Call for applications: SASUF+ fieldwork and data collection stipend

Background

The South Africa–Sweden University Forum+ (SASUF+) is a strategic partnership between universities in South Africa and Sweden, supported by the 37 participating universities, the National Research Foundation (NRF) and the Swedish Foundation for International Cooperation in Research and Higher Education (STINT). SASUF+ aims to strengthen equitable, long-term academic collaboration, enhance research capacity, and contribute to societal impact aligned with shared thematic priorities.
As part of this commitment, SASUF+ is launching a Fieldwork and Data Collection Stipend for honours and master’s students to support thesis-related fieldwork abroad that contributes to strengthening academic collaboration between South Africa and Sweden, with preference given to projects linked to SASUF+ collaborations.

Purpose of the stipend

The stipend enables students to:

• Conduct fieldwork abroad as part of their honours, master’s or equivalent degree project.
• Collect empirical data (e.g. interviews, surveys, laboratory samples, archival material, observations).
• Strengthen research collaboration between South Africa and Sweden, including through engagement with SASUF-affiliated research groups.
• Provide students with hands-on research experience and build pathways toward future academic collaboration.

The scheme is inspired by the Minor Field Studies (MFS) stipend model initiated by Sida.

Grant amounts

Successful applicants will receive a once-off stipend.

• South African students: 60,000 ZAR
• Swedish students: 30,000 SEK

The stipend is intended to cover costs related to:

• International travel
• Accommodation
• Local transport
• Visa and insurance
• Fieldwork-related expenses

Eligibility

Applicants must:

• Be registered students at a South African or Swedish university participating in SASUF+.
• Conduct fieldwork linked to a thesis or degree project.
• Provide a fieldwork plan including a minimum stay of 10 days in the host country. There is no maximum duration; however, the requested length of stay must be justified.
• Demonstrate a clear connection to one or more SASUF+ thematic areas.
• Have academic supervision from both a home institution and a relevant partner or host environment (where applicable).
• Submit a signed letter from the host institution confirming who will be responsible for supporting the student's arrangements before and during the visit to the host institution.

Priority will be given to students who can demonstrate a clear link to a SASUF-affiliated research group (i.e. one of the 100+ research groups funded through SASUF). A list of funded SASUF projects and contact details for relevant researchers will be published on the SASUF website prior to the call opening.

This initiative aims to strengthen continuity within SASUF by connecting students to ongoing or emerging collaborations, fostering long-term academic relationships, and reinforcing the integration of education, research, and mobility within the SASUF+ framework.

Applicants who are not formally connected to a SASUF-funded project are also welcome to apply. In such cases, the proposed project must demonstrate a strong South Africa–Sweden collaboration, and the student must have established academic links with both the home institution and the host institution.

Application requirements

The eligibility criteria, required supporting documents, and assessment process are the same for all applicants. However, the application submission process differs between South African and Swedish applicants.

South African applicants must submit their application through the NRF Connect Portal, where all required information and supporting documents must be uploaded in accordance with the instructions provided in the portal. The application must be submitted by the student's supervisor at the host institution.

Swedish applicants must complete the SASUF application form. The complete application, including all required supporting documents, must be compiled into a single PDF and submitted by the student's supervisor at the host institution via email to sasuf@uu.se. The subject line of the email should read: "SASUF Fieldwork/Data Collection for [Student Name]".

• Invitation letter from the host university, signed by the host supervisor.
• Recommendation letter from your supervisor, Principal Investigator (PI), or Head of Department at your home university.
• The letter must also confirm that you have permission to undertake the mobility as part of your studies.
• Curriculum Vitae (CV) (maximum 2 pages, Calibri, font size 11).
• Motivation letter (maximum 1.5 pages, Calibri, font size 11). The motivation letter should include: objectives of the proposed mobility; a brief project description, a proposed work plan and tentative timeline for the fieldwork (minimum 10 days abroad); and a brief budget outlining how the stipend will be used. Please use your own words, not AI.

Selection principles

Applications will be assessed based on:

• Academic relevance and quality.
• Feasibility of the proposed fieldwork.
• Contribution to SASUF+ objectives and themes.
• Potential for long-term collaboration and impact.
• Equity and inclusion considerations.

Payment of funds

All stipends will be available before the start of the fieldwork period to ensure that students can make the necessary arrangements (e.g. flights and accommodation) without personal financial risk.

For South African students, all NRF award letters must be issued and received by the institution before the grant funds can be used. Once the award letters are in place, the institution may immediately begin supporting the use of the funds.

For Swedish students, SASUF will centrally transfer the grant to the student's home institution as soon as the necessary agreements have been signed. The funds will be available prior to departure.

Time period to use allocated funds

The call for Fieldwork and Data Collection Stipends for Honours and Master’s students will be open for applications during the period:

5 August 2026 – 15 October 2026

All awarded stipends must be used for fieldwork activities conducted within the SASUF+ project period. This means that:

• Approved fieldwork and student mobility must take place after the award of the stipend.
• All mobilities must be fully completed no later than 1 June 2028.

This deadline includes the completion of travel, fieldwork activities, and any required academic engagement linked to the stipend. The timeframe is intended to ensure alignment with the overall SASUF+ project lifecycle and reporting requirements.
If the grant holder does not proceed with the mobility after receiving the funds, the full stipend must be repaid.

After your mobility

All grant holders are required to submit a written report of at least one A4 page to SASUF outlining the mobility activities, outcomes, and personal reflections.

A report template will be provided by the SASUF Secretariat when the stipends are announced.

Contact details

SASUF

• Name: Helin Bäckman Kartal
• Tel: +46 72 999 93 53
• Email: sasuf@uu.se

NRF Queries on the NRF online submission system (NRF-Connect) can be forwarded to the NRF Support Desk on email: supportdesk@nrf.ac.za.

For content-related queries, please contact:

• Name: Valencia Mashiloane
• Tel: +27 (12) 481 4143
• Email: VL.Mashiloane@risa.nrf.ac.za