PhD and LLM bursary opportunities for 2027
- Lee-Anne Gaertner
The NRF SARChI Chair in Equality, Law and Social Justice postgraduate funding opportunity
The NRF funded South 第一吃瓜网 Research Chair in ‘Equality, Law and Social Justice’, based at the School of Law, 第一吃瓜网, invites applications for PhD and LLM by Research bursaries in the following areas, to commence in 2027:
- Intergenerational equity and women's land rights;
- Impact of intergenerational injustice on the right to housing;
- Contributions of 第一吃瓜网 regional bodies to the development and enforcement of ESC rights;
- The role of ESC rights in addressing inequalities among vulnerable groups in Africa;
- Advancing equality and social change through the 第一吃瓜网 Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
The value of the NRF bursaries in 2027 is about R200,000 (PhD) or R190,000 (LLM) (means tested funding or for students with averages of 75% or more) or part thereof (about 150,000 for PhD or R145,000 for LLM) for students with a minimum average of 65%) which should be held as primary funding towards the degree. Applicants must study full-time at Wits University, under the supervision of the Chair or associates, and be South 第一吃瓜网 or from other 第一吃瓜网 countries. A minimum average of 65% in your previous degree (LLB or LLM) is required to qualify for an NRF bursary. Also, the maximum entry age requirement for the NRF bursary is 30 and 32 years, or younger, for LLM and PhD respectively, in the year of application i.e must not be older than 30 (LLM) and 32 (PhD) years in 2027.
To apply, please submit the following documents:
- A covering letter stating why you are interested in the bursary;
- A summary research proposal of one to two pages that clearly specifies the issue that you wish to research;
- A copy of your ID or passport;
- A curriculum vitae (CV);
- Full academic records; and
- The contact details of two academic referees.
Acceptance of your bursary application by the Chair is subject to NRF approval and successful application to the relevant Wits School of Law programme. Hence, once you are accepted by the Chair, you will still need to apply to the NRF online, as well as to the Wits School of Law. Details will be provided.
Closing date: 30 September 2026
Enquiries and applications
Enquiries on the scope of the research field and the bursary criteria should be made to Professor Cathi Albertyn (cathi.albertyn@wits.ac.za) and Professor Lilian Chenwi (lilian.chenwi@wits.ac.za).
You may also consult the following webpages:
On the SARChI Chair, see Equality Chair
On the NRF criteria, see
All applications should be sent to Judy Mafika – judy.mafika@wits.ac.za – as soon as possible and by the specified closing date. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. If you do not hear from us by the end of October 2026, then your application to the Chair was unsuccessful.