Up to R750,000 a Year Flanagan Scholarship

Organization: Rhodes University

Type: Scholarship

Location: South Africa

Deadline: September 24, 2026

Funding: Fully Funded

Rhodes University in Makhanda, South Africa, administers the Patrick and Margaret Flanagan Scholarship, a bequest that since 1985 has sent women graduates abroad for a Master's or PhD. The 2027 award is worth up to R750,000 a year for two years and covers tuition, residence fees, a book allowance, a clothing allowance and pocket money at any suitable international university, in any field. There is no application form at the first stage: you email a single PDF with a motivation letter, an academic CV, a certified transcript and a certified ID or passport copy. **What you get:** - Up to R750,000 per year for two years of full-time postgraduate study at an international university - Tuition fees, residence fees, a book allowance, a clothing allowance and pocket money, paid in line with the scholarship conditions - Allowances paid quarterly once you have registered at the international institution - Travel within South Africa and accommodation in Makhanda paid by the Trust if you are shortlisted for interview - Membership of a network of more than 45 Flanagan scholars since 1985, profiled in the Rhodes-published book The Flanagan Journey **What you'll do:** - Email a single PDF, saved as "Your Surname P&M Flanagan Scholarship Application", to tasmin.jones@ru.ac.za by 24 September 2026 - Write a motivation letter covering why you want to study at an international university, what you plan to do after your Master's or PhD, your intended research focus, and which university you have chosen and why - Include a detailed academic CV with email contacts for three academic referees, one of whom must be a Head of Department or Dean - If shortlisted (about 13 applicants), have your referees submit reports; if among the final four, complete a typed form and a 400 to 500 word essay - Attend a dinner and an in-person interview at Rhodes University in Makhanda, usually at the end of November; remote interviews are not considered - Secure acceptance at your chosen university, begin the scholarship within twelve months of the award, and study full-time - Return to South Africa after your studies and stay for a period equal to the years funded **Key dates:** - Applications open 24 August 2026 and close 24 September 2026 - Referee reports requested from roughly 13 shortlisted applicants after the closing date - If you have not been contacted for interview by 30 October, treat your application as unsuccessful - Dinner and interviews for the final four at Rhodes University, usually at the end of November - The scholarship must normally be taken up within twelve months of the award; funding runs for two years **More information:** - Full General Conditions (PDF): https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/research/documents/funding/General_conditions.pdf - Eligibility criteria (PDF): https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/research/documents/funding/PATRICK_&_MARGARET_FLANAGAN_ELIGIBILITY_CRITERIA.pdf - 2027 information sheet and application procedure (DOCX): https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/research/documents/funding/Flanagan_info_and_app_process.docx - Past recipients since 1985 (PDF): https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/research/documents/funding/PASTSCHOLARS.pdf - Queries: tasmin.jones@ru.ac.za

Rhodes UniversityScholarship

Up to R750,000 a Year Flanagan Scholarship

Sep 24, 2026 23:59:00 SAST

Opportunity type

Scholarship

Funding

Fully Funded

Location

South Africa

Deadline

Sep 24, 2026 23:59:00 SAST

About this opportunity

What you get:

Up to R750,000 per year for two years of full-time postgraduate study at an international university
Tuition fees, residence fees, a book allowance, a clothing allowance and pocket money, paid in line with the scholarship conditions
Allowances paid quarterly once you have registered at the international institution
Travel within South Africa and accommodation in Makhanda paid by the Trust if you are shortlisted for interview
Membership of a network of more than 45 Flanagan scholars since 1985, profiled in the Rhodes-published book The Flanagan Journey

What you'll do:

Email a single PDF, saved as "Your Surname P&M Flanagan Scholarship Application", to tasmin.jones@ru.ac.za by 24 September 2026
Write a motivation letter covering why you want to study at an international university, what you plan to do after your Master's or PhD, your intended research focus, and which university you have chosen and why
Include a detailed academic CV with email contacts for three academic referees, one of whom must be a Head of Department or Dean
If shortlisted (about 13 applicants), have your referees submit reports; if among the final four, complete a typed form and a 400 to 500 word essay
Attend a dinner and an in-person interview at Rhodes University in Makhanda, usually at the end of November; remote interviews are not considered
Secure acceptance at your chosen university, begin the scholarship within twelve months of the award, and study full-time
Return to South Africa after your studies and stay for a period equal to the years funded

Key dates:

Applications open 24 August 2026 and close 24 September 2026
Referee reports requested from roughly 13 shortlisted applicants after the closing date
If you have not been contacted for interview by 30 October, treat your application as unsuccessful
Dinner and interviews for the final four at Rhodes University, usually at the end of November
The scholarship must normally be taken up within twelve months of the award; funding runs for two years

More information:

Full General Conditions (PDF): https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/research/documents/funding/General_conditions.pdf
Eligibility criteria (PDF): https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/research/documents/funding/PATRICK_&_MARGARET_FLANAGAN_ELIGIBILITY_CRITERIA.pdf
2027 information sheet and application procedure (DOCX): https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/research/documents/funding/Flanagan_info_and_app_process.docx
Past recipients since 1985 (PDF): https://www.ru.ac.za/media/rhodesuniversity/content/research/documents/funding/PASTSCHOLARS.pdf
Queries: tasmin.jones@ru.ac.za

Who can apply

Women only; married women remain eligible
Must be a graduate applying for postgraduate study (Master's or PhD)
Study must be at an international university outside South Africa; a South African registration with co-supervision at an overseas institution may be permitted
Any field of study; preference for English or a cognate discipline only where candidates are otherwise equal
Proficiency in English sufficient for tertiary study
Preference, not a requirement, for applicants of South African descent
Selected on academic merit plus character, intellect and leadership potential; financial circumstances considered
Award is conditional on acceptance by the university where you intend to study
Must be able to attend the dinner and interview in person at Rhodes University in Makhanda if shortlisted
Must normally study full-time and begin within twelve months of the award
Expected to return to South Africa after completing the degree
No formal age limit
Late or incomplete applications are not considered

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Good to know

+Up to R750,000 a year for two years of a Master's or PhD at any international university, in any field.
+Covers tuition, residence, books, clothing and pocket money, paid quarterly once you register abroad.
+No form at the first stage: one emailed PDF with a motivation letter, CV, transcript and ID. No age limit, and married women are eligible.
+Run by Rhodes University since 1985, with more than 45 past scholars.

Worth checking yourself

!Women only. Preference goes to women of South African descent and to those who could not otherwise afford to study abroad.
!You pay your own flights, relocation and visa to take up the award, and nothing is paid before you register at the foreign university.
!If shortlisted, you must attend a dinner and interview in person in Makhanda at the end of November. The Trust pays travel within South Africa only.
!You are expected to return to South Africa for as many years as you were funded, and funding stops after two years even if your PhD runs longer.

Sources checked

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