1. NRF Funding Opportunities
Sabbatical Processes Workshop (UP)
12 June 2017
Melissa Govender
GMSA: Emerging Researchers

2. NRF
promote and support research through funding, human resource development and the provision of the necessary facilities in order
to facilitate the creation of knowledge, innovation and development in all fields of research, including indigenous knowledge,
and thereby to contribute to the improvement of the quality of life of all the people of the Republic.

3. GMSA Grants Management and Systems Administration
Emerging Researchers
Established Researchers
Strategic Investments
Total budget = R2 billion
Processes
Pre-award
Award
Post-award

4. Emerging Researchers Programme
Fund next generation and emerging researchers
Budget = R900 million
Total no. grantholders =
Duration
Honours = 1 year
Master’s = 2 years
Doctoral = 3 years
Post-Doctoral = 2 years (unless specified by programme)
Types of grants
Free-standing grants (Individual grants where applicants are grant-holders)
Block grants (Funds given as a lump sum to the grant-holder who distributes according to set NRF guidelines)
Grantholder-linked (Researcher is given funds and can nominate students under his/her grant)
*Funding period is based on the date of initial
registration for the degree (H,M&D) or commencement
of research (postdocs).

5. NRF Funding Instruments
Free-standing Grants
Block Grants
Innovation Fund Scholarships
Scarce Skills Scholarships
NRF Free-standing Scholarships
DAAD-NRF In-Country Master’s and Doctoral Scholarships
Renewable & Sustainable Energy Fellowships
Desmond Tutu Doctoral Scholarships
Green Economy Doctoral & Post-Doctoral
The World Academy of Sciences (TWAS) Programme
Early Career Researchers from the UK
Research Career Awards (RCA)
SANCOR
Waste RDI
nGAP
Extension Scholarships for Master’s and Doctoral
Honours and Master’s Block Grants
Professional Development Programme (PDP)
Collaborative Postgraduate Training Programme
Staff Development Grants:
Thuthuka
Sabbatical Grants
Part-time Doctoral Scholarships
Travel Grants

6. Sabbatical Grants to Complete Doctoral Degrees

7. Sabbatical Grants
Academic staff to complete doctoral degrees in any field of study
Special intervention aimed at addressing:
the decline in the number of full- time university academic staff with doctoral degrees and
the inadequate supervisory capacity
Level
Value
Doctoral
R for 6 months
R for 12 months

8. Eligibility
Applicants must be full-time academic employees, in public universities in South Africa, engaged in research in any discipline and, registered in a doctoral program
Applicants must be South African citizens
Applicants will be expected to have no teaching-related duties assigned to them during the six or twelve month period of the sabbatical
Sabbatical must start between January and September of the year of award

9. Selection Criteria
The research project must be registered with an accredited institution;
The application must include a project plan which outlines the following:
The Project Organisation (Progress to date, Project team members, roles and responsibilities of each member, tasks assigned to each member);
Project schedule/Work Breakdown Structure (WBS) with the work divided into manageable activities linked to specific time-bound outcomes; and
Project budget (listing activities, costs and motivation towards efficient use of resources).
Applicants should be close to completion at the point of application; and
Applicants must intend to complete the dissertation write-up during the six or twelve month sabbatical period.

10. Financials The grant is intended to fund two distinct cost drivers:
lecturer replacement costs; and
costs related to completing the dissertation write-up

11. Carry Forwards Sabbatical grants awarded in a calendar year
Only considered under extenuating circumstances
Motivation required
Automatic if >60% spent

12. Reporting Final report Proof of submission of thesis (within 1 year)

13. Call Process Call advertised Applications online
Submitted to NRF for review
Call closed
GMSA screens (eligibility and application requirements)
Eligible applications sent to Reviews and Evaluations (RE)
Applications reviewed by external experts
Funding decisions
Awards made
Call advertised
±6 months
Awards made

14. Sabbatical Proposals: Screening Checklist
Check application for completeness
1. Supervisor’s recommendation
2. Proof of duration of full-time, permanent or fixed-term contract employment
Accept
If yes
If yes No No
REJECT
Reject: basic responses
Application is incomplete
No supervisor recommendation attached.
Proof of duration of employment not attached.
Accept: basic responses
Application is complete
Supervisor recommendation attached.
Proof of duration of employment attached.

15. Scorecard for the Evaluation of Proposals
Section 1: Work plan for completion of doctoral studies

17. Section 2: Research Outputs

18. Call Process Call advertised Applications online
Submitted to NRF for review
Call closed
GMSA screens (eligibility and application requirements)
Eligible applications sent to Reviews and Evaluations (RE)
Applications reviewed by external experts
Funding decisions
Awards made
Call advertised
±6 months
Awards made

19. Funding Decisions Applications score Targets Institution spread Budget
80% Black (Black, Indian, Coloured)
55% Female
4% Persons with disabilities
Institution spread
Budget

20. Award and Post-Award Process
Successful list published
Grants created on system
Award notifications
Grantholder to sign Conditions of Grant (CoG)
Designated Authority uploads to system
Signed CoG
Proof of Registration
Release funds

21. Online Application Process

23. Framework
Application and
Funding Guide

24. Degree to be Funded section

26. *Please indicate your Running Costs individually

27. Details of Research section – Page 22

28. Details of Research section – Page 22
Rationale and Literature Review
Please provide a brief description of the doctoral study.
Aims and Objectives
Please provide an indication of the progress achieved thus far against the aim (s) and set objectives of the doctoral study (maximum one page). This should be divided into the relevant years, providing the following information per year:
Research objectives according to work plan
Achievements
Reasons for non-achievement, if applicable
Methodology and Proposed Research Plan
This section is divided into Aim(s), Objectives, Activities and Expected Outputs.
Each Aim should have Objectives linked to it with relevant activities, a workplan, timelines, team members and expected outputs.
These objectives should substantiate the requested budget.
The research aim(s) and objective(s) should relate directly to the research project and not to capacity or human resource development aim(s).

29. Thank you!
UP Grants Office
Contact person: Ninette Mouton
Tel: