Academics funding - Research and Innovation

Academics Funding Opportunities

The Office of the Chief Research Administrator provides advice of funding opportunities, in particular facilitating academic staff applications to the National Research Foundation (NRF) and other national funding bodies. Internal funding opportunities are also encouraged and supported. Newly appointed academics are assisted so that they can attain expected levels of research. The Office annually also gathers all published, peer-reviewed research outputs (articles, books, chapters in books and conference proceedings), for submission to the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

In summary, the office can assist researchers with:

Support and advice for NRF funding and evaluation for rating applications
Information on internal funding opportunities
Assistance with applying for other national funding opportunities (i.e., SAMRC, CSIR and others)
Advice on international and local funding opportunities
Internal quality assurance of all funding proposals
Support on existing grants and making sure researchers/academics adhere to deadlines for reports
Early career development and capacity building for academics recently appointed
Assistance with the payment of page fees

NRF Applications for Funding and Evaluation & Rating

The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers funding opportunities to researchers employed UNIZULU. The Office can assist researchers who is applying for the various funding calls. The Office, in collaboration with NRF, provides briefing sessions where researchers are taken through the application process of certain funding calls.

As well as funding research, the NRF also provide an opportunity for researchers to apply for rating. To be rated is essential for researchers, but can be daunting to early career academics, as it is a complex exercise. The Office, in collaboration with the NRF and other experts provides workshop sessions to assist researchers to apply for rating. Once applications are submitted, the Office sends out the application an external reviewer for guidance and comments prior to submitting the application to the NRF.

To apply for the NRF funding opportunities click here https://nrfsubmission.nrf.ac.za

For more information on the NRF funding opportunities, you can visit their website click here https://www.nrf.ac.za/

Internal Funding

Those who wish to apply to the Research Committee for internal funding can obtain application forms below. Various funding opportunities are available, for example funding support for emerging researchers; local and international conferences; page fees (APC); hosting of conferences, etc.

Another funding opportunity is the DHET-UCDP PhD Staff Replacement Programme where academic staff, who are in position to complete their doctoral degree in a certain year and in time for graduation by the next graduation date, can apply for six months special study leave to enable them to write up and complete their doctorate. This propramme provides financial assistance to the department to employ a leave substitute lecturer during the academic staff members leave period.