Deadline: 28-Aug-2025
The Oppenheimer Memorial Trust offers grants to support scholarship at Public Higher Education Institutions in South Africa.
This opportunity is specifically for full-time academics undertaking sabbatical study, with a preference for candidates who have proven records of teaching and research. The application must be submitted through the Trust’s applications portal, and no emailed documents will be accepted.
Applicants must provide a detailed outline of their intended study, including the topic, institution, start date, and duration of the program. They need to describe the relevance and anticipated significance of their study for South Africa and Africa and how the work will extend current knowledge. A synopsis of the research plan is also required, detailing the problem statement, key objectives, outputs, methodology, and time frames. The application must include the names and locations of host institutions and confirmation of any offers of appointment or institutional support. Applicants can apply to a maximum of three institutions but must submit only one application.
A budget must be submitted, disclosing the applicant’s personal financial position and including annual estimates of costs such as living expenses, travel, books, and other relevant costs. Income from all sources, including savings, family contributions, loans, and secured sabbatical funding, must also be disclosed. Applicants should distinguish between secured funds and those still pending and are encouraged to be realistic with their costs, as budget amendments are not permitted after an award is granted. When applying to an international institution, the budget should be in the local currency, which will be automatically translated to ZAR.
The application requires a motivation statement of no more than 500 words, which should describe the applicant’s academic history, motivation for their career, the perceived benefits of the study to themselves and the community, their career aspirations, and their position upon completion of the sabbatical. Applicants must also upload a CV of no more than three pages, which includes a synopsis of their top publications and a full listing of all publications. A recent professional photograph is also required. Additional details regarding research and publications, student supervision, academic positions, awards, and an NRF rating (if applicable) must be provided.
Three letters of recommendation must be uploaded directly by the referees onto the application portal. These referees must be familiar with the applicant’s work and study plans. The application will not be considered until at least two referees have completed their forms. The deadline for applications with a start date from January to June is September 30th of the previous year (note that the 2025 closing date is August 28th), while applications for a start date from July to December are due on March 31st of the same year. Awards may vary in value and can be partial contributions towards overall costs, and candidates are encouraged to seek co-funding. Failure to comply with requirements, including submitting updates on any developments, will result in disqualification. Late or incomplete submissions will not be accepted.
For more information, visit OMT.
