Announcement of NRF Calls for Proposals
2025/2026
The National Research Foundation (NRF) is pleased to announce the opening of the NRF Calls for Proposals for the 2025/2026 funding cycle.
The first set of calls has opened today, and additional calls will open according to the dates specified in Appendix 1 of the attached General Application Guide 2026.
Categories of Calls Opening in 2025
- Concept Notes
- Global Knowledge Partnerships
- Infrastructure grants
- Institutional Grants
- Non-Funding Opportunities
- NRF Postgraduate Scholarships
- Postdoctoral Grants
- Research Grants
- SARAO Diploma and Undergraduate Scholarships
- Targeted Grants
- Travel, Training and Conference Grants
Application Process
- Applications must be submitted electronically on the NRF Connect System at NRF Connect unless otherwise stated in the General Application Guide 2026.
Call Documents and Contact Information
- All Framework and Funding Guides, Application Guides, and the General Application Guide 2026 will be available on the NRF website: www.nrf.ac.za.
- For specific queries regarding each Funding Instrument, please refer to the relevant contact person(s) listed in the call documents.
- Additionally, an NRF Funding Opportunity Contact List is attached for further guidance.
- Any information not currently included in the General Application Guide will be provided as soon as it becomes available.
Institutional Cut-Off Dates
- Applications must reach the NRF by the deadlines specified in Appendix 1 of the General Application Guide 2026.
- Institutions may set earlier internal closing dates for submission to their respective Research Offices (or equivalent).
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to first consult their institutional authorities, such as the Research/Postgraduate Office, for guidance on submissions.
For Queries:
- Funding Instrument-related queries: Contact the designated contact person(s) as indicated in the Framework and Funding and Application Guides.
- Technical Support: Contact the NRF Support Desk at supportdesk@nrf.ac.za.
We encourage all prospective applicants to carefully review the call documents and consult the relevant contacts for guidance.
Thank you for your interest in the NRF funding opportunities.
