Theme: human_capital_development
Responsible: DSI / NRF / DHET
High. Bursary value increase is a budget line item within DSI/NRF appropriations. Industry co-funding leverages the existing Section 11D R&D tax incentive framework.
The NRF funds approximately 30,000 postgraduate students annually but bursary values of R80,000–R120,000 for doctoral students in 2024 are insufficient for urban cost of living and uncompetitive with international programmes, contributing to brain drain. Reform proposals include doubling doctoral bursary values to R180,000–R250,000, introducing industry co-funding requirements for applied research areas (mining, fintech, agri-tech), and linking bursary allocations to DSI Decadal Plan priorities. The NRF Amendment Act (2019) created the framework for industry partnerships; implementation has been partial. Parliamentary Committee on Science BRRRs noted South Africa's PhD production rate of 45 per million population is below the AU target of 100 per million by 2025, with bursary inadequacy as a cited cause of slow growth.
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How to cite
Wilse-Samson, L. (2026). NRF Postgraduate Bursary Reform: Value and Industry Co-funding. SA Policy Space. NYU Wagner School of Public Policy. Retrieved 11 May 2026, from https://sa-policy-space.vercel.app/ideas/nrf-postgraduate-bursary-reform-value-and-industry-co-funding?snapshot=2026-05-11
Data as of 2026-05-11 · latest PMG meeting 2026-05-08
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