PARI and the NRF Chair in Local Histories invite applications for the award of two PhD scholarships for research on social change in post-apartheid South Africa. The scholarships will be awarded on the basis of merit and the resonance of the applicant’s research topic with the Social Cohesion in Emerging Communities Project specifically, research which involves in-depth fieldwork in residential settlements in South Africa.
The Public Affairs Research Institute (PARI) and the NRF Chair in Local Histories and Present Realities at the University of the Witwatersrand have been undertaking research exploring social change in post-apartheid South Africa. The research has focused on the tens of thousands of townhouse complexes, luxury estates and related informal settlements that have arisen on the western edge of Johannesburg (in the West Rand and Roodepoort).
Eligibility and applications:
PARI and the NRF Chair in Local Histories will consider applications from students registered or intending to register at any university in South Africa. Successful applicants will be awarded the scholarships on condition that they are officially accepted by the relevant university.
Applicants should:
• Have a Masters degree with a minimum of a 70% pass. Applicants who did not achieve a 70% pass will be considered if they are able to provide a motivation in support of their application from the Head of Department in which they completed their last degree
• Be South African citizens
• Be in their first year of study or intending to register for a PhD immediately
• Be prepared to undertake substantial fieldwork outside Gauteng. Students not based in Gauteng will be expected to travel to PARI’s offices in Johannesburg on a fairly regular basis. Limited funding is available for travel
Preference will be given to candidates who:
• Speak an official South African language other than English.
• Intend to / are undertaking fieldwork in the Free State, Limpopo or Mpumalanga.
Scholarships will not be awarded to applicants who:
• Already hold a NRF scholarship
• Intend / are undertaking fieldwork only in Gauteng
Deadline: Applications should reach PARI by no later than 9am on the 25th of June, 2012
For further information, visit the link.
