South African Journal on Human Rights invites South African students to apply for the SAJHR Postgraduate Top-Up Bursary 2027.
Bursary Application Closing Date: 31 May 2026
Bursary Location: South Africa
About the SAJHR Bursary Programme
The South African Journal on Human Rights (SAJHR) is offering a postgraduate top-up bursary for students pursuing LLM studies focused on:
- Constitutional law
- Human rights law
- Justice-related legal issues
The bursary is intended to support postgraduate students studying at public universities in South Africa.
Fields of Study Covered
The bursary supports students studying towards an:
- LLM Degree
Research areas must relate to:
- Human Rights
- Constitutional Law
- Justice-related Law
Bursary Value
The SAJHR bursary provides:
- Funding of up to R50 000
This is a once-off top-up bursary intended to assist with study-related expenses.
The final amount awarded will be determined individually based on each applicant’s circumstances.
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must:
- Be Black South African or African students
- Have completed an LLB qualification at a South African university
- Achieve a minimum overall average of 65% in LLB studies
- Be registered for an LLM degree at a public university in South Africa
- Be in 1st or 2nd (final) year of LLM studies
- Be conducting research related to:
- Human rights
- Constitutional law
- Justice-related law
Preference Will Be Given To Students From:
- University of Fort Hare
- University of Venda
- University of Limpopo
- University of Zululand
- University of the Western Cape
- Walter Sisulu University
Preference will also be given to students with strong academic records and financial need.
Required Supporting Documents
Applicants must submit:
- Certified copy of South African ID or passport/permanent residence permit
- Full academic transcript
- Updated CV
- Contact details of two contactable references
- Motivational letter explaining:
- Financial need
- Interest in the field
- Academic goals
How to Apply
Send your documents via email to:
kok.joey@gmail.com
Use the following subject line:
SAJHR top-up bursary 2026
Selection Process
Successful applicants will be notified by the end of June 2026.
If you do not receive feedback by then, please consider your application unsuccessful.
About SAJHR
The South African Journal on Human Rights was founded in 1985 by the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS) and is based at the School of Law at the University of the Witwatersrand.
SAJHR is one of South Africa’s leading public law journals and is dedicated to advancing scholarship in constitutional, justice-related, and human rights law.
Contact Details
Contact Person: Dr Joey Kok (Managing Editor)
Email: kok.joey@gmail.com
This bursary is an excellent opportunity for postgraduate law students committed to advancing human rights, justice, and constitutional scholarship in South Africa.