Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

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 ranges from mining safety to ocean science.

Registered name

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)

Type

Science council established by an Act of Parliament

Fields funded

Science, engineering, ICT and health research fields

Website

csir.co.za

Email

enquiries@csir.co.za

Phone

012 841 2911

What CSIR researchers work on

Recent CSIR announcements give a sense of the organisation’s breadth. CSIR scientists tested digital rock-sounding technology at Harmony Gold’s Mponeng mine, a tool meant to help check underground rock stability. The CSIR also joined a 27-member international research consortium to coordinate a new Southern Ocean observing system. Bursars who join the CSIR later can find themselves on projects like these.

The DSI Inter-Programme Bursary closes today

The CSIR administers the Department of Science, Technology and Innovation Inter-Programme Bursary Scheme, formerly known as the Inter-Bursary Support programme. The CSIR’s own page states that the call for the 2027 academic year closes on Tuesday, 15 September 2026, at 23:59 South African time. The scheme funds postgraduate students in science, engineering, ICT and health fields, and applications are online only.

Students who miss the deadline should watch the CSIR’s careers pages from mid-2027 for the 2028 call.

Other CSIR routes

The CSIR has run its own undergraduate and postgraduate bursary, and it jointly administers a bursary with the Sasol Foundation through the CSIR Bursary Connect portal. Our CSIR bursary page has not been refreshed for 2027, so check the current CSIR portal for that programme’s requirements.

Preparing a CSIR application

The CSIR’s news and research pages describe the organisation’s priority areas. Postgraduate applicants should read them and explain how their planned research connects to one of those areas, because research-based bursaries reward a clear fit. The CSIR does not accept emailed applications for the Inter-Programme scheme.

The CSIR also asks the public to nominate people for national science awards and signs agreements with partner organisations; a memorandum of understanding signed in Pretoria on 21 May 2026 is one recent example. Following the CSIR’s news page for a few months gives applicants a practical picture of where the organisation is heading and which research groups are growing.

Postgraduate science students can compare the CSIR with other funders on our Postgraduate Bursaries page.