The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) was established in 1969 with the aim of promoting the improvement of the health and the quality of life of South African citizens, through research, development, and technology transfer.
The SAMRC’s Division of Research Capacity Development (RCD) is a research funding division that offers funding programmes, including multiple strategic capacity development grants in the national research priorities and directly contributing to National Targets for research capacity development and transformation.
ABOUT THE SAMRC INTERNSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
The South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) is inviting students to apply for their Internship Scholarship Programme, for the 2024 academic year.
Scholarships will be awarded to Black students, for studies towards Masters and PhD studies in Clinical/ Health Research, preferably in these fields/ research areas:
- Biostatistics
- Bioethics
- Data Science
- Demography
- Digital Health
- Epidemiology
- Evolutionary Virology
- Genomics
- Health Economics
- Immunology
- Implementation Science
- Structural Biology
MORE ABOUT THE SAMRC INTERNSHIP SCHOLARSHIP – VALUE
Scholarships will be awarded to the following values and duration:
- MSc students will receive R160 000 per annum, for 1 year.
- PhD students will receive R200 000 per annum, for 3 years. Students will be funded until they have completed their degree, or the specified number of years (whichever comes first). Scholars must maintain adequate academic performance to qualify for the annual renewal of the scholarship.
Note: funding will be awarded for an extra year if strong motivation is received from the hosting Unit Director and Supervisor.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR THE SAMRC INTERNSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
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 or a permanent resident in South Africa
- You must be Black (African Black, Colored, Indian or Asian)
- You must have a fully developed research proposal for MSc or PhD studies
- Your research project must fall within the SAMRC priority research areas
- You must be currently registered full-time at the university where you will be pursuing your degree
- MSc students: you must be pursuing a specialized Masters degrees in these research areas: Biostatistics, Computer Science/ Data Science/ Epidemiology/ Demography and Data Analytics
- You must have written commitment of participation, from an experienced research supervisor who is willing to train you until your degree is complete
- You must NOT be employed full-time during the course of your studies (you may undertake teaching, clinical or other related duties activities for up to 9 hours per week and be paid for your work, so long as the level of pay is in line with the regular University rates)
- You must NOT hold any other scholarship, bursary, grant or remuneration that has a service-binding contract
- You must NOT be in receipt of a bursary from more than one South African Government statutory entity at any time
- You must NOT receive other non-binding remuneration or fellowships and grants, while holding this scholarship (unless approved by the Division of Research Capacity Development of the SAMRC)
- You must NOT register at a different university than the one through which your application was submitted (unless approved by the Division of Research Capacity Development of the SAMRC)
- You must NOT change your research supervisor after receiving the scholarship (unless approved by the Division of Research Capacity Development of the SAMRC)
- Preference will be given to students registered for a Doctoral degree in strategic and/or emerging research areas
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE SAMRC INTERNSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
Applications must be submitted in 2 steps:
- Step 1: Applications must be submitted online at: SAMRC Internship Scholarship 2024
- Step 2: The supporting documents listed below must be submitted via email to: [email protected]
(Insert the words “SAMRC Internship Scholarship Application 2024” in the email subject line).
Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your application (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):
- Signed and completed SAMRC Internship Scholarship Application (.pdf)
- South African ID document or permanent residence permit (certified copy)
- Proof of University registration
- University official letter confirming date of first registration for the degree to be funded
- Ethics clearance for the research project
Motivational letter stating your suitability and how receiving the SAMRC Internship Scholarship will impact your career (1 page) and an abridged Curriculum Vitae with a full list of research outputs in the last 5 years and other meritorious achievements - Abstract of the PhD proposal outlining the rationale, design, feasibility, plans for research translation and information dissemination, and the potential impact of the proposed research project (maximum 2 pages) (Proposed research project must be aligned with the priority research areas)
- Supervisor’s abridged track record and signed commitment form (abridged outline of publications, grants and experience in research supervision of PhD students and a signed commitment form [Annexure A]) (maximum 3 pages)
- Letter from the host SAMRC Research Unit outlining your career plans after completing the MSc/ PhD (maximum 1 page)
- Support letter detailing the availability of research funding/ running cost
CLOSING DATE FOR THE SAMRC INTERNSHIP SCHOLARSHIP
27 June.
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)
CONTACT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDER
For any queries related to this scholarship programme, please contact the South African Medical Research Council directly:
Contact person: Dr Lindokuhle Ndlandla
Tel: 021 938 0442
Email: [email protected]