SANSA Postgraduate Bursary Programme
South African National Space Agency (SANSA)
The SANSA Postgraduate Bursary Programme funds Honours, Master's and Doctoral students pursuing STEM qualifications linked to South Africa's space sector, including Earth observation, remote sensing, GIS, space science, physics, mathematics and engineering. It targets students with at least a 65% average who can show financial need, and pays R150,000 to R170,000 a year depending on the level of study. The call for 2027 bursaries closed on 30 September 2026.
- Amount
- Honours: R150,000 p.a. | Master's: R160,000 p.a. | Doctoral: R170,000 p.a.
- Deadline
- Closed 30 September 2026
- Renewable
- Yes
Eligible Fields of Study
South African National Space Agency (SANSA) supports students in the following disciplines
Eligibility Requirements
- ✓ Pursuing (or planning to pursue) an Honours, Master's or Doctoral qualification after a BSc or engineering degree
- ✓ Studying towards a relevant science or engineering qualification aligned with SANSA's focus areas (Earth observation, space engineering or space science)
- ✓ Minimum academic average of 65% in the last year of study or last examination
- ✓ Financial need, shown by an official undergraduate student account statement or an NSFAS funding letter
- ✓ Master's and Doctoral applicants need a testimonial from a lecturer or proposed supervisor and a signed draft proposal
- ✓ The 2027 call does not state an age limit or citizenship requirement; ask SANSA Student Queries if you are unsure
What's Included
- ✓ Honours funding of R150,000 per annum
- ✓ Master's funding of R160,000 per annum
- ✓ Doctoral funding of R170,000 per annum
- ✓ Renewable each year subject to satisfactory academic progress
- ✓ Funding covers tuition and study-related allowances
- ✓ Exposure to SANSA's research community and space-sector projects
- ✓ Pathway into careers in South Africa's space and Earth-observation industry
How to Apply
Steps to complete your South African National Space Agency (SANSA) bursary application
- 1
Visit the SANSA bursaries page at sansa.org.za/bursaries, check whether the next call is open and confirm that your field of study is eligible
- 2
Complete the online SANSA bursary application form during the open window (the 2027 call closed on 30 September 2026)
- 3
Prepare all supporting documents as unprotected, unlocked PDFs - encrypted or password-protected files make the application incomplete
- 4
Master's applicants include a draft proposal of up to 2 pages and Doctoral applicants up to 4 pages, signed and dated by the applicant and the proposed supervisor
- 5
Submit your full application with all required documents before the closing date; incomplete applications are not considered
- 6
Send any enquiries to SANSA Student Queries at students@sansa.org.za
Required Documents
- 📄 Full official university academic record from first year, including final-year or mid-year 2026 results
- 📄 Official undergraduate student account statement or NSFAS funding letter for your undergraduate study fees
- 📄 ID copy certified within 3 months of submitting the application
- 📄 Testimonial from a lecturer or proposed supervisor (Master's and Doctoral applicants)
- 📄 Draft proposal of up to 2 pages (Master's) or 4 pages (Doctoral), signed and dated by you and your proposed supervisor
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much is the SANSA postgraduate bursary worth?
- Funding is awarded by study level: R150,000 per year for Honours students, R160,000 per year for Master's students and R170,000 per year for Doctoral students. The bursary is renewable each year subject to satisfactory academic progress.
- Who qualifies for the SANSA bursary?
- You must be pursuing Honours, Master's or Doctoral studies after a BSc or engineering degree in a relevant science or engineering field, have at least a 65% average for your last year of study or last examination, and show financial need through an undergraduate student account statement or NSFAS funding letter. The 2027 call does not state an age limit or citizenship requirement, so ask students@sansa.org.za if you are unsure.
- Which fields of study does SANSA fund?
- SANSA supports a broad range of STEM disciplines connected to space, including Earth observation, remote sensing, GIS, environmental science, physics, mathematics, energy studies, computer science, information systems and technology, and electronic, electrical, computer, mechanical and mechatronics engineering. Its list is not limited to these fields.
- When does the SANSA bursary close?
- Applications for 2027 bursaries closed on 30 September 2026. SANSA had not announced dates for the 2028 call as of 12 October 2026, so check sansa.org.za/bursaries for the next call.
2027 applications have closed
The 2027 application window closed on 30 September 2026.
SANSA's call for 2027 postgraduate bursaries closed on 30 September 2026. Dates for 2028 bursaries had not been announced as of 12 October 2026; watch sansa.org.za/bursaries for the next call.
Still need funding for 2027? See bursaries that are still open.
Check South African National Space Agency (SANSA)'s official siteNeed help? Contact South African National Space Agency (SANSA):
Email: students@sansa.org.za
Information verified 2026-10-12. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.
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