Overview
The Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship supports postgraduate students whose academic and professional goals are connected to social justice in Southern Africa.
Rather than simply rewarding academic performance, the program looks for applicants who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to social justice and who want to use postgraduate study to address important challenges affecting the region.
Description
The Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship supports postgraduate students whose academic and professional goals are connected to social justice in Southern Africa.
Rather than simply rewarding academic performance, the program looks for applicants who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to social justice and who want to use postgraduate study to address important challenges affecting the region.
Successful scholars become part of the wider Canon Collins community and are expected to participate in scholar activities, including the annual conference and other network activities.
Eligibility
Applicants must also satisfy the academic requirements for their intended degree.
Additional Information
What Is The Canon Collins Rmtf Scholarship
The Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship supports postgraduate students whose academic and professional goals are connected to social justice in Southern Africa.
Rather than simply rewarding academic performance, the program looks for applicants who have demonstrated a sustained commitment to social justice and who want to use postgraduate study to address important challenges affecting the region.
Successful scholars become part of the wider Canon Collins community and are expected to participate in scholar activities, including the annual conference and other network activities.
Degree Level
The 2027 scholarship supports:
Master’s degrees
PhD degrees
The funded program must be undertaken at a South African university.
One useful feature of the scholarship is that eligible students may study full-time, part-time or through distance learning, depending on the requirements of their chosen program.
Available Subjects
For the 2027 cycle, Canon Collins is concentrating its funding on three broad academic areas.
1 Justice
This area can include subjects and research connected to:
Law
Economics
Politics
Climate justice
Human rights
Social and economic inequality
2 Education
Applicants can propose postgraduate study connected to:
Education policy
Education practice
Access to education
Educational inequality
Other relevant education-related issues
3 Humanities
Eligible humanities areas can include:
Literature
History
Anthropology
Arts
Other relevant humanities disciplines
Applicants should make sure their proposed degree or research genuinely fits one of these areas.
Degrees such as an MBA, medical science, sports science or applied science do not qualify simply because an applicant connects them generally to social development.
Social Justice Experience Is Important
One of the most distinctive eligibility requirements is the applicant's experience with social justice issues.
Applicants need at least two years of sustained engagement with social justice.
This does not necessarily mean two years of formal employment.
Relevant experience may include:
Community work
Volunteering
Advocacy
Teaching
Mentoring
NGO work
Public service
Social-impact research
Professional work addressing inequality
Human-rights initiatives
Education or environmental justice activities
The strongest applications will show a clear connection between the applicant's previous activities, proposed postgraduate study and future plans.
Benefits
The scholarship offers financial and professional benefits to successful applicants.
Funding Of Up To R100 000
The award can range from R20,000 to R100,000, depending on the scholar's circumstances.
Applicants should not automatically interpret the R100,000 figure as a guaranteed amount for every recipient.
Multi Year Support
Funding is normally available for:
Up to 2 years for Master’s study
Up to 3 years for PhD study
Continued funding is subject to satisfactory academic progress and the applicable scholarship conditions.
Flexible Study Options
Eligible scholars can pursue their studies:
Full-time
Part-time
Through eligible distance-learning arrangements
Canon Collins Network
Successful scholars become part of the wider Canon Collins network, providing opportunities to connect with other scholars and participate in community activities.
Scholars are expected to participate in activities such as the annual conference.
Eligible Nationalities
The Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship is open to nationals or recognized refugees from the following countries:
Angola
Botswana
Eswatini
Lesotho
Malawi
Mozambique
Namibia
South Africa
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Applicants will normally also need to live in one of these eligible countries.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must also satisfy the academic requirements for their intended degree.
Masters Applicants
Master’s candidates should hold or expect to obtain a good Honours degree, normally equivalent to at least a Second Class Upper Division.
Phd Applicants
PhD candidates should have a strong Master’s degree and must have identified a supervisor or prospective supervisor who has agreed in principle to supervise the proposed research.
A research proposal will also be required at the later application stage.
What Documents Are Required
The scholarship uses a two-stage application process.
At Stage 1, applicants generally provide documents such as:
Degree certificates
Academic transcripts
CV
Passport, birth certificate or driver's licence
Refugee documentation where applicable
Recent payslips if requested
Applicants who progress to Stage 2 will have additional requirements.
Master's applicants may need to submit a writing sample, while PhD applicants will need to provide their draft research proposal and supervisor support letter.
Two reference letters are also required at the later stage.
How Does The Application Process Work
The Canon Collins application process is divided into stages.
Stage 1
Applicants submit the initial online application and supporting documents.
The first stage is designed to establish whether the applicant meets the core eligibility requirements.
Stage 2
Applicants who pass the first stage are invited to provide more detailed information.
For the 2027 cycle, Stage 2 is expected in September 2026.
Interviews
Shortlisted applicants may be interviewed during October or November 2026.
Final outcomes are expected around mid-December 2026.
Important Ai Application Rule
Applicants should pay particular attention to the scholarship's policy on generative artificial intelligence.
For this scholarship, generative AI must not be used to draft, write or substantially edit application responses.
Applicants can use standard spelling and grammar tools where they do not rewrite their answers, but the substantive application must remain the applicant's own work.
Using AI-generated application content can result in disqualification.
Therefore, applicants should use scholarship guidance only to understand the requirements and prepare their own responses in their own voice.
Do Phd Applicants Need A Supervisor
Yes.
PhD applicants must identify a supervisor or prospective supervisor who has agreed in principle to supervise the proposed research.
This means prospective PhD candidates should begin contacting suitable academics before the later application stage.
Your proposed research should also clearly fit within one of the scholarship's three funded areas and address a meaningful social justice issue affecting Southern Africa.
How To Apply For The Canon Collins Scholarship
Applicants should begin by confirming that their:
Nationality or refugee status is eligible.
Country of residence meets the requirements.
Degree level is eligible.
Proposed subject falls within the 2027 funding areas.
Academic qualifications meet the required standard.
Social justice experience meets the two-year requirement.
South African university and intended program are eligible.
After confirming eligibility, applicants should prepare the required documents and complete the online application before the deadline.
Canon Collins Scholarship 2027 Deadline
The deadline for Stage 1 of the Canon Collins RMTF Scholarship 2027 is August 21, 2026, at 16:00 SAST.
Applicants should avoid submitting at the last minute because the application must be complete and supporting documents may need to be prepared in advance.
PhD applicants, in particular, should begin contacting potential supervisors as early as possible.
Final Thoughts
The Canon Collins RMTF Scholarships 2027 provide an important postgraduate funding opportunity for students from Southern Africa who want to study at a South African university while developing solutions to social justice challenges.
The program is particularly suitable for applicants whose academic plans are connected to Justice, Education or Humanities and who can demonstrate at least two years of meaningful social justice engagement.
With awards ranging from R20,000 to R100,000, support for up to two years of Master's study or three years of PhD study, and flexible study options, the scholarship can provide valuable support for eligible postgraduate students.
The Stage 1 deadline is August 21, 2026, at 16:00 SAST. Applicants should carefully review the nationality, academic, subject and social justice requirements before submitting their applications.
Frequently Asked Questions Faqs
Can international students apply for the Canon Collins Scholarship? Yes, but only if they are nationals or recognized refugees from one of the 10 eligible Southern African countries. Applicants must also meet the program's residence and other eligibility requirements.
Can I apply for an MBA under the Canon Collins Scholarship? No. The 2027 funding areas are focused on Justice, Education and Humanities. An MBA does not qualify simply because the applicant intends to work in social development.
Can I study part-time or through distance learning? Yes. The program supports full-time, part-time and eligible distance-learning study, provided the proposed postgraduate program and institution meet the scholarship requirements.
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Funding
Partial Funding
Organization
South Africa Universities
Degree
Masters, PhD
Subjects
Humanities, Education, Justice
Nationality
International Students
Country
South Africa
Source
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