UKZN Archbishop Hurley Scholarship 2026: Requirements & How to Apply

The Archbishop Denis E. Hurley Scholarship award helps disadvantaged but outstanding students at UKZN pursue Honours degrees. 

It eases students’ financial burdens so that they can focus on excellence and service.

About the Scholarship

This scholarship is provided by the Archbishop Denis E. Hurley Educational Trust in partnership with the University of KwaZulu-Natal. 

It is named after the late Archbishop Denis E. Hurley, who served as Chancellor of UKZN and was an advocate for social justice, ethical leadership, and service to the community. 

The award is intended to support academically excellent students from disadvantaged backgrounds to complete Honours studies, with the potential to continue to Master’s and PhD level.

Fields of Study Funded

• Any discipline offered at UKZN at the Honours level is eligible.
• In past years, recipients have come from fields such as Microbiology, Psychology, Theology, Education Leadership & Management, Management etc.

Benefits for Recipients

• Financial support for tuition / Honours programme costs to reduce financial strain.
• Scholarships often include enough support so that academic work can be prioritised over financial pressures.
• Recognition, prestige, and the possibility to build networks within UKZN.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, you will generally need to meet all the following:

1. Be a South African citizen / ordinarily resident. (Disadvantaged background is strongly considered)
2. Be registering or enrolled in an Honours degree at UKZN.
3. Have a strong academic record (good grades in your undergraduate degree)
4. Demonstrate leadership qualities and involvement in community service
5. Show an ethical vision for society (aligned with Archbishop Hurley’s values)
6. Intention or potential for further postgraduate study (Master’s and/or PhD) often preferred.

How to Apply

1. Obtain the application form via the UKZN website (Financial Aid / Scholarships section) or via the relevant College’s Financial Aid Advisor.
2. Fill out the form and attach the required supporting documents: academic transcript, CV, a motivational statement (or sometimes a short abstract of proposed postgraduate research), referee reports (notably commenting on leadership/community involvement)
3. Submit your application to the Financial Aid Advisor of your College (e.g. Humanities, Law & Management, Health Sciences etc.).

Required Documents

You will likely need to include:

1. Certified academic transcript from your undergraduate degree
2. Curriculum Vitae (CV) showing leadership and community service involvement
3. Motivation letter / statement of purpose / research topic (or abstract) showing your academic goals and alignment with ethical & community service values
4. Referee reports (usually at least one, sometimes two), especially commenting on leadership/community work

Closing Date

For the 2026 cycle, the closing date was 14 March 2026 at 12:00 pm for Honours applications.

As of now, there is no officially published closing date for the 2026 cycle. You can expect that announcement in the first half of next year.

Contact Details

• UKZN Financial Aid Office
• DBN: +27 31 260 1111
• PMB: +27 33 260 5111
• Call: +27 31 260 8596