The SANSA Bursary is a life changing bursary program offered by the South African National Space Agency (SANSA).
The organization aims to use this bursary as a way to support and encourage promising individuals like you to pursue postgraduate qualifications in space-related fields.
About the SANSA Bursary
The SANSA Bursary program works hard to build an active South African space science community by supporting talented students in all their postgraduate endeavors.
Whether you’re drawn to the mysteries of the cosmos, the inner workings of satellite technology, or the challenges of space exploration, this bursary can provide the financial backing you need to fund your academic journey.
SANSA bursaries are usually not awarded beyond the following values (these amounts may be revised):
- Honours studies: R100 000 for 1 year of study (as well as an allowance, determined on a case-to-case basis)
- Masters studies: R120 000 (all inclusive) for 2 years of study
- PhD studies: R140 000 (all inclusive) for 3 years of study
As a bursary recipient, you will not be in receipt of bursaries that exceed the amount above.
If applicants have another bursary of a lower amount amount, SANSA may provide some extra funding as a top-up bursary to the student and not the full bursary amount.
SANSA Bursary Application Form
Unfortunately, applications for the 2024 SANSA Bursary program are currently closed.
However, I will encourage you to keep this page bookmarked for future updates and application opening dates, which are normally announced on the SANSA website.
Once applications open, you can access the online application form through the SANSA website.
Remember to carefully review the application guidelines and ensure you have all the necessary supporting documents before submitting your application. These typically include:
- Certified copies of your academic qualifications
- A detailed CV outlining your academic achievements and relevant experience
- A compelling cover letter explaining your motivation for pursuing a space-related qualification and how you envision contributing to the field
- Proof of South African citizenship
- Proof of financial need (optional)
All applications must be submitted online to the official SANSA bursary portal.
The SANSA Bursary Requirements
SANSA has strict requirements that all of their applicants must meet. For you to be eligible for the SANSA Bursary, you must:
- Be a South African citizen.
- Have a strong academic record, typically with an average of 65% or higher in your previous qualification.
- Be enrolled in or intend to enroll in a postgraduate degree (Honours, Master’s, or PhD) in a space-related field offered at a South African university.
- Demonstrate a genuine passion for space science and research.
- Have a proven financial need (not mandatory, but considered)
The SANSA Bursary Closing Date
As mentioned earlier, the application window for the 2024 SANSA Bursary program has closed.
However, the closing date for the just ended 2024 application cycle for the upcoming academic year was on 30 September 2023.
I encourage you to check the SANSA website or come back to this blog post for updates and announcements regarding future application periods.
For any further inquiries about the SANSA Bursary program, you can contact SANSA directly through any of the following email addresses: [email protected] / [email protected].