UCT seed awards are available for newly-rated researchers (2023/2024) and researchers that successfully maintain – or improve on – their current rating.
The purpose of this intervention is to encourage wider participation in the NRF rating process as well as to assure the eligibility of our researchers for future NRF funding programmes (including SARChI) that require applicants to be NRF rated.
The eligibility criteria for UCT seed awards are the following:
- Researchers who applied for, and achieved, a new NRF rating under the 2024 closing date.
- Researchers who were invited to apply for re-evaluation of their current NRF rating under the 2024 closing date and who successfully maintained or improved on their current rating.
The awards will be made in response to a brief application to the Research Office and must be used to further research. An e-application form will be made available in June 2025, with a deadline of 20 June, 2025.
Please contact Amanda Raman for more information.
NRF INCENTIVE FUNDING POLICY VS UCT CONTRIBUTION FOR 2025
NEWLY RATED RESEARCHERS
Researchers who have never been rated before and who applied under the 2024 closing date (rating effective 1 January 2025)
|
Category |
UCT Seed Funding for 2025 |
NRF Incentive |
NRF Period of incentive |
|
A rating |
R100,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off over the duration of the rating cycles |
|
B rating |
R50,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off over the duration of the rating cycles |
|
C rating |
R20,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off over the duration of the rating cycle |
|
Y rating |
R20,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off over the duration of the rating cycle |
|
P rating |
R50,000 |
R50,000 |
Annual grant for the duration of the NRF rating |
RE-RATED RESEARCHERS
Researchers with a valid or lapsed rating, who submitted a re-evaluation application under the 2024 call (rating effective 1 January 2025)
|
Category |
UCT Seed Funding for 2025 |
NRF Incentive |
NRF Period of incentive |
|
A |
R80,000 |
R30,000 |
once-off grant over duration of the rating cycle |
|
B |
R50,000 |
R30,000 |
once-off grant over duration of the rating cycle |
|
C |
R20,000 |
R30,000 |
once-off grant over duration of the rating cycle |
IMPROVED RATING IN 2025
Above researchers who improved their rating between the main categories (i.e., Y to C/B; P to C/B/A; C to B and B to A) (rating effective 1 January 2025)
|
Category |
UCT Seed Funding for 2025 |
NRF Incentive |
NRF Period of incentive |
|
A |
R100,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off grant over the duration of the rating cycle |
|
B |
R50,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off grant over the duration of the rating cycle |
|
C |
R20,000 |
R50,000 |
Once-off grant over the duration of the rating cycle |