The Arid Region Water Research Centre is a research centre within the Faculty of Natural and Applied Sciences which focuses on addressing water scarcity challenges in arid and semi-arid regions, with a particular emphasis on the Northern Cape Province. It forms part of Sol Plaatje University’s broader desert studies research agenda and has been developed in strategic partnership with the Water Research Commission (WRC) to support research, innovation, and practical solutions in sustainable water management. 

The Centre places emphasis on supporting postgraduate students at the Honours, Masters, and Post-doctoral levels through bursary support within the field of water research and arid-region resilience.