South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI): Bursaries 2024

South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) invites South African students to apply for Bursary Programme 2024

Bursary Application Closing date is 18 January 2024.

Bursaries will be awarded for Honours, Masters and Doctoral studies, for projects relevant to SANBI’s mandate and identified as a priority for the SANBI Research Strategy. (Candidates should contact SANBI before applying if they are unsure whether a project qualifies.)
 

MORE ABOUT THE SANBI BURSARY PROGRAMME – EXPENSES COVERED & SELECTION

The bursary will provide cover for university fees and living expenses, to the total values:

• Honours studies: R120 000 for one year only
• Masters studies: R150 000 per year for two years
• Doctoral studies: R180 000 per year for three years

Shortlisted/ successful candidates will be contacted within 30 days of the closing date – if you do not receive any feedback by this date, please consider your application unsuccessful. SANBI reserves the right not to fill this bursary.

Requirements

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be under 35 years old
• You must intend on studying full-time, towards an Honours, Masters or Doctoral degree in 2024
• You must be studying at your degree level for the first time (i.e. second Honours, Masters or Doctoral degrees will NOT be funded)
• You must intend on pursuing a research project that is in line with SANBI’s mandate and research strategy
• You must intend on studying at any university in South Africa
• You must have completed an Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma if applying for Masters studies
• You must have confirmed placement in a postgraduate programme and have provisional acceptance from prospective academic supervisors
• You must be unemployed
• You must be pro-active, enthusiastic, and interested in doing excellent research that can make a difference

How to apply

Download and complete the SANBI Bursary Cover Sheet 2024 (.docx)

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

• Completed cover sheet (available above)
• ID document (certified copy)
• Drivers licence (certified copy)
• Academic records (certified copies)
• Highest qualification (certified copy)
• Letter of interest (including why you should be awarded the bursary)
• Project outline (1 page for Honours, 2 pages for Masters and Doctoral)
• Full Curriculum Vitae
• 2 letters of reference (one must be from an academic supervisor) (read how to get a reference letter for your bursary application)
• Letter from a prospective university supervisor as well as a SANBI supervisor, indicating willingness to supervise
• Provisional registration/ application from the university

Applications must be submitted via email to: students@sanbi.org.za
(Insert the words “SANBI studentships 2024” in the email subject line).
 

Application notes:

• The submission of the above documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified.
• Name each document clearly.
• Preferably, combine the cover sheet with the rest of the documents and submit in 1 PDF file.
• The total email size must be less than 10MB.