Canon Collins RMTF Scholarships for Postgraduate Study

Canon Collins Trust in partnership with RMTF seek to support exceptional individuals who are committed to social justice in southern Africa and for whom a postgraduate qualification is an essential tool in working to create an open and just society.

Focus Areas

• In 2024, they will be making awards only to those studying in three areas:
  • Justice, which includes Climate Justice, Law, Economics and Politics
  • Education policy and practice
  • Humanities, which includes Literature, History, Anthropology and the Arts

Benefits

• They will provide funding for up to a maximum of two years for Masters and three years for PhD. The value of the scholarship package will range from R20,000 to R100,000 depending on student circumstances.
• They support both full and part-time study and will consider applications from those who wish to study by distance learning.
• They also organise an annual conference for current scholars, and hold several smaller events throughout the year.
• Scholarship holders are expected to participate in these activities and to become part of and contribute to the network.

Eligibility Criteria

• In addition, to be considered for a scholarship under this programme you must:
  • be a national of, or have refugee status in, one of the following countries: Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia
  • be normally resident in one of the above countries
  • be in possession of a good first degree (minimum second class, upper division or equivalent) or about to graduate in the year of application
  • be studying or applying to study at a South African university

Selection Criteria

• In selecting scholars, the Trust will apply a number of criteria including academic merit, financial need and the potential to contribute to education in southern Africa.
• Applicants for the 2024 RMTF Programme will be assessed on the basis of the information that they supply on their application form against the criteria outlined below:
  • Academic Record and References
    • Applicants should have a minimum of an upper second-class (merit) undergraduate or Honours degree and excellent references.
  • Future impact
    • All applicants need to articulate how the scholarship and their studies will enable them to contribute to open and just societies in southern Africa.
  • Work Experience
    • They favour applications where there is a demonstrable continuity between applicant’s past study and career and their proposed course of study.
  • Leadership Competencies
    • Canon Collins places a great deal of emphasis upon the leadership potential of individuals.
    • Applicants will be asked to demonstrate how they have developed their leadership skills in the workplace, academia or in their personal life.
    • Priority will be given to those who can describe an occasion/s in which they have used their skills to formulate a shared vision or strategy, build strategic relationships and networks, support peers and mentor others, and/or deliver results.
  • Alignment with the Trust’s priorities
    • They will favour applicants who most clearly demonstrate that their proposed course and future plans align with the Trust’s priorities.

For more information, visit Canon Collins Trust.