Key facts
- Status
- Check with the provider
- Provider
- CSIR
- Field of study
- Engineering
- Last checked
- September 2026
The CSIR advertises internships through the year rather than in one round, and its candidate portal listed no internship post on 29 September 2026.
VerifiedThe Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a national science council that calls itself a world-class African research and development organisation. Its internship programme is aimed at people who have just finished a science, engineering or technology degree and have not yet worked. It is separate from the CSIR’s study bursaries: interns are graduates doing a year of paid research work, not students being funded.
A year of research work after a BSc or BEng
The CSIR internships page describes a 12-month placement in a research environment. Interns build core research skills under more experienced professionals and work on projects that the CSIR says contribute to improving the lives of South Africans. The entry requirement is a BSc, a BEng or a BSc Honours degree in a science, engineering or technology field.
The CSIR splits what an internship gives into two parts:
| Financial support | Non-financial support |
|---|---|
| A monthly stipend | A mentor |
| Informal training through short courses at the CSIR Innovation, Leadership and Learning Academy | Work on live CSIR projects |
The CSIR does not publish the stipend amount, how many interns it takes each year or which research units host them. Its careers FAQ says CSIR positions in general are graded on the Paterson system, with the final offer depending on internal benchmarks, qualification and affordability, but it gives no figure for interns.
Adverts appear through the year, one post at a time
There is no single application window. The CSIR says internship opportunities are advertised throughout the year in the vacancies section of its candidate portal. Each advert names its own research area, requirements and closing date. When the portal was checked on 29 September 2026 it listed three vacancies, all for experienced staff, and no internship.
Applying means creating a profile on the portal and then applying to a specific advert. Registered users can also set up job notifications and saved searches on the portal. The CSIR careers FAQ gives a few tips for problems with the portal:
- if an application will not go through, refresh the page, try another browser or restart the device, and log in with the same email address used to register;
- if your exact qualification is missing from the drop-down list, choose the closest one, for example MEng instead of MEng: Radar;
- if the system says your ID number is already in use, or a password reset email does not arrive, send your ID number and preferred email address to the CSIR recruitment mailbox named on the FAQ page.
Because of the volume of applications, the CSIR contacts only shortlisted candidates.
CSIR funding for those still studying
Students who have not yet graduated cannot use the internship. The CSIR’s own CSIR bursary funds undergraduate and postgraduate study in its research fields, and the DSI-CSIR Inter-Programme Bursary is a separate postgraduate scheme it administers. The organisation’s profile is on the CSIR provider page.
FAQs
Checked the requirements and closing date? Apply directly with the provider.
Apply on the provider’s website
About CSIR
Science council established by an Act of Parliament
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research describes itself as a world-class African research and development organisation established through an Act of Parliament in 1945. The CSIR carries out research for government and industry, and its current work…
Read the full CSIR profile →