DSI-CSIR Bursary South Africa: Empowering Future Innovators
DSI-CSIR Bursary South Africa 2025: Empowering Future Innovators
About the Bursary Providers – DSI & CSIR
The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), established in 1945, stands as South Africa’s premier research and development organization. As the largest R&D organization in Africa, the CSIR plays a pivotal role in advancing science and technology across the continent, accounting for approximately 10% of Africa’s total R&D budget.
The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) is dedicated to fostering socio-economic development in South Africa through research and innovation. The DSI’s mission is to drive cutting-edge science that contributes to the well-being of all South Africans, working closely with various programs and entities to achieve these goals.
About the DSI-CSIR Bursary Programme – Fields Covered
The Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) invite postgraduate students to apply for the DSI-CSIR Inter-Bursary Support (IBS) programme for the 2025 academic year.
This prestigious bursary is available for Honours/4th year Engineering/Postgraduate Diploma/Masters/Doctoral studies in the following Thematic Research Focus Areas:
- Biocatalysis
- Biopharming
- Bioprocessing
- Health
- ICT
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS)
- Microsystems Technology
- Mining
- Modelling and Digital Sciences
- Titanium (Manufacturing Elements)
- Photonics
- Water Research
For more detailed information about these thematic areas, please refer to the DSI-CSIR Inter-Bursary Support Programme (IBS) General Guidelines (PDF).
The Inter-Bursary Support (IBS) programme was established by the DSI to build capacity in key priority areas identified by departmental strategies. Supported by the CSIR, this bursary aims to develop skilled professionals in these critical fields.
Bursary Coverage Value
The bursary amount depends on the level of study:
- Honours, 4th-year Engineering, and Postgraduate Diploma students: Up to R130,000 per annum
- Masters students: Up to R140,000 per annum
- Doctoral students: Up to R160,000 per annum
In addition, bursary recipients will receive a one-time laptop allowance of R10,000.
Bursary Selection Process
Applicants will be notified of the outcome of their application within two months after the closing date. If you do not receive feedback by then, please consider your application unsuccessful. You can also track your application status by logging into the application portal.
Stay informed about the latest bursary opportunities by visiting southafricanfinders.com, where you can find comprehensive details about the DSI-CSIR Bursary and many other opportunities.
Eligibility Requirements for the DSI-CSIR Bursary
Applicants must meet the following criteria to be considered for the bursary (failure to meet all the requirements will result in disqualification):
- Must be a South African citizen or permanent resident.
- Must be studying or intending to study full-time towards a postgraduate qualification in one of the thematic areas listed above in 2025.
- Must be enrolled or accepted at a public university in South Africa.
- Must not be receiving any other bursary funding.
Additional Requirements:
- Honours applicants: Must not be older than 28 years and must have achieved a minimum average of 65% in all major subjects during their final year of undergraduate study.
- Masters applicants: Must not be older than 30 years and must have achieved a minimum average of 65% in all major subjects at the Honours level or final year of a four-year degree.
- Doctoral applicants: Must not be older than 32 years and must have achieved a minimum average of 65% at the Masters level.
- Masters and Doctoral applicants must have supervisor endorsement and motivation.
- Preference will be given to students with disabilities and those from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
How to Apply for the DSI-CSIR Bursary
To apply, submit your application online at the DSI-CSIR Bursary Application 2025 portal. Make sure to enter “southafricanfinders.com” in the field asking how you heard about the bursary.
You will receive an email confirmation upon successful submission of your application.
Required Supporting Documents
Submit the following documents with your online application (missing documents may lead to disqualification):
- Certified copy of your ID document (for South African citizens)
- Certified copies of your passport and proof of permanent residency (for international students)
- Certified copy of your university degree certificate
- Full academic transcript (on official university letterhead)
- Proof of university application or registration (on official university letterhead)
- Recommendation letter from your supervisor (for Masters and Doctoral applicants)
- Admission letter showing full-time registration, if available (successful applicants must submit this)
Closing Date for the DSI-CSIR Bursary
The application deadline is September 3, 2024, at 12:00 PM. Late applications will not be considered, so be sure to apply before the deadline.
Contact Information
For any queries related to this bursary program, please contact the CSIR IBS team:
- Contact Person: Justice Komane
- Tel: 012 841 3304
- Email: hcd-interbursary@csir.co.za
Before submitting any queries, please review the DSI-CSIR Inter-Bursary Support Programme (IBS) FAQs (PDF).
For more bursary opportunities, visit https://southafricanfinders.com/bursary-news/.
