SANBI Biological Invasions Bursary 2027: How to Apply

Key facts

Status
Applications closed Closed 1 November 2024
Provider
South African National Biodiversity Institute
Study level
Postgraduate
Academic year
2027
Last checked
September 2026

SANBI advertises the bursaries in September or October with a closing date around 1 November.

Keagan HendricksWritten by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)
Naledi KhumaloReviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified
No open round · the last round we could find closed on 1 November 2024 The 2027 call had not been published when we checked; expect it to close in late October or early November 2026 . Latest update ↓

The South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI) funds honours, Master’s and doctoral students whose research helps it monitor, detect and manage invasive alien species. The Biological Invasions bursaries are run by SANBI’s Directorate of Biological Invasions with the Centre for Invasion Biology at Stellenbosch University, and students are co-supervised by a SANBI scientist.

About the SANBI Biological Invasions Bursary

  • Honours: R60 000 plus fees (one award in the last call).
  • Master’s: R115 000 plus fees (three awards).
  • Doctoral: R161 000 plus fees (four awards).
  • The stipend is paid directly to the student and academic fees to the university on invoice.
  • Research areas: the national status report on biological invasions and monitoring; incursion detection and response planning; eradication planning and coordination; risk analysis; and taxonomy. Other topics may be considered if verified with SANBI beforehand.

SANBI Biological Invasions Bursary eligibility requirements

  • South African citizen.
  • Registered, or applying, for honours, Master’s or doctoral study at a South African university. The bursary is conditional on securing a place.
  • A project in one of SANBI’s focus areas, with a university supervisor and a SANBI staff co-supervisor.
  • Awards follow national equity targets; students at historically disadvantaged or newer public universities are encouraged to apply.

How to apply for the SANBI Biological Invasions Bursary

  1. Read the call on sanbi.org/careers, agree a project with a university supervisor and secure a SANBI co-supervisor.
  2. Download the application cover sheet for the year and compile one PDF (under 20MB) with the cover sheet, a certified ID, certified transcripts and highest qualification, a full CV, two academic reference letters, support letters from both supervisors and a project outline (one page for honours, two for Master’s and doctoral).
  3. Email it to students@sanbi.org.za and sanbi.dbi.bursaries@gmail.com with the subject line “SANBI Biological Invasions Bursary Application” before the closing date.

SANBI Biological Invasions Bursary closing date

The last confirmed closing date was 1 November 2024. Expect late October or early November 2026 for 2027.

Contact details

See also the SANBI Joan Wrench scholarship, the Digby Wells environmental bursary and the DSI-NRF postgraduate scholarship.

FAQs

1. When does the SANBI biological invasions bursary close for 2027? +
SANBI advertises in September or October with a closing date around 1 November; the 2025 round closed on 1 November 2024. Expect the 2027 call to close in late October or early November 2026 on sanbi.org.
2. How much is it? +
In the last published call: R60 000 plus fees for honours, R115 000 plus fees for Master's and R161 000 plus fees for doctoral study. The stipend is paid to the student and fees directly to the university.
3. Which research areas? +
Projects that support SANBI's Directorate of Biological Invasions: the national status report and monitoring, incursion detection and response planning, eradication planning and coordination, risk analysis and taxonomy of invasive species. Other topics may be accepted if cleared with SANBI first.
4. Who qualifies? +
South African citizens registered, or registering, for honours, Master's or doctoral study at a South African university, with a project in one of the focus areas, a university supervisor and a SANBI co-supervisor. Students at historically disadvantaged universities are encouraged, and awards follow national equity targets.
5. How do I apply? +
Email a single PDF (under 20MB) containing the cover sheet, certified ID, transcripts and highest qualification, CV, two academic references, support letters from your university supervisor and SANBI co-supervisor and a one or two page project outline to students@sanbi.org.za and sanbi.dbi.bursaries@gmail.com with the subject 'SANBI Biological Invasions Bursary Application'.
6. Who do I contact? +
Prof John Wilson (jrwilson@sun.ac.za) for academic questions and René du Toit (r.dutoit@sanbi.org.za) for application questions.
Update note (checked September 2026): SANBI advertises the bursaries in September or October with a closing date around 1 November. The 2025 round closed on 1 November 2024. The 2027 call had not been published when we checked; expect it to close in late October or early November 2026. The details below are from the last published call.

This round is not open right now. Check the provider’s own site for the next round.

Visit the provider’s website

Or send your application by email:

students@sanbi.org.za

Put SANBI Biological Invasions Bursary Application in the subject line.

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