If your postgraduate work is genuinely aimed at social justice in Southern Africa, the Canon Collins RMTF Scholarships are one of the few funding programmes built specifically around that commitment. They’re awarded by the Canon Collins Trust in partnership with the Ros Moger and Terry Furlong group.Two London educationalists whose friends and family have raised money in their memory since 2001 and they support Master’s and PhD study at South African universities.
What sets this scholarship apart is how narrow and deliberate it is. For 2027, awards will only go to students in three areas: Justice (which covers Climate Justice, Law, Economics and Politics), Education policy and practice, and Humanities (Literature, History, Anthropology and the Arts). Applications that clearly fall outside these areas. The Trust names MBAs, medical sciences, sports sciences and applied sciences as examples that will not be considered at all. Alongside that, you must show at least two years of active engagement in social justice work. That’s a hard minimum, not a bonus.
One honest note before you invest time. Several scholarship websites describe this award as “fully funded,” but the Trust’s own 2027 guidelines don’t use that language, and the scholarship package is reported to vary considerably depending on each student’s circumstances. Financial need is one of the selection criteria. Treat this as meaningful but variable support rather than a guaranteed full ride, and confirm the exact figure with the Trust before you plan your budget around it.
Scholarship benefits
- Funding for up to a maximum of two years for both Master’s and PhD study, with the ability to reapply for a third year.
- Support to study at a South African university, in one of the Trust’s three priority areas.
- Reported scholarship package value of R20,000 to R100,000, depending on your circumstances. Note that this figure appears on scholarship listing sites rather than in the Trust’s official 2027 guidelines. Verify the current amount directly with Canon Collins.
- Membership of the Canon Collins scholar community, which reportedly includes an annual conference for current scholars and smaller events through the year.
- Selection that weighs financial need alongside academic merit, so a strong candidate without means is not automatically at a disadvantage.
Two limits are worth naming. Continued funding is not automatic. It depends on satisfactory progress and academic reports. And there is no set number of scholarships: the Trust makes awards based on available funding and suitable applicants, and describes the process as highly competitive.
Eligibility checklist
✔ You’re a national of, or hold recognised refugee status in, one of these countries: Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia or Zimbabwe. (Some listing sites omit Angola — the Trust’s official guidelines include it.)
✔ You’re ordinarily resident in one of those countries.
✔ You’re applying for, or currently enrolled in, a Master’s or PhD programme at a South African university.
✔ You hold, or expect to obtain in the year of application, a good Honours degree of at least Second Class Upper Division (for Master’s study), or a good Master’s degree (for PhD study).
✔ You can evidence a sustained commitment to social justice through at least two years of active engagement in community initiatives, advocacy, teaching or mentoring, public service, NGO or civil society work, social impact research, professional practice, or leadership promoting equity and inclusion. Paid or unpaid work both count. Applications without this will not be considered.
✔ Your studies or research contribute to understanding or addressing a significant social justice challenge affecting Southern Africa.
✔ Your programme falls within Justice, Education policy and practice, or Humanities. MBAs, medical sciences, sports sciences and applied sciences are outside scope.
✔ If you’re applying for PhD study, you’ve already identified a supervisor (or prospective supervisor) who has agreed in principle to supervise your research, and you can submit a draft research proposal.
Application tips for African students
- Do not use ChatGPT or any generative AI to write your application. This is unusually strict and easy to get wrong: the Trust states that using generative AI to draft, write or substantially edit any part of your application is not permitted, and applications found to have used it will be disqualified. Standard spelling and grammar checkers are fine, as long as they don’t generate or rewrite your content. Write in your own voice.
- Evidence your two years of social justice work concretely. This is the criterion that eliminates most applicants. Don’t describe values in the abstract — name the organisation, your role, the dates, and what actually changed as a result. Voluntary work counts, so include it.
- Apply for your university place separately, and early. The scholarship does not get you admitted. If you’re offered an award but fail to secure a place on your course, the Trust will withdraw the offer, so run both applications in parallel.
- PhD applicants: secure your supervisor before you apply. You need someone who has agreed in principle to supervise the work, plus a draft research proposal at Stage 1 and a letter of support from them at Stage 2. Supervisors take weeks to respond, so start now.
- Get your Stage 1 documents ready in advance. You’ll need degree certificates, academic transcripts, a CV and an ID document (passport, birth certificate or driver’s licence), plus proof of refugee status if applicable and two recent payslips if you’re employed. Certified copies and translations can take weeks to obtain.
- Brief your referees before Stage 2. You’ll need two reference letters — ideally one from your current or most recent academic supervisor and one from an employer. If you’ve never been employed, a reference from voluntary work or two academic references are accepted. Ask them to write specifically about your suitability for this scholarship, not a generic letter.
- Check your field is genuinely in scope before you start. Interdisciplinary and doctoral work can be hard to categorise, and the Trust asks applicants to use their judgement. If your programme clearly sits outside the three areas, your time is better spent elsewhere.
How to apply
The application runs in two stages through the Canon Collins website. In Stage 1, you complete a short online form and upload your supporting documents such as degree certificates, academic transcripts, CV and an ID document, plus proof of refugee status or recent payslips where these apply. Stage 1 closes on 14 August 2026 at 16:00 SAST, and late applications will not be considered. Only applicants who meet every eligibility criterion, submit a complete form and upload all required documents will move forward.
Successful Stage 1 applicants are invited by email in September 2026 to submit a more detailed Stage 2 application. That stage requires two reference letters, a draft research proposal and a supervisor’s letter of support if you’re applying for a PhD, and a sample piece of writing if you’re applying for a Master’s. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed in October or November 2026, and everyone is notified of the outcome by mid-December 2026. The Trust asks that you don’t email to chase your result all notifications come by email, so make sure the address you give is accurate. Full guidelines and the application form are on the official Canon Collins RMTF Scholarships page.
Frequently asked questions
Who can apply for the Canon Collins RMTF Scholarships?
Nationals of, or people holding recognised refugee status in, Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia or Zimbabwe, who are ordinarily resident in one of those countries and are applying for or enrolled in a Master’s or PhD at a South African university. You also need the required prior degree and at least two years of demonstrable social justice engagement.
Is this scholarship fully funded?
The Trust’s official 2027 guidelines don’t describe it as fully funded. Scholarship listing sites report a package ranging from R20,000 to R100,000 depending on the student’s circumstances, and financial need is one of the selection criteria — which points to variable, needs-based support rather than a guaranteed full award. Confirm the current figure directly with Canon Collins before budgeting.
What subjects can I study?
Only three areas for 2027: Justice, including Climate Justice, Law, Economics and Politics; Education policy and practice; and Humanities, including Literature, History, Anthropology and the Arts. Applications clearly outside these areas — the Trust cites MBAs, medical sciences, sports sciences and applied sciences — will not be considered.
When is the deadline?
Stage 1 applications close on 14 August 2026 at 16:00 SAST. Stage 2 invitations go out in September 2026, interviews are held in October or November 2026, and all applicants are notified by mid-December 2026. Late applications are not considered.
Can I use AI to help write my application?
No. Using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT to draft, write or substantially edit any part of your application is not permitted, and applications found to have used it will be disqualified. You may use standard spelling and grammar checking tools, provided they don’t generate or rewrite your content.
Do I need a university place before applying?
You can apply for the scholarship while applying for, or already enrolled in, a programme. But you must secure your own place on the course — if you’re offered a scholarship and then fail to get a place, the offer will be withdrawn.
How many scholarships are awarded?
There’s no set number. The Trust makes awards based on available funding and the strength of the applicant pool, and describes the process as highly competitive.