Postdoctoral Research Fellowship: Policy Studies in Education (1-year contract, renewable up to 3 years) (Job ID: 6455)

Organizational Unit: University of the Free State, Faculty of Education, Department of Education Management, Policy and Comparative Education

Location: Qwaqwa Campus, Qwaqwa, Free State, South Africa

Contract Type: Temporary (1-year contract, renewable up to 3 years)

Assumption of Duties: 01 October 2026

Closing Date: 28 August 2026

About the Role

The University of the Free State (UFS) invites applications from suitably qualified candidates for a postdoctoral fellowship in the Faculty of Education within the Department of Education Management, Policy and Comparative Education. Applicants interested in pursuing an academic career in Education Management and Leadership research are strongly encouraged to apply.

The fellowship will enable an outstanding doctoral graduate to obtain experience in research, innovation, and community service at a higher education institution under the mentorship of established researchers. The fellowship is awarded on a competitive basis, considering applicants' academic achievements, research outputs and potential, as well as the relevance of their prior experience and expertise.

This is a residential fellowship: the successful applicant is required to spend 80% of their postdoctoral period at the UFS Qwaqwa Campus.

Responsibilities

• Conduct innovative research and obtain evidence-based empirical data on current developments in Policy Studies in Education.
• Author/co-author at least three (3) publication outputs per year in the form of DHET-accredited scholarly journal articles or books/chapters in books.
• Initiate research projects and seek funding for them.
• Provide limited teaching in relevant Programmes where appropriate.
• Provide limited supervision and/or co-supervision at Honour’s, master’s, and/or Doctoral level where appropriate.
• Register and reside as a postdoctoral research fellow at the UFS and participate in relevant activities of the Faculty of Education, the School of Postgraduate Studies, and the Directorate of Research Development.

Requirements

• A PhD (NQF Level 10) with a focus on Policy Studies in Education.
• Open to all South African and foreign nationals for full-time research at the University of the Free State.
• The fellowship will terminate once the PhD degree reaches the fifth (5th) year of graduation.
• Successful applicants may not hold full-time salaried employment during the fellowship.
• Successful applicants must be able to relocate to UFS for the duration of the fellowship.

Benefits

• Annual fellowship value: R 220,000.
• Additional research expenses fund: R 30,000.

Enquiries

For enquiries, please contact Prof. Tsotetsi at tsotetsict@ufs.ac.za.