South African National Space Agency (SANSA) 2027 Postgraduate Bursaries for STEM students

Introduction

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) provides postgraduate degree bursaries to contribute to the national target for qualified postgraduates in science and engineering.

Eligibility Criteria

SANSA offers bursaries to students pursuing their honours, masters, or doctoral qualifications in the following fields:

• EO Applied Remote sensing
• EO Applied Remote Sensing & GIS
• EO Botany
• EO Ecology & Resource Management
• EO Environmental & Science
• EO Environmental & Geographical Science
• EO Environmental & Water Science
• EO Environmental Geology
• EO Environmental Management
• EO Environmental Science
• EO Geographical Information Systems & Remote Sensing
• EO Geographical & Environmental Science
• EO Geographical Information Systems
• EO Geographical Science
• EO Geography with Remote Sensing and/GIS
• EO Geography & Environmental Management
• EO Geography and Environmental Science
• EO Geoinformatics
• EO GIS & Remote Sensing
• EO Information Systems & Remote Sensing
• EO Plant & Environmental Science
• EO Statistical Ecology
• SE Computer & Electronic Engineering
• SE Computer Engineering
• SE Computer Science
• SE Electrical and Electronic Engineering
• SE Electrical Engineering
• SE Electronic Engineering
• SE Information Technology
• SE Mechanical Engineering
• SE Mechatronics Engineering
• SS Applied Mathematics
• SS Energy studies
• SS Mathematics
• SS Physics
• SS Space Science
• SS/EO/SE Information Systems
• SS/EO/SE Information Technology

Application Requirements

To apply, you need to submit the following documents:

1. Full, official university academic record – from 1st year of study, including final year or midyear 2026 results.
2. Official undergraduate university student account statement or official letter for NSFAS funding for your undergraduate study fees
3. ID Copy certified within 3 months of application submission
4. Masters and doctoral students must include a testimonial from a lecturer or their proposed supervisor
5. Masters applicants must upload their draft proposal, no longer than 2 pages
6. Doctoral applicants must upload their draft proposals, no longer than 4 pages
7. All proposals must be signed and dated by the applicant and their proposed supervisor

Funding Amounts

The bursary amounts are as follows:

• Honours: R150 000 per annum
• Masters: R160 000 per annum
• Doctoral: R170 000 per annum

Deadline

The application deadline is September 30, 2026.