В Южной Африке открыта программа стипендий DSTI-CSIR для аспирантов с финансированием до 180 000 рандов

Deadline: 15-Sep-2026 The DSTI-CSIR Inter-programme Bursary Scheme (IBS) provides financial support to postgraduate students in South Africa pursuing studies in critical, strategic, and priority research areas. Established by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), the scheme is implemented in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) to strengthen postgraduate education, skills development, and research capacity in South Africa. Depending on the level of study, successful applicants can receive between R160,000 and R180,000, together with a once-off laptop allowance of R10,000. About the DSTI-CSIR Inter-programme Bursary Scheme The Inter-programme Bursary Scheme was established to advance postgraduate studies and capacity development in research fields considered important to South Africa’s national development. DSTI and CSIR collaborate through the scheme to develop advanced skills and support the country’s broader innovation and research ecosystem. The bursary focuses on research areas that can contribute to addressing important scientific, technological, environmental, agricultural, economic, and societal challenges. How Much Funding Is Available? The bursary amount depends on the applicant’s level of study. Honours students: R160,000 plus a once-off laptop allowance of R10,000 Master’s students: R170,000 plus a once-off laptop allowance of R10,000 Doctoral students: R180,000 plus a once-off laptop allowance of R10,000 The laptop allowance is provided as a once-off amount in addition to the relevant bursary value. What Research Areas Are Supported? The DSTI-CSIR Inter-programme Bursary Scheme supports postgraduate research across a broad range of critical and strategic fields. The thematic research areas include: Biotechnology Health sciences Biochemistry Information and communications technology Engineering Indigenous knowledge systems Bioeconomy Agriculture Climate change Technology innovations Energy Mining Photonics Water research Titanium manufacturing Simulation and modelling These research areas are aligned with national priorities and are intended to help address pressing scientific, technological, and societal challenges. Who Can Apply? The scheme is intended for students pursuing eligible postgraduate studies at South African public universities. Applicants must: Be accepted or registered for full-time studies at a South African public university Intend to pursue an eligible honours, fourth-year engineering, postgraduate diploma, master’s, or doctoral programme Conduct their studies in one of the specified critical, strategic, or priority research areas Meet the applicable academic performance requirement for their level of study Academic Requirements for Honours and Related Studies Applicants for honours, fourth-year engineering, and postgraduate diploma bursaries must have achieved a minimum average of 65% in their final undergraduate year. This requirement applies to students seeking support at these study levels. Academic Requirements for Master’s Studies Applicants seeking a master’s bursary must have achieved a minimum average of 65% at honours level. Students should therefore demonstrate strong academic performance in their honours qualification when applying for master’s-level support. Academic Requirements for Doctoral Studies Applicants applying for a doctoral bursary must have achieved a minimum average of 65% at master’s level. The academic requirement is intended to ensure that doctoral bursary recipients have demonstrated strong postgraduate academic performance. Study Level and Bursary Amount The scheme provides different levels of financial support depending on the qualification being pursued. Honours, Fourth-Year Engineering and Postgraduate Diploma Eligible students can receive R160,000, together with a once-off R10,000 laptop allowance. Applicants must have achieved at least a 65% average in their final undergraduate year. Master’s Degree Master’s students can receive R170,000, plus a once-off R10,000 laptop allowance. Applicants must have achieved at least 65% at honours level. Doctoral Degree Doctoral students can receive R180,000, plus a once-off R10,000 laptop allowance. Applicants must have achieved at least 65% at master’s level. Supporting South Africa’s Research and Innovation Ecosystem The DSTI-CSIR Inter-programme Bursary Scheme is designed to strengthen the skills and research capacity needed to support South Africa’s scientific and technological development. By supporting postgraduate students in strategic research areas, the scheme contributes to the development of researchers and specialists in fields that are important to national priorities. The wide range of supported disciplines also provides opportunities for students working across science, technology, engineering, agriculture, environmental research, health, and other strategic areas. Importance of Critical and Strategic Research Areas The programme’s research priorities cover areas with significant implications for South Africa’s future development. Fields such as agriculture, climate change, water research, energy, biotechnology, mining, engineering, health sciences, and ICT can contribute to solutions for complex national challenges. The inclusion of cross-cutting areas such as simulation and modelling also supports research approaches that can be applied across multiple scientific and technological disciplines. Key Facts About the DSTI-CSIR Inter-programme Bursary Scheme Programme: DSTI-CSIR Inter-programme Bursary Scheme Abbreviation: IBS Established by: Department of Science, Technology and Innovation Partner organisation: Council for Scientific and Industrial Research Location: South Africa Study mode: Full-time Eligible institutions: South African public universities Honours funding: R160,000 Master’s funding: R170,000 Doctoral funding: R180,000 Laptop allowance: R10,000 once-off Honours academic requirement: 65% final undergraduate-year average Master’s academic requirement: 65% at honours level Doctoral academic requirement: 65% at master’s level Research focus: Critical, strategic, and priority research areas How to Prepare for the Bursary Application Students should first confirm that their proposed qualification and research topic fall within one of the scheme’s specified research areas. Applicants should also ensure that they meet the relevant academic requirement for their study level and have been accepted or registered for full-time study at a South African public university. Before applying, students should be prepared to provide information demonstrating: Their current or intended postgraduate qualification Full-time registration or acceptance at a qualifying public university Their relevant academic results Their proposed research field The connection between their studies and the scheme’s priority research areas Why This Bursary Matters for Postgraduate Researchers Postgraduate research requires significant time, academic resources, and access to appropriate technology. The DSTI-CSIR Inter-programme Bursary Scheme combines substantial financial support with a once-off laptop allowance to assist students pursuing research in strategic fields. For students working in areas such as agriculture, climate change, biotechnology, water, energy, engineering, health sciences, ICT, and other priority disciplines, the scheme can provide important support while they undertake advanced studies and contribute to South Africa’s research capacity. Frequently Asked Questions What is the DSTI-CSIR Inter-programme Bursary Scheme? It is a bursary programme supporting postgraduate students in South Africa who are pursuing full-time studies in critical, strategic, and priority research areas. Who established the Inter-programme Bursary Scheme? The scheme was established by the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI) in collaboration with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). How much does the bursary provide? Honours students receive R160,000, master’s students receive R170,000, and doctoral students receive R180,000. Each level also includes a once-off R10,000 laptop allowance. Can honours students apply? Yes. Honours students can apply if they meet the eligibility and academic requirements and are pursuing an eligible field at a South African public university. Can fourth-year engineering students apply? Yes. Fourth-year engineering students are included among the eligible study levels, subject to the applicable requirements. Can postgraduate diploma students apply? Yes. Postgraduate diploma students are included in the bursary scheme, provided they meet the relevant eligibility and academic requirements. What is the academic requirement for honours students? Honours applicants must have achieved a minimum average of 65% in their final undergraduate year. What is the academic requirement for master’s applicants? Master’s applicants must have achieved a minimum of 65% at honours level. What is the academic requirement for doctoral applicants? Doctoral applicants must have achieved a minimum of 65% at master’s level. Do students need to study full-time? Yes. Applicants must be accepted or registered for full-time studies at a South African public university. Which research areas are supported? Supported areas include biotechnology, health sciences, biochemistry, ICT, engineering, indigenous knowledge systems, bioeconomy, agriculture, climate change, technology innovations, energy, mining, photonics, water research, titanium manufacturing, and simulation and modelling. Can students studying agriculture apply? Yes. Agriculture is one of the specified thematic research areas supported by the scheme. Does the scheme support climate change research? Yes. Climate change is included among the supported research focus areas. Is a laptop allowance available? Yes. Students at all three specified levels receive a once-off laptop allowance of R10,000 in addition to the bursary amount. What is the maximum bursary amount? The highest bursary amount is R180,000 for doctoral students, plus the once-off R10,000 laptop allowance. Conclusion The DSTI-CSIR Inter-programme Bursary Scheme provides substantial financial support for postgraduate students pursuing research in South Africa’s critical, strategic, and priority fields. With funding of up to R180,000, plus a once-off R10,000 laptop allowance, the scheme supports students at honours, master’s, and doctoral levels. Its broad research focus covers areas including agriculture, climate change, biotechnology, health sciences, engineering, ICT, energy, mining, water research, and technology innovation. By supporting academically strong full-time postgraduate students at South African public universities, the programme aims to strengthen research capacity, develop specialised skills, and contribute to the country’s science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. For more information, visit Department of Science, Technology and Innovation.