CSIR: Bursaries 2025

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme, for the 2025 academic year.

The CSIR bursary is merit based and is aimed at full-time, unemployed students who are pursuing qualifications in areas that are deemed a priority by the CSIR (research, technology development and innovation as well as corporate/support areas). The bursary aims to attract suitably qualified applicants, and encourages females, black students and those living with disabilities to apply.

Bursaries will be awarded for Postgraduate (Honours, MSc and PhD), in these fields:

Honours studies:

• Chemical Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electronic Engineering
• Genetics/ Cell Biology
• Information Systems
• Physics

Masters studies:

• Aeronautical Engineering
• Animal Health
• Aquaculture
• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics
• Biotechnology
• Civil/ Water Engineering
• Computer Science
• Computer Engineering
• Data Science
• Electronic Engineering
• Flow Chemistry
• Information Systems
• Mathematics
• Mechatronic Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Physics
• Virology

Doctoral studies:

• Animal Health
• Aquaculture
• Biochemistry
• Bioinformatics
• Biotechnology
• Chemical Engineering
• Computer Engineering
• Computer Science
• Electronic Engineering
• Flow Chemistry
• Genetics/ Cell Biology
• Mechanical Engineering
• Metallurgy/ Powder Metallurgy
• Microbiology
• Molecular Biology
• Physics
• Physiology
• Process Engineering
• Systems Engineering
• Virology

The bursary will provide cover for the following expenses:

• Honours level: registration fees, tuition fees, books, once-off laptop allowance, accommodation and a living allowance.
• Masters and Doctoral level: registration fees, tuition fees, once-off laptop allowance and a living allowance.

After graduation, bursary recipients will be required to work for CSIR – one year of employment for every year of funding received

Eligibility Requirements:

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying:

Honours studies:

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be studying or intend on studying full-time, towards a qualification in one of the fields listed above, in 2025
• You must be studying or intend on studying at a recognised public University in South Africa
• You must have passed all university courses you have registered for, for the study period completed (if currently studying)
• You must be currently unemployed

Masters and Doctoral applicants:

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must intend on studying full-time towards a qualification in one of the Masters or Doctoral fields listed above, in 2025
• You must meet the entry requirements for a master’s or PhD bursary at the selected university
• You must intend on enrolling and studying at a recognised public University in South Africa
• You must have passed all university courses you have registered for, for the study period completed
• You must be currently unemployed
• You must be enthusiastic and self-motivated
• You must take ownership and initiative
• You must have good scientific writing skills
• You must have good organisational skills
• You must have good time management skills
• You must have good communication skills – verbal and writing
• You must have good report writing abilities
• You must have an excellent academic record
• You must have a drive to conduct research
• You must be self-motivated
• You must be able to work independently and within a team
• You must be able to formulate and carry out research
• You must have excellent technical abilities
• You must be able to work well under pressure
• You must be able to meet scheduled deliverables