UCT Archive and Public Culture Postgraduate Bursaries South Africa 2025 – 2026
ABOUT THE COMPANY – ARCHIVE AND PUBLIC CULTURE RESEARCH INITIATIVE
The Archive and Public Culture Research Initiative, located at the University of Cape Town’s History Department, was formed in 2009 and is funded by the National Research Foundation. Formed to tackle critical questions about history, memory, identity and the public sphere in South Africa.
ABOUT THE BURSARY PROGRAMME – FIELDS COVERED | COVERAGE VALUE
The NRF-funded South African Research Chair in Archive and Public Culture, Faculty of Humanities at the University of Cape Town, award bursaries to postgraduate students (Masters and doctoral) every year.
Fellowships and bursaries will be awarded in ANY discipline, for students interested in pursuing topics related to the focus of the Chair on the interrogation of the intersection and co-production of archive and discourse. 2 special areas of interest by the Chair are:
1) History of southern Africa in the late independent era (including research into ideas, concepts, currents of thought, expertise and praxis that existed in southern African societies in periods spanning some three hundred years before colonialism). Students will be expected to partake in innovative theoretical and methodological work.
2) Digital humanities and new epistemologies (with focus on digital opportunities for curatorial experiments in the development of new archives, the digital refiguring of inherited archives and the development of digital humanities materials for presentation in public life).
Bursaries will be awarded to the following values:
- Master of Arts studies – full funding to the maximum value of R167 000 per year, for 2 years
- Master of Arts studies – partial funding to the maximum value of R100 000 per year, for 2 years
- PhD studies – full funding to the maximum value of R175 000 per year, for 3 years
- PhD studies – partial funding to the maximum value of R90 000 per year, for 3 years
- Postdoctoral Fellow – full funding to the maximum value of R200 000 per year (renewable for a 2nd year subject to satisfactory academic performance)
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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):
- Completed an undergraduate degree
- Studying or intend on studying towards a postgraduate qualification (Masters and doctoral studies)
- Studying or intend on studying at the University of Cape Town
- Must have achieved a minimum of 65% for your prior degree
- Full funding students: must have achieved a minimum of 75% for your prior degree OR must have a combined family income of no more than R350 000 per year
- PhD degree students: must NOT be older than 32 years old
- MA degree students: must NOT be older than 30 years old
- Students pursuing studies into the history of southern Africa in the late independent era: must be able to work with materials in vernacular languages
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HOW TO APPLY FOR THE BURSARY
Students who meet the minimum eligibility requirements can apply by submitting clear copies of the following documentation (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application be disregarded):
- The application letter (must include: area in which you propose to undertake research (maximum 500 words); a short statement that gives insight into the intellectual and academic concerns that interest you; contextual information regarding your studies and work experience; 2 academic references with their names and contact details and an explanation as to what capacity they know your work)
- Official tertiary academic transcripts (if you cannot provide them at the time of application, you will be required to submit them if you are shortlisted)
- Curriculum Vitae (must include full details of degrees completed and results achieved)
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Applications must be submitted via email to: apc-admin@uct.ac.za
(Insert the words “UCT Archive and Public Culture Postgraduate Bursary” in the email subject line).
CLOSING DATE FOR THE BURSARY
28 June 2021.
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)
CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER
For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact UCT Research Chair in Archive and Public Culture directly:
Physical address: Archive and Public Culture Research Initiative, Department of Historical Studies, Room A17, A-C Jordan Building, Upper Campus, University of Cape Town
Post: Private Bag X3, Rondebosch, 7701, Cape Town
Tel: 021 650 2077
Email: admin-apc@uct.ac.za
