By The Division of Communication and Advancement
Rhodes University and the Canon Collins Trust have announced a landmark partnership to increase educational opportunities for Southern African postgraduate students. This collaboration represents a significant step forward in fostering academic excellence and providing vital support to these students, marking a pivotal moment in the advancement of higher education in the region.
This initiative, known as the Canon Collins Scholarships at Rhodes University, is designed to support Southern African postgraduate students in pursuing higher education at Rhodes University. The scholarships will be available for any postgraduate degree, with the scheme set to commence in the academic year 2024/25 and continue until 2028/29.
The Canon Collins Trust will award a minimum of three and a maximum of five scholarships per annum. The Trust will handle the solicitation and processing of applications, providing a shortlist of up to ten suitable candidates to be considered by a joint Rhodes University/Canon Collins panel. Candidates must have already been accepted to Rhodes University for postgraduate study.
The scholarship covers tuition fees and a maintenance allowance of up to R120,000 per successful candidate per year.
This initiative aligns with Rhodes University's objective to increase the number of African students at the institution. It also supports the Canon Collins Trust's mission to provide educational opportunities to students from Southern Africa.
Earlier this year, Rhodes University hosted a first-of-its-kind Postgraduate Funding Fair to foster connections between postgraduate students and potential funders. The event was a resounding success. “This initiative marks a significant milestone in advancing academic research and support at the institution,” explained Dr Nomakwezi Mzilikazi, Rhodes University Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Research, Innovation, and Strategic Partnerships. She added that the University will continue maintaining its legacy while adapting to new realities.
“This involves creating conditions that allow for the continuous development of research excellence and ensuring that the impact of its work is widely recognised and celebrated. The university’s commitment to impactful knowledge is about advancing just societies and using research to address real-world problems,” she said.
For more information on postgraduate funding, please email pgfunding@ru.ac.za or visit the Postgraduate Gateway at /postgraduategateway.