master’s, or France Master’s) by clicking on the application form of each programme- see list below
Submit the online application and upload all required documents.
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted for interviews.

🗂️ Documents Required

Certified academic transcripts and degree certificates
South African ID copy
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Motivation letter (statement of academic interest)
Two academic references
Proof of admission (if available)

NESP Opportunities 2026

1. NESP Honours Scholarships in South Africa (10 Positions)

Programme Duration: 4 years (1-year Honours + 2-year Master’s + 1-year Internship)

Minimum Qualification: Completed Level 7 qualification with ≥65%

Eligible Programmes and Host Universities

Cape Peninsula University of Technology: Sports Business and Technology
Rhodes University: Linguistics and Applied Language Studies
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University: Mathematics (Graph Theory)
Tshwane University of Technology: Building Science; Performing Arts
University of the Free State: Haematology
University of KwaZulu-Natal: Applied Mathematics; Mathematics
Vaal University of Technology: Metallurgical Engineering / Mineral Processing
University of Venda: History

👉 Apply for NESP Honours Scholarships

2. NESP Master’s Scholarships in France (13 Positions)

In partnership with the French Embassy

Programme Duration: 3 years (2-year Master’s in France + 1-year internship in South Africa)

Minimum Qualification: Completed Level 8 qualification with ≥65%

Eligible Programmes and Host Universities

Cape Peninsula University of Technology:

Electronique, Énergie, Électrique, Automatique (Mechatronics); Marine Science (Physical Oceanography); Nautical Science; Technology & Robotics
Central University of Technology: Physics
Durban University of Technology: Chemical Engineering (Green Energy)
Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University: Nanomedicine; Biostatistics
Tshwane University of Technology: Management Science (International Food & Beverage Management); Nursing
University of Limpopo: Bioinformatics
Vaal University of Technology: Industrial Engineering; Mechanical Engineering

👉 Apply for NESP France Master’s Scholarships

Visit also: NESP France University Portal

3. NESP Master’s Scholarships in South Africa (63 Positions)

Programme Duration: 3 years (2-year Master’s + 1-year internship)

Minimum Qualification: Completed Level 8 qualification with ≥65%

Eligible Programmes by Host Universities

(Highlights only; full list on official website provided)

Cape Peninsula University of Technology: Electronic Communication & Satellite Technology; Emergency Medical Aid
Nelson Mandela University: Mechatronics; Coding & Robotics; Criminal Justice
Durban University of Technology: Accounting; Video Technology; Information Management
University of KwaZulu-Natal: Water Resource Engineering; Structural, Mechanical, Chemical, Electrical Engineering
University of Pretoria: Veterinary Tropical Diseases; Civil Engineering; Speech-Language Pathology
University of the Western Cape: Data Science; Women & Gender Studies; Geography
Walter Sisulu University: Civil Engineering (Transport); Space Science; Medical Physics

…and many more disciplines across 26 public universities.