NRF Thuthuka Grant 2025: How Emerging South African Researchers Can Secure R350,000 per Year

If you’re an early‑career researcher in South Africa, the NRF Thuthuka Grant is not just “nice to have” funding. It’s one of the most strategic investments you can get in your career.

Thuthuka isn’t about sprinkling small amounts of money across random projects. It’s designed to build you – your track record, your independence, your supervision capacity, your path to an NRF rating – while simultaneously funding serious research.

R350,000 per year may not sound like CERN money, but in the South African context it can go a very long way: paying postgraduate students, buying crucial equipment, covering fieldwork, and sending you to the right conferences to get noticed. More importantly, Thuthuka comes with an expectation: that you’ll use this support to move from “promising junior” to “established researcher” with evidence to prove it.

This is also a grant that sits at the intersection of research excellence and transformation. If you’re an emerging scholar, especially a woman or black academic, and you’re hungry to build a serious research profile inside a South African institution, you should be paying close attention.

It’s competitive. It will take real work. But if you plan smartly, the odds are not unreasonable – and the payoff can define the next decade of your career.

NRF Thuthuka Grant at a Glance

What This Opportunity Really Offers (Beyond the Money)

Thuthuka is often misunderstood as “just another project grant”. It isn’t.

Yes, the R350,000 per year matters. You can typically allocate it across:

• Personnel (postgraduate bursaries, research assistants, technical help)
• Consumables and research supplies
• Fieldwork and data collection
• Limited equipment purchases
• Local and international travel directly linked to the project
• Capacity‑building activities (workshops, training, short courses)

But the real value lies in how the grant is structured to develop you as a principal investigator.

Thuthuka expects you to:

• Supervise students and build a small research team
• Produce tangible outputs – publications, conference papers, policy briefs
• Align your work with national priorities (e.g. NDP 2030, climate resilience, health, hydrogen economy, digital innovation)
• Show a realistic plan to move towards NRF rating, tenure, or senior academic roles

On top of that:

• You’ll build a mentorship relationship with a more established researcher (required, not optional).
• You’ll be forced (in a good way) to think seriously about risk management, ethics, and project planning.
• You’ll gain credibility inside your institution – being a Thuthuka PI signals that you’re not just “promising”, you’re funded.

Think of Thuthuka as a structured accelerator for your research career: money + mentorship + accountability + visibility.

If you use it well, three years of Thuthuka can take you from “I have an idea” to “I have a group, publications, students, and a clear track to NRF rating.”

Who Should Apply (and Who Probably Shouldn’t)

You’re likely a good fit if:

• You’re a South African citizen or permanent resident.
• You’re an early‑career researcher (typically within about 7 years of your highest qualification – check the exact call for age and career‑stage rules).
• You hold a permanent or fixed‑term appointment at a South African institution:
  • Public university
  • University of technology
  • Recognised research council or science council
• You can demonstrate research potential, such as:
  • A few peer‑reviewed publications or strong in‑press work
  • Conference presentations or posters
  • Community‑engaged research outputs or technical reports
• You’re able to work under one of the Thuthuka tracks:
  • PhD Track – you’re still busy with your PhD and want structured support
  • Post‑PhD Track – you’ve completed your doctorate and are building independence
  • NRF Rating Track – you’re preparing for, or strengthening, an NRF rating application

You’re an excellent fit if:

• You’re a woman or black academic and your institution is actively supporting your progression.
• You have a committed mentor (or can secure one) who is rated or senior, with a solid publication record.
• Your project directly supports human capital development – for example:
  • Training honours, master’s, or PhD students
  • Involving historically disadvantaged institutions
  • Building skills in under‑represented fields or communities

You’re probably not a good fit if:

• You’re not based at a South African institution (even if you’re South African).
• You can’t show any research activity at all (no publications, no clear outputs, no plan).
• You want to run a consultancy project or purely commercial idea with no real research component.
• You’re already well‑established with multiple large grants – Thuthuka is meant to grow emerging researchers, not top up senior professors.

Rule of thumb:
If you’re somewhere between “promising postdoc/lecturer” and “almost ready for NRF rating”, Thuthuka is aimed squarely at you.

How the R350,000 per Year Can Work for You

The amount is decent, but not unlimited. You need to be intentional.

Typical ways strong applicants use Thuthuka funds:

• People first:
  Fund at least one postgraduate student (Master’s or PhD) and, where relevant, an honours student or assistant. This simultaneously boosts your outputs and your transformation contribution.

• Essential equipment, not vanity purchases:
  Small to medium items that unlock specific methods (e.g. specialised sensors, software licenses, lab kits) are easier to justify than big, generic equipment.

• Serious fieldwork/data collection:
  Whether it’s lab experiments, survey implementation, archival work, or community‑based research – show that the money buys data and results, not just plane tickets.

• Targeted travel:
  Conferences, site visits, or short research stays that clearly contribute to your project: presenting results, finalising a paper with collaborators, accessing a unique facility.

• Capacity‑building activities:
  Short courses, statistics or coding training, methods workshops – for you and your students – are all defensible if they clearly strengthen the project and your development.

Strong proposals treat the budget as a strategy document: each line item is linked to an output, a milestone, or a student.

Insider Tips for a Winning NRF Thuthuka Application

This is where many applications are won or lost. Here’s what tends to move you from “decent” to “fundable”.

1. Write a Project That Actually Fits Thuthuka’s Purpose

Don’t recycle a generic project from another call.

Show clearly:

• How the project will develop you as an independent researcher
• How it will build capacity (students, technicians, junior collaborators)
• How it contributes to transformation (equity, inclusion, access, mentorship)

A technically brilliant project that ignores these elements will struggle.

2. Nail the Mentorship Arrangement

The mentor is not a decorative name on the proposal.

Make it concrete:

• Specify meeting frequency (e.g. monthly meetings, quarterly progress reviews).
• Outline developmental goals:
  • Co‑authoring papers
  • Co‑presenting at conferences
  • Joint grant‑writing sessions
• Show that the mentor has:
  • Relevant expertise
  • A good publication record
  • Time and commitment (the letter should say this explicitly)

Poor or generic mentorship plans are a red flag for reviewers.

3. Make Transformation Real, Not Token

The NRF is serious about transformation. Vague statements about “empowering communities” don’t cut it.

Be specific:

• Which students (levels, demographics) will you train?
• How many? On what tasks?
• Are you including a historically disadvantaged institution as a partner?
• How will your project create enduring benefits – skills, networks, tools – that remain after the grant ends?

Think of this section as a mini‑project inside your project, with clear activities and outputs.

4. Align With National Priorities by Name

Don’t just say, “This is important for South Africa.”

Reference specific frameworks:

• National Development Plan 2030
• Relevant White Papers or national strategies
• Sector‑specific plans, such as:
  • Hydrogen Society Roadmap
  • Just Energy Transition
  • National Health Insurance, TB/HIV policies
  • Digital transformation agendas, etc.

Then connect the dots explicitly:

“This project contributes to NDP 2030 priority X by doing Y and Z…”

Reviewers don’t want to infer; they want to see that you’ve done your homework.

5. Use a Simple, Logical Storyline

Your proposal should read like a coherent argument, not like scattered sections stitched together the night before submission.

A helpful structure:

1. Problem – What’s the gap in knowledge or practice?
2. Why it matters – For science, for policy, for communities, for the economy.
3. Your solution – Research questions/aims and why your approach makes sense.
4. Methods and workplan – What you’ll do, when, and with whom.
5. Capacity development – Students, mentorship, training.
6. Impact and sustainability – What remains after Thuthuka funding ends.

If your mentor or a non‑specialist colleague can follow this story easily, you’re on the right track.

6. Budget Like a Serious PI

Your budget must:

• Match your workplan and timeline
• Stay within NRF cost categories
• Show that you’re not trying to stretch the grant too thin

Avoid:

• Spending half the budget on equipment unless absolutely essential
• Heavy travel with weak justification
• Under‑budgeting students – this undermines your capacity‑building narrative

Use the budget justification as prose space to show you’ve thought this through.

7. Show Feasibility With a Clear Timeline

Include a detailed, realistic year‑by‑year plan, for example:

• Year 1: Refinement of methods, pilot data, ethics approvals
• Year 2: Full‑scale data collection, mid‑project analysis, student supervision
• Year 3: Final analysis, publications, policy briefs, follow‑on grant applications, NRF rating preparation

Reviewers don’t expect miracles; they expect a solid, believable plan.

Application Timeline: Working Backwards From 16 September 2025

Don’t treat the deadline like an exam you can cram for.

Here’s a realistic preparation schedule:

4–5 months before (April–May 2025)

• Confirm your eligibility and track (PhD, Post‑PhD, NRF Rating).
• Identify and secure a mentor; discuss expectations and roles.
• Refine your core research question and check originality with a thorough literature review.
• Talk to your research office about internal deadlines and signatures.

3 months before (June 2025)

• Draft your research proposal (all sections, even roughly).
• Sketch your multi‑year timeline and student training plan.
• Start working on the budget with your institution’s finance/sponsored research team.
• Begin gathering documents: CV in NRF format, institutional support letter, preliminary ethics planning.

2 months before (July 2025)

• Circulate the draft to:
  • Your mentor
  • A knowledgeable colleague
  • Ideally, someone outside your sub‑discipline
• Incorporate feedback and tighten your argument.
• Secure mentorship agreements and signed institutional letters.
• If needed, start formal ethics/animal care processes (these can take time).

1 month before (August 2025)

• Finalise the proposal narrative and budget justification.
• Upload early drafts to NRF Connect so you can see how the online forms work.
• Check that all required fields and attachments are in the correct format (PDF, templates, etc.).
• Proofread everything – or better, get someone else to do it.

Final 2 weeks (early September 2025)

• Aim to submit at least 48–72 hours before 16 September.
• Verify all sections in the portal are marked complete.
• Double‑check that the correct versions of documents are attached.
• Keep copies of the full submission and confirmation emails.

Required Materials (and How to Make Them Strong)

You’ll find exact requirements on the NRF Connect portal, but typically you’ll need:

1. Research Proposal

A structured document covering:

• Background and rationale
• Problem statement and objectives
• Research questions or hypotheses
• Methodology and data analysis plan
• Ethical considerations
• Workplan and timeline
• Expected outputs (papers, students, tools, policy briefs)
• Contribution to national priorities and transformation

Tip: Use headings and sub‑headings that mirror the review criteria. Make it easy for reviewers to find what they’re scoring.

2. Detailed Budget and Justification

• Break down personnel, consumables, travel, equipment, and other costs.
• Align each cost with specific activities and outputs.
• Provide quotations for equipment or major expenses where required.

3. NRF‑Formatted CV

• Use the official NRF template.
• Highlight:
  • Publications (peer‑reviewed, in‑press, submitted where allowed)
  • Supervision or co‑supervision experience
  • Leadership roles (committees, community work, professional bodies)
  • Awards and prior grants

4. Institutional Support Letter

This should confirm:

• Your employment status and role
• Access to facilities and infrastructure
• Allocation of time for research
• Institutional commitment to transformation and your development

5. Mentorship Agreement

• Outlines mentor responsibilities and meeting schedule.
• May include specific development milestones (papers, rating preparation).

6. Ethics or Animal Care Approvals (if applicable)

• Either final letters or clear plans and timelines for obtaining them.

7. Transformation Statement

• Explain how your project contributes to:
  • Equity and inclusion
  • Capacity development (students, junior staff)
  • Involvement of historically disadvantaged institutions or communities

Treat this as a serious, evidence‑driven section, not a slogan.

What Makes an NRF Thuthuka Application Stand Out

Reviewers usually look at four big things:

1. Scientific Merit and Novelty

• Is the research question clear and focused?
• Is the method sound and appropriate?
• Does the project go beyond routine work or incremental repetition?

You don’t need a Nobel‑level concept, but you must show thoughtful, rigorous design.

2. Feasibility and Planning

• Is the scope realistic for R350,000 per year and a 2–3‑year period?
• Is the timeline credible?
• Are risks identified with clear mitigation strategies?
  • Access to equipment
  • Data collection challenges
  • Dependency on specific individuals

3. Transformation and Capacity Development

This is where many applications sink or swim.

Standout proposals:

• Have a concrete student training plan (numbers, levels, roles).
• Involve partners from historically disadvantaged institutions where appropriate.
• Include specific professional development activities for you as PI.
• Show how project benefits will remain in South Africa, not just in your publication list.

4. Researcher Development and Rating Trajectory

Especially for the NRF Rating Track, reviewers ask:

• How will this project move you closer to an NRF rating?
• Are the planned outputs sufficient in quantity and quality?
• Does your mentor have a track record of developing rated researchers?

Map your expected outputs to what a C‑rated researcher in your field typically looks like.

Common Mistakes to Avoid (and What to Do Instead)

Mistake 1: Vague, Overly Ambitious Proposals

• Problem: “We will transform X sector in South Africa” with no clear pathway or boundaries.
• Solution: Narrow your aims. Focus on specific, measurable questions and outcomes.

Mistake 2: Weak or Cosmetic Mentorship

• Problem: A big name mentor with a three‑line letter and no real plan.
• Solution: Choose someone who actually has time and interest, and spell out the relationship.

Mistake 3: Generic Transformation Statements

• Problem: “We will empower women and youth” with no numbers, activities, or mechanisms.
• Solution: Name the students, roles, recruitment strategies, and training activities.

Mistake 4: Disconnected Budget

• Problem: Budget items that don’t clearly align with the workplan.
• Solution: Read your proposal with the budget next to you; every major cost should be obviously justified by the activities.

Mistake 5: Ignoring Reporting and Compliance

• Problem: Treating reports as an afterthought, risking future funding.
• Solution: From the start, build in time and systems to collect indicators for annual progress and financial reports.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thuthuka

Can part‑time staff apply?

Possibly, but only if your institution is willing to formally support your application and confirm that you have:

• Sufficient research time
• Access to facilities
• A contract length compatible with the project

Always check the latest call and confirm with your research office.

Can I combine Thuthuka with other grants?

Yes, in many cases you can co‑fund projects, but:

• You must declare all other support.
• You can’t claim the same cost twice across grants.
• Your proposal should show how Thuthuka funds a distinct, coherent component of your wider research agenda.

Are equipment purchases allowed?

Yes, but with limits:

• Equipment must be essential to the project.
• Provide quotations and explain why existing institutional equipment cannot be used.
• Very expensive items are harder to justify unless they clearly enable multiple outputs and long‑term benefits.

Does Thuthuka fund international travel?

Yes, for:

• Fieldwork or data collection not possible in South Africa
• Conferences where you’re presenting project findings
• Research visits that directly advance the project

Provide itineraries, host institution letters (if relevant), and a clear explanation of why this travel matters.

What reporting is required?

Typically:

• Annual progress reports (scientific)
• Annual financial reports
• A final project report at the end of the grant

Non‑compliance can affect your eligibility for future NRF funding, so treat these deadlines as seriously as the application deadline.

How are mentorship outcomes assessed?

You’re expected to:

• Demonstrate tangible outputs with your mentor (e.g. co‑authored papers, joint proposals).
• Report on meetings, guidance provided, and skills gained.
• Show movement towards greater independence, not dependency.

Can I resubmit if I’m not funded?

In most cycles, yes – but always check the call. If you’re not funded:

• Get reviewer comments.
• Discuss them with your mentor and research office.
• Decide whether to revise and resubmit with a sharpened project, stronger outputs, and clearer alignment.

How to Apply and What to Do Next

Here’s how to move from “interested” to “submitting a serious application”:

1. Read the official call carefully.
   Go through all sections of the Thuthuka guidelines – eligibility, cost categories, scoring criteria, and track‑specific rules.

2. Check with your institution.
   Talk to your research office or grants team. Many universities set internal deadlines weeks before the NRF deadline for vetting and sign‑off.

3. Register (or log in) on NRF Connect.
   Make sure your profile, CV and institutional affiliations are complete and up to date.

4. Lock in your mentor and support letters early.
   Senior people are busy; give them time and a clear brief.

5. Draft early, revise often.
   Don’t leave the narrative for the last week. A strong Thuthuka proposal usually reflects multiple rounds of feedback.

6. Treat this as a career move, not just a project pitch.
   In every section, ask: How does this help me become the kind of researcher Thuthuka is trying to build?

Get Started: Official NRF Thuthuka Grant Page

Ready to move forward?

All the formal guidelines, templates, and the actual application portal sit on NRF Connect. Start there, not on a rumour from a colleague.

Visit the official opportunity page here:

NRF Thuthuka Grant – Official Page:
https://nrfconnect.nrf.ac.za/pages/thuthuka

Read the call, talk to your mentor, open a blank document, and start shaping the project that will carry your name for the next few years. If you’re serious about a research career in South Africa, Thuthuka is one opportunity you should treat with full attention.