Master's Scholarship•South Africa · Stellenbosch

MPhil in Violent Histories and Repair

Funding

Fully Funded · Partial / Stipend · Self Funded

Program dates

TBA

The MPhil in Violent Histories and Repair is a two-year, interdisciplinary master’s degree run by the Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and the Reparative Quest (AVReQ) in Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Launched in January 2026, it engages critical decolonial approaches to the legacies of violent histories, examining systemic violence in its racial, gendered, structural and symbolic forms, alongside intergenerational trauma and processes of repair. Students complete three compulsory theoretical modules and a research-methodology module, then write a research thesis in the second year under academic supervision. AVReQ offers a limited number of competitive, NRF-funded master’s scholarships toward the programme.

Benefits & funding

  • A taught, research-intensive MPhil from a leading South African university, with supervision from the AVReQ research community.
  • Limited, competitive NRF-funded master’s scholarships supporting full-time enrolment, awarded on academic merit: South African citizens and permanent residents are eligible for full NRF scholarships, while successful applicants who are not South African citizens are eligible for partial scholarships.
  • Scholarships are applied for separately, by email to AVREQINFO@sun.ac.za (subject line in capitals: MPHIL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION 2027); applicants without a scholarship fund the programme themselves.
  • Curriculum: three compulsory theoretical modules plus a Research Methodology and Ethics module (each 15 credits), and a research thesis completed in the second year.

Eligibility

  • Open to applicants of any nationality; international qualifications equivalent to the South African requirements are accepted.
  • Hold an Honours degree at NQF level 8, or an international equivalent, in a field within the Humanities, Social Sciences or Law.
  • A minimum average of 65% in the preceding qualification.
  • Evidence of qualitative or theoretical research in the preceding qualification; proficiency in academic writing in English; a community-engagement or social-responsibility orientation.
  • Scholarship eligibility (separate): be admitted to the MPhil; hold an Honours degree (or equivalent) with a final mark of at least 65% by the time the programme commences, completed no earlier than 2024. Full NRF scholarships are for South African citizens / permanent residents; partial scholarships are available for successful non-citizen applicants. Scholarship applications require a motivation letter (max 3 pages), at least one academic recommendation letter, and a completed Declaration of Authorship, Generative AI Use, and Writing Assistance form.

Application process

  1. 1
    Apply for admission to the MPhil in Violent Histories and Repair through Stellenbosch University’s online application system, attaching your CV, a 1,500–2,000-word concept-note essay on an aspect of violent histories and repair, and a roughly 500-word motivation letter.
  2. 2
    Meet the admission closing date: international applicants by 31 August, South African applicants by 31 October, of the year preceding the January intake.
  3. 3
    To be considered for funding, submit a separate scholarship application by email to AVREQINFO@sun.ac.za (subject line in capitals: MPHIL SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION 2027) with the required supporting documents; direct any questions to Dr Melanie Cilliers (cilliersm@sun.ac.za).

Program timeline

  1. 22 June 2026, 12pm (noon)

    AVReQ master’s scholarship application deadline for the January 2027 intake (interviews 25 June 2026) — separate from, and earlier than, the admission deadlines below

  2. International applicant admission deadline

    31 August (year before intake)

  3. South African applicant admission deadline

    31 October (year before intake)

  4. January (annually)

    Programme begins — next intake January 2027