National Research Fund Kenya Postgraduate Research Grants 2025/2026

Deadline: Mar 06, 2026

masters | phd

3 years for PhD, 1 year for Masters (duration)

partially funded

Kenya

To Apply

Please visit the application link below to apply.

Opportunity Overview

🏢 About National Research Fund Kenya Postgraduate Research Grants

This competitive national research call is a strategic investment aimed at strengthening Kenya’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (ST&I) ecosystem. It supports high-quality postgraduate research that drives innovation, informs evidence-based policymaking, and contributes to inclusive national development.

🎁 Benefits of the Grants

The NRF Postgraduate Research Grant provides financial support strictly for research-related activities. The funding limits are as follows:

PhD Research: Up to KSh 2,000,000 for a maximum duration of three (3) years.
Masters Research: Up to KSh 500,000 for a maximum duration of one (1) year.

Important Notes:

This is a research grant only and must not be used to pay tuition fees.
All awarded funds will be administered through the university or institution where the researcher is registered.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

Be a Kenyan citizen.
Be below 35 years for Masters applicants and below 45 years for PhD applicants at the time of application.
Be a full-time postgraduate student (Masters or PhD) registered at a recognized Kenyan university or institution.
Have an approved research proposal endorsed by the supervisor(s) and/or the relevant postgraduate board.
Demonstrate the feasibility of completing the research within the grant period.
Not be receiving another grant covering the same research costs.

Additional Information:

The call is open to postgraduate researchers from both public and private universities in Kenya.

📅 Application Date and Process

Interested applicants can apply via the official application portal.
Application Deadline: 06 March, 2026

🌐 Application Portal

View details of the National Research Fund Kenya Postgraduate Research Grants here.
Apply for the grants via the Grants Portal.

For more information, visit the official website of the National Research Fund Kenya.

Benefits

PhD research: Up to KSh 2,000,000 for a maximum duration of three (3) years
Masters research: Up to KSh 500,000 for a maximum duration of one (1) year

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