The AECRS Programme: A Step Forward Amid Calls for More

Senior academics participating in the Advancing Early Career Researchers and Scholars (AECRS) programme, hosted by Universities South Africa (USAF) and funded by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), have praised its contributions while urging broader systemic changes. Launched in 2020 following a 2018 DSI/USAF study, AECRS aims to build capacity among emerging researchers through mentorship, networking, and support structures. Participants highlight how it has fostered collaborations and enriched early-career pathways, yet emphasize that isolated initiatives cannot resolve entrenched issues in South Africa's postgraduate landscape.

The programme supports black South African scholars disproportionately affected by historical inequities, addressing mentor shortages and enhancing research output. However, leaders like those from the AECRS Research and Innovation Strategy Group stress that true progress requires overhauling postgraduate pipelines from honours through doctoral levels.

Current State of Postgraduate Education: Enrollment and Growth Trends

Postgraduate education in South Africa remains a cornerstone for knowledge production and economic development, yet it constitutes only about 15% of total higher education enrollments. According to Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) data for 2023, public universities hosted approximately 160,573 postgraduate students: 74,803 at honours or below-master's level, 60,295 pursuing master's degrees, and 25,475 doctoral candidates. Private institutions added around 26,353, with smaller numbers in higher bands.

Over the past two decades, black South African participation has surged to 80% of postgraduate headcounts, up from 65% in 2005, while women now comprise 57% overall. Despite this, absolute numbers lag: doctoral graduates hovered at 3,620 in public HEIs in 2023, short of the National Development Plan's (NDP) 5,000 annual target.

Throughput Rates: Successes and Persistent Gaps

Throughput rates reveal mixed progress. Honours programmes boast an 84% graduation rate for recent full-time cohorts, but challenges mount higher up: coursework master's at 64%, research master's at 59%, and doctorates at 67%. Dropout rates correspondingly high at 33-41% for advanced degrees, per analyses from the AECRS-commissioned report 'The Size, Shape, Success and Substance of Postgraduate Education in South Africa'.

These figures underscore unpreparedness from undergraduate levels, where research exposure is minimal, leading to extended study periods and funding exhaustion. Institutions like the University of Johannesburg (UJ) and University of South Africa (UNISA) offer hundreds of programmes, yet national averages mask disparities between research-intensive universities and others.

• Honours: High success due to structured coursework.
• Master's: Coursework variants outperform pure research (64% vs 59%).
• Doctorates: 67% graduation but prolonged timelines average 5-6 years.

Funding Challenges: Barriers to Access and Completion

Funding remains a critical bottleneck. National Research Foundation (NRF) bursaries have declined, leaving gaps for fieldwork, publishing, and living costs. Many postgraduates juggle part-time work, exacerbating delays. NSFAS primarily targets undergraduates, with limited postgraduate support, while the 'missing middle'—households too affluent for aid yet unable to self-fund—faces exclusion.

In 2023/24, higher education subsidies totaled R44.6 billion via NSFAS for 763,756 beneficiaries, but postgraduate allocations are minimal. Senior academics advocate for expanded, multi-year scholarships covering full costs, including penalties for extensions, to align with labour market demands in science, engineering, and technology (SET) fields.

Supervision Overload and Capacity Constraints

A core reform demand targets supervision. Academics are overburdened, often managing 10+ students amid teaching and admin loads. Inexperienced supervisors and reliance on one-on-one models hinder quality. The Council on Higher Education (CHE) guidelines emphasize regulated ratios and alternative cohort-based approaches, yet implementation lags.

Institutions need national programmes to upskill supervisors, integrate writing centres, and foster peer mentoring. For context, South Africa's PhD production per million population trails global leaders, underscoring urgency.

Photo by Vitaly Gariev on Unsplash

Senior Academics' Key Reform Proposals

From the December 2025 USAF statement, calls include:

• A funded national doctoral programme with coordinated bursaries and mentorship.
• Structured PhD cohorts to reduce isolation and improve completion.
• Curriculum reforms introducing research at undergraduate levels for better preparation.
• Talent identification and career guidance to funnel promising students into postgrad pathways.
• Incentives for institutional differentiation, curbing programme duplication.

These align with NDP visions but demand political will amid budget pressures.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Universities, Government, and Students

University vice-chancellors echo these sentiments, citing capacity crises where over 500,000 qualified matriculants face rejection annually. Minister Buti Manamela assured 2026 academic stability, but protests over NSFAS delays highlight tensions. Student bodies demand equitable access, while private providers like those in AdvTech expand to fill gaps.

Experts from Stellenbosch and Wits advocate professional doctorates for industry relevance, currently underdeveloped with only two offered nationally.

Case Studies: Bright Spots and Lessons Learned

The Nelson Mandela University (NMU) exemplifies TVET-HEI collaborations boosting pathways, praised by DHET. UJ's Graduate School of Architecture integrates design-research, enhancing throughput. UNISA's adjunct programme added 863 scholars, tackling distance learning scalability.

Conversely, challenges persist at historically disadvantaged institutions (HDIs) like Walter Sisulu University, where throughput lags due to resource constraints.

Government Policies and Recent Developments

The DHET's Revised Annual Performance Plan 2025/26 allocates R663 million for university planning, but critics slam NSFAS mismanagement. Budget 2026 eyes R54.3 billion for NSFAS and R50.5 billion for universities. Immigration scrutiny on foreign academics (77% non-compliant hires) diverts focus from local capacity-building.

Future Outlook: Pathways to a Stronger System

Optimism tempers caution: AI tools for dropout prediction at some unis signal innovation. International partnerships, like Wits' hydrogen plant, promise funding. Reforms could elevate SA's global research standing if equity and funding align.

Aspirants should leverage postdoc opportunities and professor ratings for informed choices.

Photo by Clodagh Da Paixao on Unsplash

Actionable Insights for Students and Institutions

Prospective postgraduates: Seek NRF/DHET bursaries early, build research portfolios undergraduate, network via AECRS events. Institutions: Adopt cohort models, invest in PG centres. Policymakers: Prioritise R&D budgets, enforce CHE supervision norms.

• Step 1: Assess readiness via graduate attributes audits.
• Step 2: Secure multi-year funding.
• Step 3: Engage structured support networks.