SANBI Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship 2026

SANBI Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship 2026

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SANBI Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship 2026

Deadline: 10 October 2025

Location: South Africa

SANBI Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship

SANBI is accepting applications for Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship programme 2026.

SANBI is inviting students to apply for the Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch Scholarship, for the 2026 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded for Postgraduate: Honours, Masters and Doctoral (or equivalent NQF levels) studies, in projects relevant to SANBI’s mandate and research strategy, and identified as a priority. Including:

  • PGD and Honours level projects field: Horticulture
  • Masters level projects field: Botany/ Community Ecology
  • Masters or Doctoral level projects field: Biological Invasions / Socio-ecological research
  • Doctoral level projects field: Plant systematics

The Joan Wrench Scholarship, first established in 2018, aims to recognise successful academic achievement in the youth as well as provide them with the financial means to embark on practical training/ postgraduate studies within biodiversity fields. The scholarship is aimed at candidates who would like to make a difference and will be awarded in line with the national equity targets.

MORE OPPORTUNITIES:

The following are the scholarship values per programme. The funding will cover both living expenses and university fees, whilst the project running expenses will be covered separately.

  • Honours programme: R120 000 for 1 year only.
  • Masters programme: R150 000 per year for 2 years.
  • Doctoral programme: R180 000 per year for 3 years.

All students must independently apply for university programmes, thereafter, the scholarship will be awarded once they have secured a placement in a post-graduate programme and have provisional acceptance from academic supervisors (please note, at least one of these supervisors must be from SANBI.) The majority of the research projects, as well as field sites, will be within the Western Cape and primarily, Kirstenbosch Gardens.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying:

  • You must be a South African citizen
  • You must be under 35 years old at the time of application
  • You must intend on studying full-time Honours, Masters or Doctoral (or equivalent NQF levels) studies in 2026 (existing studies will not be funded)
  • You must be pursuing level of study for the first time (second Honours, Masters or Doctoral degree will not be funded)
  • Masters students: you must hold an Honours degree or Postgraduate Diploma
  • Your project of study must be relevant to SANBI’s mandate and research strategy, and identified as a priority
  • Your focus of research projects, including field sites must be within the Cape Floristic Region
  • You must be studying or intend on studying at any university in South Africa
  • You must be accepted or provisionally accepted by an academic supervisor (contact the SANBI and university supervisors for endorsement prior to applying)
  • You must be willing to stay in the Western Cape for at least three (3) months of the study period for field work and face to face consultation with SANBI supervisors (where relevant)
  • You must be pro-active, enthusiastic, and interested in doing excellent research that can make a difference
  • You must NOT be employed
  • You must NOT be receiving any other full scholarships or bursaries (students who hold partial scholarships/bursaries, co-funding will be considered)

How to apply

To apply, visit SANBI bursaries portal.

Note: Late applications will not be considered.

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