NESP: Nurturing Emerging Scholarship Programme

Bursary Details

Are you planning to embark on a Master's degree study? Have you considered a career as an academic?

Then the Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP) may be just for you!

The Department of Higher Education and Training is pleased to announce the implementation of Phase 2 of the Nurturing Emerging Scholars Programme (NESP). 

The NESP is a three-year programme that includes a 2 year Master's scholarship followed immediately by a 1-year academic internship at a recruiting South African university. 

Candidate Requirements

OPPORTUNITY 1: HONOURS

There are a total of 4 NESP positions available, and these positions come with scholarships specifically designed for Honours study at South African public universities.
This programme spans four years and includes a one-year- Honours program, followed by a two-year master’s scholarship, along with a one-year academic internship at the host South African university.

To be eligible for any of these positions, the minimum requirement is a completed Level 7 qualification with a minimum of 65% average.  

OPPORTUNITY 2

There are a total of 14 NESP positions that come with scholarships for master’s study at PUBLIC universities in France.
This opportunity is offered in partnership with the French Embassy. Scholars who are selected for this program will spend a two-year period of time studying in France then return to their host South African university to complete a one-year academic internship.

Minimum requirement for all positions is a completed appropriate Level 8 qualification attained with an average of 65%.

OPPORTUNITY 3

 There are a total of 71 NESP positions available, each of which a scholarship for master’s study at South African public universities. Additionally, successful candidates will be required to complete a one-year academic internship at the host South African university.

To be eligible for any of the NESP scholarships, the minimum requirement is a completed appropriate Level 7 (for NESP Honours scholarship) or Level 8 (NESP French and National scholarship) with a minimum 65% grade average.

Field of Study Biological and Life Sciences Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering Engineering Engineering & the Built Environment Geology Health Science Education Health Sciences Information Systems Journalism Language and Media Statistics & Actuarial Science TV / Radio Production