Key Facts
- Status
- Applications Closed
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Academic Year
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2027
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Eligibility Requirements
- South African citizen or permanent resident, or citizen of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, or Zambia
- Completed a relevant BSc in 2025, or completing one in 2026: Physics and Mathematics (to third-year level), Astronomy/Astrophysics (Physics and Mathematics to second-year level), or Computer Science and Mathematics (to third-year level)
- Minimum average (GPA) of 65% in the relevant BSc degree
- Applying to study a BSc Honours in Physics/Astronomy/Astrophysics or Computer Science and Mathematics at a South African university
Documents Needed
- Copy of your South African ID, or passport (for non-South African citizens)
- All university academic results, per degree, as one combined PDF, from the start of your studies to now
- Up-to-date Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Letter of motivation, approximately 750 words, not AI-generated
- Two letters of reference, emailed directly by your referees to study.research@sarao.ac.za (one from a university lecturer, none from family or friends)
About SARAO Honours Scholarship
The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) funds Freestanding Honours Scholarships for graduates moving into a BSc Honours degree in Physics, Astronomy/Astrophysics, or Computer Science and Mathematics. Unlike SARAO's Undergraduate Scholarship, which is open only to South African citizens and permanent residents, the Honours Scholarship also accepts applicants from Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zambia - reflecting SARAO's role in building radio astronomy capacity across the wider Southern African region, not just South Africa.
As with SARAO's other scholarships, the application process puts real weight on your motivation letter - SARAO explicitly wants to know why your chosen Honours degree connects to a career in radio astronomy, not just that you qualify academically.
Funding Details
The 2027 scholarship is worth R190,000, plus a once-off laptop grant of R15,000. Support normally runs for one year, but SARAO extends this to two years for students accepted onto the NASSP Extended Honours in Astronomy course.
Where You Can Study
You need to be studying, or planning to study, a BSc Honours in Physics/Astronomy/Astrophysics or Computer Science and Mathematics at a South African university. The scholarship doesn't extend to Honours degrees outside these specific fields.
About SARAO
The South African Radio Astronomy Observatory (SARAO) is a facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF), responsible for South Africa's radio astronomy infrastructure, including the MeerKAT telescope and the countr…
View full provider profile →Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
You need to be a South African citizen or permanent resident, or a citizen of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, or Zambia. You must have completed, or be completing in 2026, a BSc in Physics and Mathematics (to at least third-year level), Astronomy/Astrophysics (with Physics and Mathematics to at least second-year level), or Computer Science and Mathematics (to at least third-year level), with a minimum average of 65%.
If you're offered a scholarship based on your current results and later fail to reach 65% on completing your degree, SARAO will revoke the offer. If your university grades results as symbols rather than percentages, you'll need to provide the equivalent percentage for each course.
Application Procedure
Apply directly with the provider using the official application link below, before the closing date.
Applications for this cycle have closed. Check the provider's site for the next intake.
- Closes
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Last verified:
Frequently Asked Questions
Which degrees does the SARAO Honours Scholarship fund?
BSc Honours in Physics, Astronomy/Astrophysics, or Computer Science and Mathematics.
Is this only for South African citizens?
No - it also accepts citizens of Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, and Zambia, alongside South African citizens and permanent residents.
What average do I need?
A minimum of 65% in your BSc degree, based on your most recent university results.
What happens if my final results drop below 65%?
If you're offered a scholarship based on current results and then don't achieve 65% on completing your degree, SARAO will revoke the offer.
How is this different from the SARAO Undergraduate Scholarship?
It funds Honours-level study specifically, has a wider nationality eligibility, and requires a longer motivation letter (about 750 words instead of 500).
How many letters of reference do I need?
Two - one must come from a university lecturer, and family or friends aren't allowed to write them.
How much is the scholarship worth?
R190,000 for 2027, plus a once-off R15,000 laptop grant, normally for one year (two years for the NASSP Extended Honours in Astronomy course).
How do I apply?
Online at nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za, under NRF Postgraduate Scholarships, selecting SARAO Honours Scholarship.
