South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Postgraduate Bursary 2027 | Apply Now

About the South African National Space Agency (SANSA)

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) was created to promote the use of space and strengthen cooperation in space-related activities while fostering research in space science, advancing scientific engineering through developing human capital, and supporting industrial development in space technologies.

The research and work carried out at SANSA focuses on Earth observation, space science, space engineering and space operations. Much of this work involves monitoring the Earth for policy and decision making, resource and disaster management, food security and national security. SANSA also provides state-of-the-art facilities to monitor space weather, provide launch support and data downloads, as well as supporting the growth of the local space industry.

South Africa needs an increase in science and engineering graduates if we are to effectively resource the country with necessary and scarce skills to achieve goals of the National Development Plan and ensure a successful and sustainable future for our citizens. The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Postgraduate Bursary 2027 provides postgraduate degree bursaries to contribute to the national target for qualified post-graduates in science and engineering.

Organisation: South African National Space Agency (SANSA) • Focus: Earth observation, space science, space engineering, space operations • Study level: Postgraduate (Honours, Masters, Doctoral) • Academic Year: 2027

What Fields of Study Are Covered?

The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Postgraduate Bursary 2027 will be awarding bursaries for postgraduate (Honours, Masters, or Doctoral) degree studies, including but not limited to the following STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields:

Note: Only applicants studying towards relevant science qualifications will be considered for the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Postgraduate Bursary 2027.

Eligibility Requirements for the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Postgraduate Bursary 2027

Before you apply for the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Postgraduate Bursary 2027, check that you meet all the requirements below. If you miss any requirement, your application will not be considered.

• You must be 32 years old or younger
• You must be studying or intend on studying towards a postgraduate STEM qualification in the fields listed above
• You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 65% in your last year of studies or last examination
• You must have strong academic potential
• You must have proven financial need
• You must be interested in working within the space sector

Required Documents

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your online application for the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Postgraduate Bursary 2027. The submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified.

• Full, official university academic record – from 1st year of study, including final year or midyear 2026 final results
• Official undergraduate university student account statement or official letter for NSFAS funding for your undergraduate study fees
• ID Copy certified within 3 months of application submission
• Masters and doctoral students must include a testimonial from a lecturer or their proposed supervisor (download testimonial form)
• Masters applicants must upload their draft proposal (no longer than 2 pages)
• Doctoral applicants must upload their draft proposals (no longer than 4 pages)

Important: All proposals must be signed and dated by the applicant and their proposed supervisor.

What You Should Know

• If you neglect to submit any of the above documents, your application will be deemed incomplete
• If your documents are encrypted or password protected, the application will be deemed incomplete
• Only applicants studying towards relevant science qualifications will be considered
• Any applicants with an academic average of less than 65% for their last year of studies or last examination will not be considered
• You must be 32 years or younger to be eligible for funding

Contact Information

If you have any queries related to the South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Postgraduate Bursary 2027, please contact SANSA directly:

• Email: grants@sansa.org.za

South African National Space Agency (SANSA) Postgraduate Bursary 2027 – Quick Summary

• Organisation: South African National Space Agency (SANSA)
• Bursary Name: SANSA Postgraduate Bursary Programme
• Academic Year: 2027
• Who can apply: Students aged 32 or younger studying postgraduate STEM qualifications
• Study level: Postgraduate (Honours, Masters, Doctoral)
• Minimum academic requirement: 65% overall average in last year of study
• Fields of study: Remote sensing, GIS, environmental science, engineering, computer science, mathematics, physics, space science, and related STEM fields
• Key requirements: Strong academic potential, proven financial need, interest in space sector
• Additional requirements for Masters/Doctoral: Testimonial from lecturer/supervisor, signed draft research proposal (2 pages for Masters, 4 pages for Doctoral)
• Application method: Online via SANSA website
• Closing date: 30 September 2026