The Winter Cereal Trust (WCT), founded in 1997, is divided into 2 trusts – the Winter Cereal Research Trust and the Winter Cereal General Trust, each serving a separate function.
The aim of the Winter Cereal Research Trust is to participate in research about winter cereal and South Africa’s interest in the industry.
Winter cereals consist of wheat, oats, barley, rye, triticale, and durum wheat. While the aim of the Winter Cereal General Trust is to provide funding for research (including technical, industrial, and scientific research) into the production of winter cereals within South Africa.
ABOUT THE BURSARY PROGRAMME – FIELDS COVERED & COVERAGE VALUE
The Winter Cereal Trust (WCT) initiated the bursary scheme in 2006 to financially assist students in the small grains research industry. The Trust awards 10 bursaries to postgraduate students each year, as well as 3 bursaries to black students in their final year of undergraduate studies or studying towards an honours degree (planning to study postgraduate).
Bursaries are awarded for fields of study relevant to the Small Grains Industry, for Masters and Doctoral qualifications.
Bursary award values differ according to the level of qualification and length of study:
– Undergraduate degrees and Honours degrees: R64 135 per annum (for 1 year)
– MSc degrees: R77 698 per annum (for 2 years)
– PhD degrees: R94 965 per annum (for 3 years)
Students will also have access to a Mentor/ Co-Promotor with the relevant skills in the small grains research field, who will be able to assist where necessary.
MORE ABOUT THE BURSARY PROGRAMME
Students will be required to take up employment within the Small Grains Industry for an equal amount of time as their bursary is awarded.
Bursary recipients will be required to attend the 2-day meeting of the Winter Cereal Trust Technical Committee, held in Pretoria in September each year.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
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):
- South African citizen
- Completed Matric
- Black student (Coloured, Indian or African)
- Studying towards a Masters or Doctoral qualification
- 3 bursaries will be awarded to Black students (2 African and 1 Coloured) each year, in their final year of undergraduate studies and/or honours degree (dependent on funds available)
- Studying in a field related to the Small Grains Industry
- Thesis topic to be approved by the Winter Cereal Trust
- Mentor and Co-Promotor to be selected – to be approved by the WCT and university where studies will take place
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE BURSARY
Download and complete the Winter Cereal Trust Bursary Application Form (.pdf)
Students should download and read the Winter Cereal Trust Bursary Agreement (.pdf) before applying. Please note that you do not need to submit this document with your application, it is simply for informational purposes.
Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your completed application form (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application be disregarded):
- ID document (certified copy)
- Matric certificate (certified copy)
- Full tertiary academic record (on tertiary letterhead)
- Qualification certificates (certified copies)
- Colour photograph (passport sized)
- Full Curriculum Vitae
- Research proposal for research project
- Motivational letter (why your research proposal will be valuable to the Small Grains Industry)
- Mentor’s letter of support
- Mentor’s motivation letter for your research project
- Co-Promotor’s letter of support
Applications must be submitted in one of the following ways:
1) Post:
Winter Cereal Trust
PO Box 7088
Centurion
0046
2) Delivery:
Block C
Agri-hub Office Park
477 Witherite Road
The Willows
Pretoria
0046
3) Fax: 086 617 9409
4) Email: [email protected] / [email protected]
CLOSING DATE
31 August.
(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 the Winter Cereal Trust directly:
Tel: 012 007 1200 / 012 007 1201
Fax: 086 617 9409
Email: [email protected] / [email protected]