The South African Cultivar and Technology Agency (SACTA) was formed with the goal of addressing a problem that developed due to a lack of new technology for self-pollinated or open-pollinated grain and oilseed crops in South Africa.
SACTA is a central institution, responsible for administering breeding levies for all self-pollinated grain and oilseed crops – particularly wheat, barley, soya beans, and some canola cultivars.
ABOUT THE SACTA BURSARY PROGRAMME – FIELDS COVERED
The SA Cultivar & Technology Agency (SACTA) is inviting students to apply for postgraduate bursary funding, for the 2024 academic year. Bursaries will be awarded for Honours, Masters, and Doctoral studies, within fields of study that are relevant to the grain and oil-seed industry in South Africa, including the following:
- Agronomy
- Agricultural Economics
- Agricultural Engineering
- Agricultural Meteorology
- Agricultural Writers
- Biometry
- Conservation Agriculture
- Data Science
- Demand Planner
- Food Sciences (relevant to the crop industry)
- Livestock Science
- Molecular Biology
- Pasture Science
- Plant Biochemistry
- Plant Breeding
- Plant Entomology
- Plant Nematology
- Plant Pathology
- Plant Physiology
- Plant Virology
- Precision Agriculture
- Seed Applied Technologies
- Soil Microbiology
- Soil Science
- Weed Science
MORE ABOUT THE SACTA TRUST BURSARY PROGRAMME – COVERAGE VALUE
The value of the bursary will be determined by the Trust each year, and will depend on the level of study:
- Honours students will receive funding up to R65 000 per annum, for 2 years.
- MSc/ Masters by Dissertation students will receive funding up to R95 000 per annum, for 2 years.
- PhD/ Doctoral Research students will receive funding up to R125 000 per annum for 3 years.
- The first bursary installment will be paid in January 2024. Bursary funding will be paid according to the submitted and approved progress reports, by the student and their supervisor.
MORE ABOUT THE SACTA BURSARY PROGRAMME – SERVICE CONTRACT & SELECTION
Once students have graduated, they must work within the grain and oil-seed industry of South Africa, for a duration of time equal to that of the bursary received.
- Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and required to partake in telephonic interviews.
- Successful applicants will be notified within 8 weeks of the application closing date – if you do not receive any feedback within this time frame, please regard your application as unsuccessful.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SACTA BURSARY
Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must have completed Matric
- You must be studying full-time within one of the aforementioned fields of study (Honours, Masters and Doctoral qualifications only)
- You must be studying at a tertiary institution recognised by the Trust (University, College or Technikon)
- You must NOT be in receipt of any other funding or bursary awards (unless agreed to by the Trust)
- You must intend on conducting a dissertation/ thesis on a topic that has been approved by the Trust
- You must be willing to work within the South African grain and oil-seeds industry after completing your studies
- You must have read and agreed to all of the SACTA Bursary condition, policies and procedures
- You must agree to the terms of the Legal Undertaking (Section E) on the application form
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE SACTA BURSARY
Applications must be done online at: SACTA Bursary Application 2024
Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your online application (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):
- ID document or Passport (certified copy – not older than 3 months old)
- Colour ID photo
- Curriculum Vitae
- Proof of tertiary registration and fee statement (on institutions letterhead) (if not yet available, please submit these documents after being registered)
- Full tertiary academic record, including latest results (on institutions letterhead)
- Details of proposed research, including: working research title, description of research and gantt chart
- Motivational letter to support your application, including: details of your academic abilities, financial need and future career goals
CLOSING DATE FOR THE SACTA BURSARY
30 September.
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)
CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER
For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact L&L Agricultural Services (SACTA’s bursary administrators) directly:
Contact person: Marilette Maritz
Tel: 012 807 3958