Kenya’s postgraduate research grants

The National Research Fund (NRF), Kenya, invites applications for postgraduate research grants for the 2025/2026 financial year.

This national research call is a strategic intervention to strengthen Kenya’s Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) ecosystem by supporting high-quality postgraduate research that drives innovation, informs evidence-based policymaking, and contributes to inclusive national development in line with the Government of Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA).

The Postgraduate Research Grants aim to support postgraduate researchers to undertake innovative and original research, enhance research skills and mentorship, and ensure the timely completion of postgraduate studies, particularly in scientific areas with limited human capacity.

Generate knowledge with academic, policy, and societal impact in national priority areas and promote interdisciplinary and inclusive research approaches.

The grant supports research components only for Master’s or Doctoral degree programmes addressing national development priorities.

Budget and grant duration

Doctoral research
Up to KES 2,000,000 for a period not exceeding three years

Master’s research
Up to KES 500,000 for a period of one year

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

Submission of Applications

Applications must be submitted through the online Grants Management System.

Deadline: Friday, 6 March 2026

For more information on this application, visit the NRF website

Join the capacity-building webinar on Friday, 30th January, to understand how to apply using the Online Grants Management System.

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Published on 27 January 2026