Are you a postgraduate History student in South Africa seeking financial support for your research? The South African National Society (SANS) is offering the Killie Campbell Bursary for the 2026 and 2027 academic years.
Valued at approximately R25,000, this bursary supports students conducting research on South African history, with a strong preference given to topics focused on the history of KwaZulu-Natal.
Key Overview of the Bursary
| Information Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Bursary Name | SANS Killie Campbell Bursary |
| Provider | South African National Society (SANS) |
| Value | Approximately R25,000 (paid in two equal instalments) |
| Eligible Field | Postgraduate History Research (Honours, Master’s, PhD) |
| Target Research Area | South African History (Preference for KwaZulu-Natal History) |
| Closing Date | 31 July 2026 |
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Bursary Payment Structure
The bursary value of R25,000 is paid directly to the recipient in two instalments of roughly R12,500 each:
- First Instalment: Paid in September 2026 during a South African National Society monthly meeting.
- Second Instalment: Paid upon receipt of a satisfactory written progress report submitted by your academic supervisor.
Eligibility Criteria & Requirements
To qualify for the SANS Killie Campbell Bursary 2026, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Academic Level: Enrolled in a postgraduate degree (Honours, Master’s, or Doctorate/PhD).
- Institution: Registered at a recognized and accredited university in South Africa.
- Field of Study: History or a closely related humanities discipline.
- Research Focus: Dissertation or thesis topic must center on South African history, with preference given to KwaZulu-Natal history.
- Supervisor: Must be able to provide details and contact information for an assigned academic supervisor.
Required Application Documents
There is no official application form to fill out. Instead, applicants must prepare a comprehensive application document including the following details:
- Personal Details: Full name, gender, email address, and phone number.
- Academic Background: Summary of academic achievements and copies of previous qualifications.
- Research Details: Title of your research/dissertation, an outline of the proposed research project, level of study, university name, and faculty name.
- Registration Proof: Proof of registration or proof of payment to the institution.
- Supervisor Details: Supervisor’s full name and official contact details.
- About the SANS Killie Campbell Bursary
- The South African National Society has awarded bursaries to postgraduate History students for approximately 40 years.
- The programme aims to provide financial support to students undertaking advanced historical research at recognised South African universities.
- Applicants must be pursuing a postgraduate qualification and must have a research or dissertation topic relating to South African history.
- Preference will be given to research focusing on KwaZulu-Natal history.
- Fields of Study Covered
- The bursary is available for postgraduate studies in a History-related field.
- Applicants may be studying towards:
- An Honours degree
- A Master’s degree
- A Doctoral degree
- The applicant’s research, dissertation or thesis must focus on:
- South African history; or
- Preferably, KwaZulu-Natal history
- Bursary Value
- The SANS Killie Campbell Bursary is expected to be valued at approximately:
- R25 000
- The final amount awarded will be determined by the bursary selection committee.
- How the Bursary Will Be Paid
- The bursary amount will be paid in two equal instalments of approximately R12 500 each.
- The payment structure is as follows:
- First instalment: Paid in September 2026 at a South African National Society monthly meeting.
- Second instalment: Paid after the Society receives a satisfactory written progress submission from the bursary recipient’s supervisor.
- Eligibility Requirements
- Applicants must meet all the following requirements:
- Be studying towards a postgraduate qualification.
- Be conducting research in a History-related field.
- Have a research, dissertation or thesis topic relating to South African history.
- Preference will be given to research focusing on KwaZulu-Natal history.
- Be registered at a recognised and accredited university in South Africa.
- Be able to provide details of their academic supervisor.
- Submit all the required supporting information before the closing date.
- Applicants who do not meet the minimum requirements may not be considered.
- Selection Process
- Applicants may be invited to attend an interview with the selection committee.
- The interview may be conducted:
- In person; or
- Electronically through Zoom or a similar online platform
- The South African National Society reserves the right not to award the bursary if no suitable candidate is identified.
- Responsibilities of Bursary Recipients
- Successful applicants may be required to:
- Present a brief outline of their research topic at one of the Society’s monthly meetings.
- Provide satisfactory academic progress reports.
- Submit a soft copy of the completed dissertation or thesis.
- Allow the completed research to be published on the South African National Society website.
- Documents and Information Required
- There is no official application form for this bursary.
- Applicants must submit the following information and supporting documents:
- Full name
- Gender
- Email address
- Telephone or cellphone number
- Personal and academic background
- Academic achievements
- Copies of qualifications
- Intended research or dissertation topic
- Outline of the proposed research
- Level of study, such as Honours, Master’s or Doctorate
- Name of the university
- Name of the faculty
- Proof of registration or payment to the institution
- Supervisor’s full name
- Supervisor’s contact details
- Applicants should ensure that all submitted information is complete and clear.
- Missing documents or information may result in the application being disqualified.
- How to Apply
- Applicants may submit their applications by email, post or hand delivery.
- Applications should only be submitted once using one of the methods below.
- Apply by Email
- Click here to apply for the SANS Killie Campbell Bursary 2026
- Email Address: [email protected]
- Email Subject Line: SANS Bursary 2026
- Applicants must attach all required supporting documents to the email.
- Apply by Post or Hand Delivery
- Applications may also be submitted to:
- The Secretary
- South African National Society
- 31 St. Andrews Drive
- Durban North
- Durban
- 4051
- Applicants should not submit duplicate applications through multiple method
How to Apply
You can submit your application via email, post, or hand delivery. Make sure to submit using only one method to avoid duplicate submissions.
1. Apply via Email
- Email Address: [email protected]
- Subject Line:
SANS Bursary 2026 - Be sure to attach all required supporting documents in PDF format.
2. Apply via Post or Hand Delivery
Deliver or mail your complete application package to:
The Secretary
South African National Society
31 St. Andrews Drive
Durban North, Durban
4051
Important Dates & Deadlines
- Closing Date: 31 July 2026
- First Payment Date: September 2026 (at the SANS monthly meeting)
For additional details on postgraduate funding and bursary news, you can view the SANS Killie Campbell Bursaries 2026 Notice on StudentRoom.co.za.
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