Research development

Staff Credentialling Grants

The purpose of these grants is to allow full-time academic staff to develop their credentials. The grant can be used to supplement the staff member's income if they are on unpaid leave while undertaking full-time postgraduate training. Alternatively, the grant can be used to contribute towards the salary of a replacement.

Who qualifies for funding?
Academic staff at HDIs or such sectors of merged institutions, allied health professionals and nurses. MRC aligned researchers requesting within unit applications.

What is the period of funding?
A maximum of 12 months.

What is the value of the funding?
Training in South Africa (local): Maximum of R60 000 for 12 months. International training: Maximum of R120 000 for 12 months.

What conditions apply?
A written commitment from the applicant's institution to provide study leave for field-work purposes, and an assurance of a position to return to upon completion of the study leave must be included in the application. Student supervision must be part of the activities for the grant holder.

What is the application process?
Apply after consultation with the Executive Manager of Research Capacity Development. A full research proposal, with institutional research and ethics approval, which will be subjected to peer review. In addition, the following should be submitted.

Applicants who want to undertake research training at a South African institution must provide:
Work plan with timeframes for the full duration of master's or doctoral training; Budget indicating how the grant will be spent Supervisor's credentials and experience; Proof of availability of running costs for the research project.

Applicants who want to undertake training at an institution outside South Africa must submit:
Motivation from applicant ; Work plan with timeframes for the full duration of the project; Proposed research project Supervisor(s) details; Details of course(s) to be attended; Detailed budget; Other sources of funding.

What are the selection criteria?

• Priority is given to blacks, particularly African and females
• A promising academic record/potential of the applicant
• MRC funded supervisor
  • Research area linked to the MRC's strategic priority research programmes
  • Impressive Supervisors credentials and experience
  • A limited number of MRC funded students is approved for supervisor
• Non MRC funded supervisor
  • Supervisors credentials and experience are reviewed, the project is peer-reviewed, ethical approcal as well as availability of running expenses checked.

Obligation of grant holder
A detailed report must be submitted to the MRC within 2 months of completing the period of research training A copy of the completed dissertation must be submitted to the MRC Successful applicants receiving funding for training outside South Africa are required to sign an agreement and to provide surety to the MRC.

Contact persons
Dr Thabi Maitin, thabi.maitin@mrc.ac.za