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Science Bursaries
Natural science, mathematics, physics, chemistry and earth science bursaries for South African students.
30 opportunities listed, page 1 of 3
Gauteng City Region Academy (GCRA) Bursary 2026
Gauteng City Region Academy
Provincial bursary for Gauteng residents studying scarce-skill fields.
PPS Foundation Bursary Programme
PPS Foundation
Bursary for graduate professionals in scarce-skill fields.
MTN SA Foundation Bursary 2026
MTN SA Foundation
Bursary for ICT, engineering and science students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
South African Breweries Bursary
South African Breweries
SAB funds engineering, brewing science and commerce students, with a route into its graduate programmes.
Sasol Foundation Vacation Work Bursary
Sasol Foundation
STEM bursary that includes mandatory vacation work placements at Sasol operations. Apply through the official portal.
REAP Bursary Programme
Rural Education Access Programme
REAP supports students from rural communities with funding, mentoring and student support throughout their studies.
SANBI Bursary Programme
South African National Biodiversity Institute
Funding for botany, ecology, conservation and biodiversity studies from the national biodiversity institute.
CSIR Internship Programme
CSIR
CSIR internships in science, engineering and technology, advertised through the year on the official CSIR careers system.
Mondi South Africa Bursary
Mondi Group
Mondi supports engineering and forestry science students linked to its South African mills and plantations.
Aspen Pharmacare Bursary
Aspen Pharmacare
Aspen funds pharmacy, chemistry and engineering students for its pharmaceutical manufacturing operations.
Shell South Africa Bursary
Shell South Africa
Shell South Africa offers study funding and graduate entry routes for engineering, science and commerce students.
CHIETA Bursary Programme
Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority
CHIETA funds chemical engineering, chemistry and process technology students.
How science funding works in South Africa
Natural sciences funding in South Africa runs through research councils, the National Research Foundation, science-driven state entities and mining or environmental employers. Undergraduate awards are fewer than in engineering, but honours, masters and doctoral funding is comparatively accessible if your marks are strong and your research area matches a national priority.
Undergraduate and postgraduate funding work differently
Undergraduate science bursaries are usually tuition awards with an academic condition. Postgraduate funding is typically a scholarship or grant-holder-linked bursary attached to a supervisor's project, so identifying the supervisor and research group comes before the funding application.
Geology, statistics and environmental science have employer demand
Mining houses fund geology and mine surveying, insurers and banks fund statistics and data-heavy programmes, and environmental science attracts water, conservation and energy funders. A broad BSc becomes fundable once you can name the major you will pursue.
Research funding follows a proposal, not just marks
For honours and above, expect to submit a short research proposal, academic transcripts and references. Start those conversations with lecturers well before the closing date, since references are the most common cause of a late submission.
Questions students ask about science funding
- Does a science bursary cover a laptop or field costs?
- Some do and some do not. Where a funder publishes what is covered, it appears in the benefits section of the listing. Where nothing is published, ask the funder directly before you rely on it.