SANSA Postgraduate Bursaries 2026

Now Open for Applications

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) is offering postgraduate bursaries for the 2026 academic year. These bursaries aim to support the national goal of increasing the number of science and engineering graduates, which is critical for the country’s development and sustainability.

Who Should Apply?

SANSA invites postgraduate students (Master’s and Doctoral levels) who are pursuing degrees in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Applicants must be:

• South African citizens

• 32 years or younger

• Studying full-time towards a relevant postgraduate qualification

• Achieving a minimum of 65% average in their most recent academic results

Eligible Fields of Study

Below is a list of key focus areas, but applications are not limited to these only:

Environmental and Geographic Sciences

• Environmental Science

• Environmental Management

• Geography and GIS

• Geoinformatics

• Ecology & Resource Management

• Botany

• Environmental Geology

• Environmental & Water Science

• Statistical Ecology

Remote Sensing & GIS

• Applied Remote Sensing

• Remote Sensing & GIS

• Geography with Remote Sensing and/or GIS

• Information Systems & Remote Sensing

Engineering and Technology

• Electrical / Electronic Engineering

• Mechanical / Mechatronics Engineering

• Computer Engineering

• Information Technology

• Computer Science

Mathematics and Physics

• Mathematics / Applied Mathematics

• Physics / Space Science

• Energy Studies

Documents Required

Please ensure all documents are submitted in full and are unprotected/unlocked. The following are mandatory:

• Certified ID Copy (not older than 3 months)

• Full academic transcript from first year, including 2025 mid-year/final results

• Official university financial statement or NSFAS confirmation letter for undergraduate studies

• Testimonial from a lecturer or supervisor (for Master’s and PhD applicants)

• Draft research proposal:

  • Master's: Max 2 pages

  • PhD: Max 4 pages
    All proposals must be signed and dated by both the applicant and proposed supervisor

Applications missing any of these documents or submitted with locked/encrypted files will be considered incomplete and will not be processed.

Important Notes

• Only applications for relevant science and engineering qualifications will be considered.

• Incomplete or non-compliant applications will be rejected.

• Final decisions are based on academic merit and alignment to SANSA’s research priorities.

Apply Now

To apply, visit SANSA’s official bursary application portal:
SANSA Bursaries