The University Capacity Development Programme (UCDP) invites eligible emerging academic staff members to apply for seed funding to support their research projects. This initiative is part of UKZN’s commitment to fostering the growth and development of emerging researchers, providing crucial support for those early in their academic careers.
Project Purpose
The seed funding aims to empower emerging academics by addressing financial barriers that may limit their research and professional development. With this funding, recipients can carry out essential research activities, enhance their research profiles, and support their supervised students. By providing support at this formative stage, the project seeks to cultivate a new generation of independent researchers who will contribute significantly to knowledge advancement in their fields.
Eligibility Criteria
THE UCDP FUNDING IS RESTRICTED TO:
- South African citizens and permanent
- Permanent, full-time academics at UKZN (Excl Joint, Adjunct and Honorary Appointments).
- Must have completed a PhD in the last 5 years.
All SEED funding awards will be capped at a maximum of R50,000.
Application Process and Deadline
Please use this link to submit your application: Seed funding Grant Application The deadline for submission is Friday, 16 October 2026
The awards made will take effect from the written date of acceptance of an award to the end of November 2027. The awarded funds must be used by the end of November 2027. The only deviation from this is when staff appointments (i.e. for teaching relief) have been made, which may run through to the end of December 2027.
For further details on eligible expenses, please contact the Central UCDP Office at ucdp@ukzn.ac.za before submitting your application. Please note that only complete applications submitted by the deadline will be reviewed.
We look forward to supporting your academic journey and helping you establish a strong foundation for future research endeavours.
All signatures must be obtained, and all supporting documentation must be submitted with the application, incomplete applications will not be considered
