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Funding callMedicine and clinical research · South Africa

SAMRC Conference Funding – applications for conferences from mid-2027

SAMRC Conference Funding, offered by the South African Medical Research Council, supports organisers of conferences with medical or health research as the central theme hosted at a venue in South Africa, with up to R200,000 for international or R100,000 for national conferences. This guide covers suitable conference themes, eligibility and readiness checks, what assessment panels typically value and how to prepare an application, made at least six months before the event, by the 24 December 2026 deadline for conferences from mid-2027.

Pubrica InsightsEditorial team, reviewed by a subject specialist
Next deadline
24 December 2026
Last checked
10 November 2026
Funder
South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
Sources
1
Apply through the official call

Key dates

Application deadline
24 December 2026
Details last checked
10 November 2026
Apply through the official call

About the call

Funder
South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
Country
South Africa
Scheme type
Other
Funding
Up to R200,000 (international) or R100,000 (national) per conference
Eligibility
Organisers of conferences with medical or health research as the central theme hosted at a venue in South Africa, applying at least six months before the event.
Scope
Medicine and clinical research

Topics consistent with the call

  • Conferences on infectious diseases such as HIV and tuberculosis
  • Meetings on non-communicable diseases and their prevention
  • Conferences on maternal, child and women’s health
  • Public health, health systems and health policy meetings
  • Conferences on mental health research and services
  • Meetings on biomedical and translational research

Based on the published scope; the official page sets out the full themes and requirements.

Is your work a fit? Check before you apply

  1. Confirm that medical or health research is the central theme of the conference.
  2. Check that the conference will be hosted at a venue in South Africa.
  3. Ensure the application is made at least six months before the event.
  4. Prepare a budget within the limit for an international or national conference and confirm requirements in the official guidelines.
  5. Submit a complete, institutionally approved application before 24 December 2026.

Why This Funding Call Matters

Scientific conferences give researchers in South Africa the opportunity to share findings, build networks and engage with international colleagues without the cost of travel abroad. Hosting meetings locally also increases participation by students and early-career researchers. SAMRC funding helps organisers cover costs and strengthen the programme, supporting the visibility of South African health research and encouraging exchange between local researchers, practitioners and international experts.

Who Should Apply

Academic backgrounds

  • Public health
  • Clinical medicine
  • Biomedical sciences
  • Health systems research
  • Epidemiology

Institutions and sectors

  • South African universities
  • Research councils and institutes
  • Professional health associations and societies
  • Non-governmental health organisations

What Reviewers Typically Value

  1. A conference programme centred clearly on medical or health research.
  2. Plans that support participation by students and early-career researchers.
  3. A realistic budget and evidence of sound organisation.
  4. Expected benefits for South African health research and its networks.

Ideas You Could Develop

National tuberculosis research meetingA national conference bringing together tuberculosis researchers, clinicians and programme managers to share recent evidence.
International maternal health congressAn international congress on maternal and neonatal health hosted in South Africa.
Early-career health research symposiumA national meeting designed to showcase postgraduate health research and provide mentoring sessions.

Your Plan to the Deadline

A suggested schedule working back from 24 December 2026. Adjust it to the stage your work has reached.

  1. By 29 Oct 2026

    Read the call documents; confirm eligibility, budget limits, assessment criteria and institutional requirements.

  2. By 12 Nov 2026

    Agree the research question, aims, team and partners; contact your research office.

  3. By 26 Nov 2026

    Draft the case for support, methods, impact and budget.

  4. By 10 Dec 2026

    Obtain internal review, letters of support and institutional sign-off.

  5. By 19 Dec 2026

    Final checks against the funder’s guidance and formatting rules.

  6. By 24 Dec 2026

    Submit through the funder’s system before the deadline.

What you gain

  • Funding for the research, team and resources it needs.
  • Recognition from a competitive, peer-reviewed process.
  • Reviewer feedback that strengthens future applications.
  • A track record for larger grants and fellowships.

What happens after you apply

  1. Eligibility check: the funder confirms the application meets the call rules.
  2. Peer review: external reviewers assess the proposal against the published criteria.
  3. Panel: a committee ranks proposals; some schemes include an interview.
  4. Decision: outcomes are released on the funder’s timetable.
  5. Award: successful applicants agree terms and reporting requirements before starting.

What the Funder Are Looking For

SAMRC is looking for applications from organisers of conferences with medical or health research as the central theme, hosted at a venue in South Africa and submitted at least six months before the event. Strong applications typically present a focused scientific programme, a realistic budget and clear benefits for the health research community. Funding limits, eligible costs and application procedures should be confirmed on the official SAMRC conference funding page.

Read the official pageThis guide summarises the opportunity. Confirm deadlines, eligibility and requirements on the official page before you plan your work, and record the date you checked it.Open the official page

Expert help

How Pubrica Can Help

Pubrica’s subject specialists can help you prepare a competitive proposal, planned back from the deadline. You remain the author of your work.

Grant writingProposal writing structured to the funder’s guidance and assessment criteria. Literature review and gap analysisThe evidence base and the gap your proposal addresses. Study designStudy design and methods that reviewers can assess. Statistical analysis planSample size and analysis plans for the proposal. Data management planData management and sharing plans to funder requirements. Proposal editingEditing of the full proposal for clarity and consistency.
Go to the official page

FAQs

Questions Researchers Ask

The next published deadline is 24 December 2026. Dates can change, so confirm them on the official page before you plan your work.

Funding is available where medical or health research is the central theme, which may include health-related social science. Check the SAMRC conference funding page and confirm with SAMRC whether your conference theme qualifies.

Organisers of conferences with medical or health research as the central theme hosted at a venue in South Africa, applying at least six months before the event. Confirm the full eligibility rules in the call documents.

Yes. Pubrica’s specialists can review, write, edit and format your proposal. You remain the author and the person responsible for the submission.

Sources

  1. South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC). (2026). SAMRC Conference Funding – applications for conferences from mid-2027. Retrieved 10 November 2026, from https://www.samrc.ac.za/funding/conference-applications

How to cite this page

Pubrica Insights. (2026). SAMRC Conference Funding – applications for conferences from mid-2027. Pubrica. https://pubrica.com/insights/calls-and-conferences/samrc-conference-funding-applications-for-conferences-from-mid-2027/

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SAMRC Conference Funding – applications for conferences from mid-2027Next deadline 24 December 2026

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