I'm picking up that the @nrf_news new bursary scheme is getting drowned in the COVID-19 flood of news and call for funding so I'm going to do a thread on this, as the application deadlines are coming up fast. 1/n

A lot of this info comes from @nrf_news directly and from a brilliant @CoEMaSS presentation by Caz Mcnamara and others @WitsUniversity. 2/n

@NRF_News is implementing a new Postgraduate Funding Policy wherein postgraduate funding allocations will be
underpinned by the principles of equity of opportunity; representation; prioritisation; enhanced access, success
and throughput.

Prospective
New Applicants (Honours/Masters/Doctoral Funding) are alerted that the NRF is changing its bursary
application process for the 2021 funding round. The application submission deadlines are much earlier this
year than they have been in the past. 4/n

The new system does not affect existing #CentresOfExcellence bursary holders and prospective new post-doctoral applicants. 5/n

The DSI-NRF Centres of Excellence will not be accepting applications directly for any new bursary applications (Hons /Masters/Doctoral funding for 2021). All new
applications must be submitted via the NRF One Call Online Submission System: https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za/ . 6/n

When applying for an NRF bursary linked to a Centre of Excellence, applicants must use the CoE's email address or its NRF grant number, called a "UID", to link their application to a particular CoE. 7/n

If applicants do not 'link' to the CoE, as described above, the CoE will not know that a student has applied and won't be able to evaluate their case. The NRF, NSFAS/ISFAP adn the CoE's share the evaluation task so all of us have to be in the loop to play good music! 8/n

The NRF deadline is in mid-August, but your university might have an earlier closing date. Check with your Supervisor(s) and/or your 2021 University Research Office about your University internal closing date. E.g., the Masters deadline @StellenboschUni is 18 June 2020. 9/n

If you miss your Institution’s internal deadline , you will unfortunately miss out on the opportunity to secure any 2021 funding from the NRF or any CoE. Please don’t miss the (funding) bus! 10/n

These are the criteria for awards: Citizenship, Age, Academic merit, Financial need, for determining the level of
funding, Equity and Redress Targets, Diversity, Gender, Disability. 11/n