Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme: How to Apply

Key Facts

Status: Applications Closed
Provider: South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
Field of Study: MBA & Postgraduate
Study Level: Doctoral
Application Closes: Thu, 23 Jul 2026 - 12:00

Reviewed & Verified by Makona Mandla Lead Editor, Bursary Verification

Closed Closed

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 - 12:00

Eligibility Requirements

South African citizen or permanent resident
Holder of a master's degree
Officially approved PhD research proposal
Ethics approval granted, or under review when you apply
Registered with a recognised council: HPCSA, SANC, SACSSP or SAPC
Written commitment from an experienced research supervisor

Documents Needed

The Application Guidelines PDF on the SAMRC call page contains the full document checklist. SAMRC also offers an abstract example and a supervisor CV template there.

About Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme

The Bongani Mayosi National Health Scholars Programme funds full-time PhD study for registered health professionals in South Africa. The South African Medical Research Council runs the call. Its aim is to build clinical and health research capacity through doctoral training.

The 2026 call opened on 6 May 2026, and applicants had until 23 July 2026 after an extension. Supervisors then had until 30 July 2026 to submit. Consequently, this PhD scholarship is closed for now, and we could not find dates for the next round.

Funding Details

The scholarship is tax-free and runs for the full prescribed PhD period. It has no set amount. Instead, SAMRC matches it to the after-tax take-home pay you would earn on the public service professional scale for your qualifications, without overtime. This design lets working professionals study full-time without giving up a salary-level income.

The call page does not mention a work-back obligation, so ask SAMRC if your award carries any conditions.

Also ask whether this award can sit alongside other funding or a paid post, since full-time study may affect your current employment.

Where You Can Study

You must register as a full-time PhD student at a South African university when the award starts. In addition, an experienced research supervisor must commit in writing to train you for the full degree. That supervisor also needs project funding and suitable facilities.

Choose your supervisor with care, because this call depends on that person's commitment and resources. Meet early to agree on the proposal, the ethics process and the funding for your project. Your supervisor must also submit a separate form, so a late response from them can end your application.

About South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)

About the South African Medical Research Council The South African Medical Research Council, known as the SAMRC, is the country's statutory body for health and medical research. It began operating on 1 July 1969 as an in…

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Fields of Study & Who Can Apply

This health scholarship targets professional nurses, occupational therapists, optometrists, biostatisticians, social workers, demographers, physiotherapists, pharmacists, psychologists, medical practitioners and medical scientists.

Your research should fit a national priority. The 2026 call named health system strengthening, early detection of non-communicable diseases, and public health innovation for health promotion and disease prevention. Because the priorities can change, read the guidelines for each new call.

This programme suits people who already work in health and want to lead research. For example, a nurse could study how clinics manage staff shortages, while a pharmacist could look at medicine supply chains. Your proposal should explain the health problem, your method and the likely benefit to South African patients or services.

Application Procedure

First, complete the online form linked on the call page. Next, upload your supporting documents. Finally, your supervisor completes the abridged track record and commitment form, and then submits the application.

Applications for this cycle have closed. Check the provider's site for the next intake.