The South African Journal on Human Rights (SAJHR), based at the School of Law of the University of the Witwatersrand, has announced its 2026 Postgraduate Top-Up Bursary Programme. The initiative provides financial support to outstanding LLM students focusing on constitutional law, human rights, and justice-related research in South Africa. This bursary aims to strengthen academic research in public law while supporting talented students facing financial constraints. About the SAJHR Founded in 1985 by the Centre for Applied Legal Studies (CALS), the South African Journal on Human Rights is widely regarded as a leading public law journal in South Africa. It publishes high-quality academic research for a global readership, with a strong focus on: Constitutional law Human rights law Justice-related legal scholarship The journal plays a key role in advancing legal research and promoting scholarly engagement on issues affecting governance and human rights in South Africa. Bursary Overview The SAJHR Postgraduate Top-Up Bursary provides financial assistance to eligible students pursuing LLM degrees. Key details include: Maximum value: up to R50,000 per award Award type: Once-off payment Purpose: Contribution toward study-related expenses Number of awards: One or more bursaries annually The exact amount awarded varies depending on individual financial need and academic merit. Eligibility Criteria Applicants must meet strict academic and demographic requirements to qualify for the bursary offered by the South African Journal on Human Rights. Eligible candidates must: Be Black South African or African Hold a recently completed LLB degree from a South African university Have a minimum academic average of 65% Be registered for an LLM at a South African public university Be in either the first or final year of LLM studies Be conducting research in constitutional, human rights, or justice-related law Preference is given to graduates from historically disadvantaged institutions, including: University of Fort Hare University of Venda University of Limpopo University of Zululand University of the Western Cape Walter Sisulu University Additional preference is given to applicants demonstrating financial need. Required Application Documents Applicants must submit a complete application package to be considered by the South African Journal on Human Rights. Required documents include: Curriculum Vitae (CV) Certified copy of South African ID or valid passport and study permit Full academic transcript Contact details of two referees Letter of motivation explaining financial need Supporting financial documents (e.g., student account statement) All documents must be submitted via email as part of a single application. Application Process Applications must be submitted electronically to the SAJHR Managing Editor. Key instructions include: Email subject line: “SAJHR top-up bursary 2026” Submission address: Dr Joey Kok (managing editor) Email: kok.joey@gmail.com Applicants are encouraged to ensure that all documents are complete and clearly labelled before submission. Key Dates Closing date: 31 May 2026 Notification of results: End of June 2026 Late or incomplete applications will not be considered under any circumstances. Selection Criteria The selection process conducted by the South African Journal on Human Rights is based on: Academic performance and merit Relevance of research topic to human rights and constitutional law Demonstrated financial need Institutional and academic background The bursary is highly competitive and prioritises candidates with strong research potential and commitment to public law scholarship. Purpose and Impact The bursary supports postgraduate students who are contributing to critical legal debates in South Africa. By funding LLM research, the programme strengthens: Constitutional democracy research Human rights advocacy Access to justice scholarship Legal reform discourse It also helps build academic capacity within South Africa’s public law sector. Conclusion The 2026 Postgraduate Top-Up Bursary offered by the South African Journal on Human Rights provides vital financial support to emerging legal scholars. By investing in postgraduate research, the programme contributes to the development of human rights and constitutional law expertise in South Africa. VISIT OFFICIAL WEBSITE TO APPLY For more opportunities such as these please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, LinkedIn and WPChannel Disclaimer: Global South Opportunities (GSO) is not the organization offering this opportunity. For any inquiries, please contact the official organization directly. Please do not send your applications & CVs to GSO, as we are unable to process them. Due to the high volume of emails, we receive daily, we may not be able to respond to all inquiries. Thank you for your understanding.