University of the Witwatersrand PhD and LLM Bursaries 2027: Up to R200,000 for African Law Researchers
Applications are open for the 2027 PhD and LLM by Research bursaries at the University of the Witwatersrand School of Law, offering postgraduate funding for researchers interested in equality, socio-economic rights, land rights, housing, social justice, and African human rights law.
The bursaries are offered through the NRF-funded South African Research Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice, based at the School of Law, University of the Witwatersrand (Wits University), Johannesburg, South Africa.
Successful applicants will undertake either a PhD or an LLM by Research beginning in 2027 under the supervision of the Chair or associated academics.
The opportunity is particularly significant for postgraduate researchers from South Africa and other African countries whose proposed research aligns with one of the Chair’s identified areas of interest.
For 2027, the bursary value is approximately:
- R200,000 for PhD candidates who qualify for the higher level of NRF support
- R190,000 for LLM candidates who qualify for the higher level of NRF support
- Approximately R150,000 for PhD candidates qualifying at the lower funding level
- Approximately R145,000 for LLM candidates qualifying at the lower funding level
The higher funding level is linked to the NRF’s means-tested funding provisions or applicants with academic averages of 75% or higher, while students with a minimum academic average of 65% may qualify for partial bursary amounts.
Applicants must study full-time at Wits University, meet the relevant academic and age requirements, and successfully complete several stages of approval involving the SARChI Chair, the National Research Foundation, and the Wits School of Law.
The application deadline is 30 September 2026.
About the Wits University School of Law Postgraduate Funding Opportunity
The funding opportunity is offered through the South African Research Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice, commonly referred to as a SARChI Chair.
The Chair is supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa (NRF) and is hosted within the School of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The 2027 call seeks postgraduate researchers who want to undertake sustained research on questions related to:
- Equality
- Law
- Social justice
- Socio-economic rights
- Land rights
- Housing
- Vulnerable groups
- African regional institutions
- African human rights mechanisms
The funding is available for two research-degree routes:
- PhD
- LLM by Research
Applicants should therefore be interested in completing an advanced research degree rather than a coursework-only programme.
Research Areas Available for 2027
Applicants must propose research that fits within one of the areas identified by the SARChI Chair.
The five research areas are:
- Intergenerational equity and women’s land rights
- Impact of intergenerational injustice on the right to housing
- Contributions of African regional bodies to the development and enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights
- The role of economic, social and cultural rights in addressing inequalities among vulnerable groups in Africa
- Advancing equality and social change through the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
These research areas place the opportunity firmly within broader debates about law, justice, rights, inequality, and African legal institutions.
1. Intergenerational Equity and Women’s Land Rights
One of the research areas concerns:
Intergenerational equity and women’s land rights.
Applicants interested in this field would need to develop a research question addressing the relationship between gender, land rights, justice across generations, and relevant legal frameworks.
The call itself does not prescribe a specific research question, country case study, legal jurisdiction, or methodology.
Applicants therefore need to formulate their own focused research problem within this broader theme.
The one-to-two-page summary research proposal required at the initial application stage should clearly identify the legal or socio-legal issue the candidate intends to investigate.
2. Intergenerational Injustice and the Right to Housing
A second research area is:
The impact of intergenerational injustice on the right to housing.
This theme connects questions of historical or inherited inequality with legal protections concerning housing.
Applicants should propose a clearly defined research problem rather than merely stating that they want to research housing rights.
The Chair is looking for a concise proposal demonstrating that the candidate has identified a substantive question appropriate for advanced postgraduate research.
3. African Regional Bodies and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights
The third research area focuses on:
The contributions of African regional bodies to the development and enforcement of economic, social and cultural rights.
Economic, social and cultural rights are often abbreviated as ESC rights.
This research area is particularly relevant to candidates interested in African regional human rights law and institutions.
The call does not prescribe which regional body, particular right, or country should form the focus of the research, so applicants will need to define an appropriate research scope themselves.
4. ESC Rights and Inequality Among Vulnerable Groups in Africa
Another priority is:
The role of economic, social and cultural rights in addressing inequalities among vulnerable groups in Africa.
This theme combines:
- Rights
- Inequality
- Social justice
- Vulnerability
- African legal and policy contexts
Applicants will need to identify which rights, groups, legal frameworks, or inequalities their proposed study will address.
The research should remain closely aligned with the broader work of the Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice.
5. African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, Equality and Social Change
The fifth research area concerns:
Advancing equality and social change through the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
This provides a particularly strong avenue for applicants interested in:
- African human rights law
- Regional judicial institutions
- Equality
- Rights enforcement
- Legal approaches to social change
Again, the call identifies the broad research field rather than providing a predetermined dissertation project.
Candidates are expected to formulate their own viable research question.
Degree Options
The funding opportunity supports two postgraduate research degrees.
PhD
Applicants may apply to undertake a doctoral degree under the supervision of the SARChI Chair or associated scholars.
The PhD bursary may provide approximately:
R200,000
for candidates meeting the applicable higher-level NRF funding criteria.
For applicants with the minimum qualifying academic average of 65%, the funding may instead be approximately:
R150,000
or the applicable part thereof.
LLM by Research
The opportunity also supports candidates undertaking an:
LLM by Research
This is distinct from a coursework-based LLM.
The LLM by Research bursary may be approximately:
R190,000
for applicants qualifying for the higher NRF funding level.
For candidates with a minimum academic average of 65%, the amount may be approximately:
R145,000
or part thereof.
Understanding the 2027 Bursary Amounts
Applicants should pay close attention to the way the funding is structured.
The call states that the approximate 2027 NRF bursary values are:
Higher funding level
PhD: Approximately R200,000
LLM: Approximately R190,000
This higher level applies under the relevant NRF means-tested funding criteria or for students with academic averages of:
75% or higher
Lower or partial funding level
Applicants meeting the minimum average of:
65%
may qualify for approximately:
R150,000 for PhD
or:
R145,000 for LLM
or the applicable part thereof.
Applicants should therefore not assume that every successful candidate automatically receives the maximum stated amount.
Actual funding is subject to NRF eligibility and approval.
The Bursary Must Be the Primary Funding
The call states that the NRF bursary should be held as the applicant’s:
Primary funding towards the degree.
Candidates who already have another major funding source should therefore consult the relevant NRF rules to determine whether the funding can be combined with other awards.
The detailed NRF Postgraduate Funding Framework should be reviewed carefully by applicants who have questions about concurrent funding or other financial conditions.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must meet several important requirements.
They must:
- Intend to undertake either a PhD or LLM by Research
- Study full-time
- Study at the University of the Witwatersrand
- Work under the supervision of the Chair or associates
- Be South African or come from another African country
- Meet the required minimum academic average
- Meet the NRF age requirement
- Submit a research proposal aligned with one of the five listed areas
This is therefore a targeted postgraduate research funding opportunity rather than a general scholarship open to all programmes at Wits University.
Full-Time Study Requirement
Successful applicants must undertake their degree:
Full-time
at:
Wits University
The funding is therefore not presented as support for part-time postgraduate study.
Applicants should be prepared to commit to the academic requirements of a full-time research programme.
Academic Requirements
The call specifies a minimum academic average of:
65% in the applicant’s previous degree
The qualifying previous degree is generally:
- LLB for relevant LLM applicants
- LLM for PhD applicants
The 65% threshold is the minimum requirement for NRF bursary eligibility under this opportunity.
Applicants with academic averages of 75% or above may potentially qualify for the higher funding level identified in the call.
Age Requirements
The NRF funding also includes maximum age requirements.
LLM Applicants
Applicants must be:
30 years old or younger in 2027
The announcement states that candidates must not be older than 30 in 2027.
PhD Applicants
Applicants must be:
32 years old or younger in 2027
Candidates must therefore not be older than 32 in 2027.
These are important eligibility conditions.
A strong academic record does not override the age requirements stated for the NRF bursary.
Nationality and Geographic Eligibility
The opportunity is open to:
- South African applicants
- Applicants from other African countries
This makes the bursary a continentally accessible postgraduate opportunity rather than one restricted only to South African nationals.
Applicants from African countries outside South Africa must still meet all academic, programme, funding, and admission requirements.
Required Application Documents
Applicants must prepare six main components.
1. Covering Letter
Candidates must submit a letter explaining:
Why they are interested in the bursary.
The letter should therefore be tailored specifically to the SARChI Chair opportunity.
A strong covering letter should connect:
- The applicant’s academic background
- Research interests
- Proposed topic
- Interest in equality, law and social justice
- Long-term academic or professional goals
- Reasons for wanting to work with the Chair
Candidates should avoid sending a generic postgraduate funding letter.
2. One-to-Two-Page Research Proposal
Applicants must provide a:
One-to-two-page summary research proposal
The proposal should clearly specify:
The issue the applicant wishes to research.
This is one of the most important components of the application.
Because the proposal is short, candidates need to present their idea concisely.
A useful structure may include:
- Proposed title
- Research problem
- Main research question
- Brief background
- Relevance to one of the Chair’s research areas
- Proposed legal or research approach
- Expected contribution
Applicants should remain within the required one-to-two-page length.
Choosing a Research Topic
The research proposal should align directly with one of the five announced areas.
Candidates should avoid proposing a broad topic such as:
“Human rights in Africa”
or:
“Women’s rights.”
Instead, the proposal should identify a specific and researchable legal issue.
The application should make clear why the project belongs within the Chair’s programme on:
Equality, Law and Social Justice.
3. Copy of ID or Passport
Applicants must provide either:
- Identification document, or
- Passport
This helps establish identity and relevant nationality information.
International African applicants should ensure their passport documentation is clear and valid.
4. Curriculum Vitae
Applicants must submit an updated CV.
For an academic postgraduate funding application, the CV should highlight information such as:
- Education
- Academic results
- Research experience
- Dissertation or thesis experience
- Publications, if any
- Research assistant work
- Mooting or legal research
- Internships
- Relevant professional experience
- Awards
- Conferences
- Teaching or tutoring
- Community or public-interest work
Candidates should prioritize experiences connected to law, rights, equality, social justice, or their proposed research field.
5. Full Academic Records
Applicants must provide:
Full academic records
This is essential because the NRF bursary has explicit minimum academic thresholds.
Candidates should ensure the submitted record clearly demonstrates their academic performance.
6. Two Academic Referees
Applicants must provide:
Contact details for two academic referees.
Referees should ideally be academics who know the applicant’s research or academic abilities well.
Potential referees might include:
- Thesis supervisor
- Dissertation supervisor
- Research project supervisor
- Lecturer
- Professor familiar with the applicant’s work
The announcement asks for contact details rather than stating that recommendation letters must be submitted with the initial application.
Applicants should follow any subsequent instructions they receive from the Chair.
Application Process: Three Important Stages
Applicants should understand that acceptance by the SARChI Chair is not the final funding decision.
The process involves multiple stages.
Stage 1: Apply to the SARChI Chair
Applicants first submit the required documents to the Chair’s application contact.
The application will be evaluated for:
- Research alignment
- Academic eligibility
- Bursary criteria
- Suitability for supervision
Stage 2: Apply to the NRF
Candidates accepted by the Chair will subsequently need to submit an application through the:
National Research Foundation online system
Acceptance by the Chair remains subject to NRF approval.
The SARChI Chair will provide additional details to candidates who reach this stage.
Stage 3: Apply to the Wits School of Law
Successful bursary candidates must also obtain admission to the appropriate:
Wits School of Law programme
This means that being selected for consideration by the Chair does not automatically constitute formal admission to Wits University.
Candidates must successfully satisfy the academic admission requirements for the relevant:
- PhD, or
- LLM by Research
programme.
Important Conditional Nature of the Award
Applicants should therefore understand that final funding depends on:
- Acceptance by the SARChI Chair
- NRF approval
- Successful admission to the relevant Wits School of Law programme
All three elements matter.
How to Submit the Application
Applications must be sent to:
Judy Mafika
Email:
Candidates are encouraged to submit:
As soon as possible
and no later than:
30 September 2026
Late applications will not be considered.
Incomplete applications will also not be considered.
Applicants should therefore confirm that all required documents are attached before sending their application.
Application Deadline
The final deadline is:
30 September 2026
This is the deadline for the initial application to the SARChI Chair.
Applicants should not confuse this deadline with later NRF or Wits University processes that may apply after selection.
When Will Applicants Hear Back?
The announcement states that applicants who do not receive communication by:
The end of October 2026
should consider their application to the Chair unsuccessful.
This provides candidates with a relatively clear timeline for the first stage of the process.
Enquiries About Research Scope
Applicants who have questions about the research areas or whether their proposed project fits the Chair’s programme may contact:
Professor Cathi Albertyn
or:
Professor Lilian Chenwi
Questions concerning the scope of the research area or bursary criteria should be directed to these contacts.
About the SARChI Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice
The postgraduate bursaries are connected to the:
South African Research Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice
at the University of the Witwatersrand.
The Chair’s 2027 research themes show a strong focus on the relationship between law and structural inequality.
Across the five identified areas, recurring themes include:
- Equality
- Intergenerational justice
- Women’s rights
- Land rights
- Housing
- Economic, social and cultural rights
- Vulnerable groups
- African institutions
- Regional human rights law
- Social change
This makes the bursary particularly relevant to students interested in legal research that examines how law interacts with inequality and social transformation.
Why the Opportunity Is Particularly Relevant to African Researchers
The programme explicitly welcomes candidates from:
South Africa and other African countries.
Research topics are also heavily centered on African legal and human rights questions.
This combination provides opportunities for researchers to examine legal issues within African contexts while being based at a major South African university.
The identified themes encourage research relating to:
- African rights institutions
- African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
- Vulnerable groups in Africa
- Regional approaches to ESC rights
- Equality and social justice
Understanding ESC Rights
Several of the research themes refer to:
ESC rights
This stands for:
Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
Within the context of this call, applicants may be interested in examining how legal frameworks and institutions contribute to developing, enforcing, or using such rights to respond to inequality.
The specific right, jurisdiction, population, or institutional focus must be defined by the applicant’s proposal.
Preparing a Competitive Application
1. Start With the Research Fit
The first question applicants should ask is not:
“How much funding can I receive?”
Instead, ask:
“Does my research genuinely fit one of the five themes?”
Strong thematic alignment is fundamental.
2. Make the Research Problem Specific
A one-to-two-page proposal does not allow space for an extremely broad topic.
Clearly state:
- What problem exists
- What legal question you want to answer
- Why the question matters
- Where the research is situated
- What contribution the project could make
3. Connect the Project to Equality and Social Justice
Even when choosing a specific area such as land, housing, or the African Court, applicants should make the connection with the Chair’s overarching concern with:
Equality, Law and Social Justice
clear.
4. Demonstrate Academic Readiness
The minimum average is 65%, but a competitive application should communicate more than numerical eligibility.
Candidates can highlight:
- Strong legal research
- Previous dissertation work
- Research methods
- Academic writing
- Relevant coursework
- Publications
- Conference work
where applicable.
5. Choose Strong Academic Referees
Your referees should be capable of discussing your ability to undertake independent postgraduate research.
A famous academic who barely knows your work may be less useful than a lecturer or supervisor familiar with your academic strengths.
6. Check the Age Requirement Before Applying
The age limits are explicit:
- LLM: maximum 30 in 2027
- PhD: maximum 32 in 2027
Applicants should verify this condition before investing substantial time in preparing the application.
7. Submit a Complete Application
The call states explicitly:
Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Before submitting, check that your application contains:
- Covering letter
- Research proposal
- ID/passport
- CV
- Full academic records
- Two academic referees
Application Checklist
Before sending your application, confirm that you have:
- Written a tailored covering letter.
- Prepared a one-to-two-page research proposal.
- Selected one of the five relevant research areas.
- Included your ID or passport.
- Updated your CV.
- Attached full academic records.
- Provided two academic referee contacts.
- Checked that your previous-degree average is at least 65%.
- Confirmed that you meet the NRF age requirement.
- Confirmed that you can study full-time at Wits University.
- Confirmed that you are South African or from another African country.
- Submitted everything by September 30, 2026.
Important Dates at a Glance
Opportunity announced: 20 August 2026
Application deadline: 30 September 2026
Initial outcome timeframe: By the end of October 2026
Study commencement: 2027
Applicants accepted by the Chair will subsequently receive information concerning their NRF and Wits School of Law applications.
Important Funding Details at a Glance
PhD
Higher-level bursary:
Approximately R200,000
Other qualifying funding level:
Approximately R150,000 or part thereof
LLM by Research
Higher-level bursary:
Approximately R190,000
Other qualifying funding level:
Approximately R145,000 or part thereof
Academic threshold
Minimum:
65%
Applicants with:
75% or higher
may be eligible for the higher stated funding level, alongside the applicable means-tested criteria.
Important Eligibility Details at a Glance
University: University of the Witwatersrand
School: Wits School of Law
Research Chair: NRF SARChI Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice
Degrees: PhD or LLM by Research
Study mode: Full-time
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Eligible applicants: South Africans and applicants from other African countries
Minimum academic average: 65%
Maximum age for LLM: 30 in 2027
Maximum age for PhD: 32 in 2027
Deadline: 30 September 2026
Conclusion
The University of the Witwatersrand PhD and LLM Bursaries 2027 provide an important postgraduate funding opportunity for African researchers interested in law, equality, socio-economic rights and social justice.
Offered through the NRF-funded SARChI Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice at Wits School of Law, the opportunity supports full-time PhD and LLM by Research candidates working in one of five areas:
- Intergenerational equity and women’s land rights
- Intergenerational injustice and housing rights
- African regional bodies and economic, social and cultural rights
- ESC rights and inequalities affecting vulnerable groups in Africa
- Equality and social change through the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights
The approximate 2027 funding can reach R200,000 for PhD candidates and R190,000 for LLM candidates under the applicable higher funding criteria, while other candidates meeting the minimum 65% academic requirement may qualify for approximately R150,000 or R145,000 respectively, or part thereof.
Candidates must be South African or from another African country, study full-time at Wits University, meet the applicable NRF academic and age criteria, and conduct their research under the Chair or associated supervisors.
Applicants need to submit a covering letter, one-to-two-page research proposal, ID or passport, CV, full academic records and details of two academic referees.
Initial acceptance by the Chair remains subject to both NRF approval and successful admission to the appropriate Wits School of Law programme.
The deadline for applications is 30 September 2026.
For further information, applicants can consult the Wits University announcement and the NRF Postgraduate Funding Framework or contact Professors Cathi Albertyn and Lilian Chenwi regarding research scope and bursary criteria.
To know more about this opportunity, VISIT HERE.
To explore more global scholarship opportunities, CLICK HERE.
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