Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Policy Studies in Education 1-year
Job Details
- Position: Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Policy Studies in Education
- Job ID: 6455
- Contract Type: 1-year contract (renewable up to 3 years based on performance)
- Occupational Level: Temporary
- Campus: Qwaqwa Campus
- Closing Date: 31 May 2026
- Starting Date: 01 July 2026
Job Description
The fellowship is designed for outstanding doctoral graduates who want to pursue an academic and research career in Education Management, Leadership, and Policy Studies in Education.
The programme provides:
- Advanced research experience
- Academic mentorship from established researchers
- Opportunities in innovation and community engagement
- Exposure to postgraduate supervision and limited teaching
The fellowship is awarded competitively based on:
- Academic excellence
- Research output
- Publication potential
- Relevance of prior research experience
The successful fellow will conduct full-time research at the university and contribute to academic activities within the Faculty of Education.
Duties and Responsibilities
The successful candidate will:
Research
- Conduct innovative research in Policy Studies in Education
- Collect and analyse evidence-based empirical data on current educational policy developments
- Initiate research projects
- Apply for research funding and grants
Publications
- Produce at least:
- Three (3) accredited scholarly publication outputs per year
- Publications may include:
- DHET-accredited journal articles
- Books
- Book chapters
Teaching and Supervision
- Perform limited teaching duties where required
- Assist with supervision or co-supervision of:
- Honours students
- Master’s students
- Doctoral students
Academic Participation
- Register as a postdoctoral fellow at UFS
- Participate in:
- Faculty activities
- School of Postgraduate Studies activities
- Directorate of Research Development programmes
Eligibility Requirements
Applicants must have:
Academic Qualification
- A PhD (NQF Level 10) focused on Policy Studies in Education
Additional Eligibility Criteria
- Open to South African and international applicants
- Applicants must conduct full-time research at UFS
- Fellowship ends once the PhD becomes older than five years from graduation date
- Successful candidates may NOT hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship
- Must relocate to UFS for the duration of the fellowship
- Must spend at least 80% of the fellowship period at the Qwaqwa Campus
Required Application Documents
Applicants must email the following documents:
- Motivation letter
- Including:
- Relevant expertise and experience
- 1–2 page outline of proposed research project
- Including:
- Full Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Including:
- Publications
- Conference papers
- Scholarly outputs
- Including:
- Certified academic transcripts
- Certified copy of doctoral degree certificate
- SAQA certificate (for foreign qualifications)
- Certified copy of ID or passport
- At least two manuscripts suitable for accredited journal publication
- Contact details of two academic referees
Fellowship Value
The fellowship provides:
- Annual Fellowship Funding: R220,000
- Additional Research Funding: R30,000 per year
Important Conditions
- This is a residential fellowship
- The successful fellow must primarily reside and work at the university
- Renewal each year depends on satisfactory academic performance and research output
Skills and Competencies
The university seeks candidates with:
- Strong research ability
- Academic writing and publication skills
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Ability to work independently
- Interest in educational policy research
- Good communication and collaboration skills