SACTA NPC Trust Bursary

1. 1

   Check the SACTA NPC Trust Bursary page at agrimanage.co.za/sacta-npc-trust-bursary; applications open on 1 September and close on 30 September each year

2. 2

   Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria (South African citizen, full-time postgraduate study, research relevant to the grain and oilseed industry, no alternative funding)

3. 3

   Complete the SACTA application form, including the signed Legal Undertaking (Section E) - applications are not processed without it

4. 4

   Attach a certified copy of your ID or passport, an updated CV, your latest academic transcript on official letterhead, and proof of registration and a fee statement if available

5. 5

   Ask your supervisor to register on the bursary website (Supervisor Registration on the Agri Manage site); the supervisor must be approved by SACTA

6. 6

   Submit by 30 September; shortlisted applicants have telephonic interviews, and if you have not heard within 8 weeks of the closing date, your application was unsuccessful

7. 7

   Successful applicants sign a formal bursary agreement, have their proposal approved by SACTA, and submit quarterly progress reports together with their supervisor

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the SACTA NPC Trust Bursary worth?

Funding is awarded by study level: Master's by dissertation students receive R99,750 per annum for up to 2 years, and Doctoral researchers receive R131,250 per annum for up to 3 years. SACTA sets the amounts each year, payments are released against approved progress reports, and the first instalment is paid in January.

Who qualifies for the SACTA NPC Trust Bursary?

You must be a South African citizen enrolled full-time at a SACTA-recognised tertiary institution, studying at Honours, Master's or Doctoral level, with a field of study relevant to the South African grain and oilseed breeding and technology industry. You must not be receiving alternative funding from other sources, and your dissertation or thesis proposal must be approved by SACTA before studies commence.

Which fields of study does SACTA fund?

SACTA supports postgraduate research relevant to the grain and oilseed breeding and technology industry, including plant breeding, agronomy, seed and cultivar technology, and crop science focused on wheat, barley, oats, soybeans (soya beans) and lupins, among other related disciplines.

When does the SACTA NPC Trust Bursary close and is there a work-back obligation?

Applications open on 1 September and close on 30 September each year; the window for 2027 funding closed on 30 September 2026. Successful applicants are notified within about 8 weeks of the closing date. Awardees must then work in the South African grain and oilseed breeding and technology industry for as long as the bursary was awarded, or repay it with interest. Applications are administered by Agri Manage Solutions (Pty) Ltd.