Key Facts
- Status
- Applications Open
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Academic Year
-
2027
- Application Closes
-
Eligibility Requirements
- 32 years old or younger
- Minimum 65% in most recent year of study
- Studying or planning postgraduate study (Honours, Master's, or Doctoral) in a STEM field
- Research area connected to Earth Observation, Space Engineering, or Space Science
Documents Needed
- Certified copy of South African ID
- Academic transcript showing your most recent results
- Proof of postgraduate registration or acceptance
- Research proposal aligned to a SANSA programme area
- CV
About South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Bursary
The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Bursary is a postgraduate-only programme funding Honours, Master's, and Doctoral study in STEM fields connected to SANSA's three programme areas: Earth Observation, Space Engineering, and Space Science.
Because funding scales by qualification level - R150,000 a year for Honours up to R170,000 for doctoral students - it's worth confirming exactly which of SANSA's three programme areas your specific research topic fits before applying, since a proposal that clearly aligns with a named SANSA priority area is reviewed differently than a generically "space-related" one.
Funding Details
Funding ranges from R150,000 per year for Honours students up to R170,000 per year for doctoral students, scaled to the qualification level.
Where You Can Study
Any South African university offering an accredited postgraduate STEM programme in a SANSA-relevant field qualifies.
About South African National Space Agency (SANSA)
SANSA (the South African National Space Agency) coordinates South Africa's space science and technology activities, including earth observation, space operations, and astronomy support. Based at the CSIR campus in Pretor…
View full provider profile →- Address
- Building 10, CSIR Campus, Meiring Naudé Road, Brummeria, Pretoria, 0184
- Phone
- 012 844 6810
- information@sansa.org.za
Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
You must be 32 years old or younger, with at least 65% in your most recent year of study, currently studying or planning to study towards a postgraduate STEM qualification connected to Earth Observation, Space Engineering, or Space Science. Eligible disciplines under Earth Observation alone include applied remote sensing, GIS, environmental science, environmental management, geographical science, geoinformatics, ecology, botany, and statistical ecology.
Application Procedure
Apply directly with the provider using the official application link below, before the closing date.
- Opens
-
- Closes
-
Questions about this application?
Contact South African National Space Agency (SANSA) directly:
Last verified:
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this fund undergraduate study?
No, it is a postgraduate-only bursary covering Honours, Master's, and Doctoral study.
How much funding is available?
R150,000 a year for Honours students, rising to R170,000 a year for doctoral students.
What if my field isn't explicitly listed?
SANSA's three programme areas cover a wide range of related disciplines - if your research connects to Earth Observation, Space Engineering, or Space Science even indirectly, it's worth applying and explaining the connection clearly in your proposal.
Is there an age limit?
Yes, applicants must be 32 or younger.
