University of Pretoria Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme

About this opportunity

The University of Pretoria has opened applications for the 2027 Postdoctoral Fellowship Programme, a call run by the Department of Research and Innovation to bring early career researchers onto UP projects across all faculties. The African Tax Institute is recruiting under the same round for Postdoctoral Fellows in Tax Policy, covering international tax, indirect tax, domestic revenue mobilisation and illicit financial flows.

Three award pathways sit inside the call. UP Co-Funding is the priority track and pays R250,000 a year, put together from up to R125,000 from the department matched by at least R125,000 from the host faculty, and it runs for two years with renewal possible. The UP-Postdoc track also carries R250,000 a year, funded entirely by the department for up to two years, and is described as highly competitive. The UP PhD Fellowship is aimed at direct transitions from a UP doctorate, pays R250,000 in total for one year and cannot be extended. Second year renewals depend on a formal progress evaluation and budget availability.

The call is open to South African citizens, permanent residents and international candidates, so a researcher in Nigeria, Ghana or anywhere else on the continent can apply with a committed UP host. You need a doctorate awarded within five years before the call date, to be 40 or younger at submission, and a UP Research Leader or host who has confirmed in writing that they will supervise and co-fund the project. Anyone still waiting for graduation can apply with an official letter from the awarding university registrar or examination office confirming that every requirement is complete, since self-declarations and letters from individual supervisors are rejected and the degree must be formally conferred before the fellowship start date.

Applications run through a seven step online form: choose your category, add your details and active ORCID link, record your PhD institution and award date, name your faculty, department and host, upload the supporting PDFs, accept the terms, then submit. A review committee scores each file on research track record, academic merit, alignment with UP strategic priorities and the quality of the host environment, and only a written award letter confirms a place. The closing date is 30 October 2026 at 23:59 South African time, and late applications are not accepted under any circumstances.

What you receive

UP Co-Funding at R250,000 per year, built from up to R125,000 from the Department of Research and Innovation and at least R125,000 from the host faculty, for two years and renewable
UP-Postdoc Fellowship at R250,000 per year funded entirely by the department, for up to two years
UP PhD Fellowship at R250,000 in total for one year, designed for direct transitions from a UP doctorate
Priority in panel allocation for co-funded applications, which are reviewed first during the scoring round
A postdoctoral framework spanning every UP faculty, managed through the UP Graduate Support Hub
Placement on tax policy research in international tax, indirect tax, domestic revenue mobilisation and illicit financial flows through the African Tax Institute
Access to UP research infrastructure, ethics support and institutional mentorship from a committed Research Leader

Who can apply

A doctoral degree awarded within five years before the application call date, or an official institutional letter confirming that all requirements are complete if graduation is still pending
40 years of age or younger at the time of submission
Open to South African citizens, permanent residents and international candidates from any country
A committed UP Research Leader or host endorsing the project, with a formal written commitment, verified funding source and an active UP cost centre code
For the African Tax Institute route, a research project in international tax, indirect tax, domestic revenue mobilisation or illicit financial flows
The PhD must be formally conferred before the official UP start date

Who should not apply

Late applications are not accepted under any circumstances
Self-declarations, email correspondence and personal letters from individual supervisors are rejected in place of an official registrar or examination office letter
Incomplete applications are disqualified without assessment
Nomination by a host or the availability of external funding does not guarantee an automatic award
Year two renewals on the two year tracks depend on formal progress evaluation and budget availability

Documents to prepare

CV and publications list showing the full research output track record
Certified PhD certificate, or an official institutional letter from the registrar or examination office confirming completion
Certified academic transcripts covering the complete record
Certified copy of a national ID or passport
One formal academic reference letter
Research proposal of up to five pages excluding references, covering background and research problem, aims and methodology, work plan, expected outputs and field contribution
CV of the UP Research Leader or host
Formal employment status declaration
Host co-funding confirmation, provided on the online application form
UP cost centre code disclosing the host fund source

How to apply

Agree the project with a UP Research Leader or host before you apply, and collect their written commitment, verified funding source and UP cost centre code.
Open the 2027 UP Postdoctoral Fellowship application form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1KuSUcXic7-eNwM0r10M-MMSvE7ZBduQCVMpnhlIRlOQ/viewform and select your category, either Co-Funding or UP-Funded.
Enter your personal details with an active ORCID link, then your PhD institution and award date, then the UP faculty, department and host details.
Upload every supporting document as a PDF, including your CV and publications list, certified degree proof, transcripts, ID or passport, academic reference, five page research proposal and host CV.
Add the employment declaration, the host co-funding confirmation and the UP cost centre code, accept the legal terms, then submit.
Submit well before 30 October 2026 at 23:59 South African time, since early submissions are advised to avoid system congestion on the closing day. Send questions to Ms Mpho Maithufi at mpho.maithufi@up.ac.za or 012 420 4023.

Selection process

Applications are assessed by the DRI Postdoctoral Fellowship Review Committee against an institutional scorecard covering research track record, academic merit on originality and feasibility, alignment with UP strategic research focus, and host capacity and mentorship.
Co-funded applications are reviewed first during panel allocations, which raises the chance of a match while still requiring academic merit.
Formal award letters are issued to successful candidates after the panel evaluation period.
Fellowship tenure begins with onboarding and registration in the 2027 academic year.
Regulated research involving human, animal or data subjects needs UP ethics board approval before work starts, publications must acknowledge UP and the Department of Research and Innovation, and international fellows secure their own South African immigration clearance before arrival.

Sources and verification

Official source

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Questions applicants ask

Can I apply if my PhD is not yet conferred?

Yes, provided you upload an official letter on institutional letterhead from your university registrar or examination office confirming that all PhD requirements are completely fulfilled. The degree must still be formally conferred before your UP start date.

Is the call open to applicants outside South Africa?

Yes. The programme states it is open to all South African citizens, permanent residents and international candidates, so researchers from any country can apply as long as a UP host commits to the project. International fellows are responsible for their own South African visa and immigration clearance.

What does a fellowship pay?

UP Co-Funding and the UP-Postdoc track each pay R250,000 per year for up to two years, with co-funding matched by at least R125,000 from the host faculty. The UP PhD Fellowship pays R250,000 in total for one year and cannot be extended.

How much time do I have on the research proposal?

Up to five pages excluding references, covering background and research problem, aims, objectives and methodology, a realistic work plan, expected publications or intellectual property output, and the contribution and infrastructure needed.

Important disclaimer

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