The South African National Space Agency (SANSA) funds science and engineering graduates who go on to honours, master’s or doctoral study. SANSA ties each bursary to one of its three research areas: Earth observation, space engineering and operations, and space science. SANSA’s own advert gave 30 September 2026 as the deadline for the 2027 academic year, so that call has now closed.
SANSA’s three funding rates
SANSA publishes a fixed amount per year for each level of study:
- Honours: R150 000 a year
- Master’s: R160 000 a year
- Doctoral: R170 000 a year
The agency does not break these sums into tuition, accommodation and living costs on its bursaries page, so ask the student office how the money is paid if you are awarded a bursary.
Which degrees fit Earth observation, space engineering or space science
SANSA lists more than thirty qualifications and says the list is not closed. Grouped by research area, they look like this:
- Earth observation: remote sensing, GIS, geoinformatics, geography, environmental science and management, environmental geology, botany, ecology and statistical ecology.
- Space engineering: electrical, electronic, computer, mechanical and mechatronics engineering, plus computer science.
- Space science: physics, mathematics, applied mathematics, energy studies and space science.
- Across all three: information systems and information technology.
Only students on a relevant science or engineering qualification are considered. If your degree is close to one of these but not named, link your proposed research to one of SANSA’s areas when you apply. The SANSA researcher profiles show the kind of projects the agency runs.
The 65% cut-off and the document check
SANSA rejects any applicant whose average for the last year of study, or the last examination written, sits below 65%. It also marks an application incomplete if a single document is missing or if any file is encrypted or password-protected. The 2027 call asked for:
- an official university academic record from first year, including final-year or mid-year results;
- an official undergraduate fee statement, or the NSFAS letter that covered your undergraduate fees;
- an ID copy certified within three months of applying;
- for master’s and doctoral applicants, a testimonial from a lecturer or the proposed supervisor;
- for master’s applicants, a draft proposal of up to two pages, and for doctoral applicants up to four pages, signed and dated by you and your proposed supervisor.
SANSA’s online form gives its own page limits and a testimonial template, so follow the form when the two differ.
Applying through SANSA’s online form
SANSA takes applications only through the five-step bursary application form on the SANSA website, which covers personal details, study plans, family background and a declaration. The agency posted its 2027 advert in May 2026, so start lining up a supervisor and proposal early in the year if you plan to apply in the next round. Questions go to students@sansa.org.za.
Engineering graduates weighing other defence and technology funders can compare the Armscor bursary. For more honours and master’s funding across fields, see the postgraduate bursaries list and the wider engineering bursaries hub.
Questions about the SANSA bursary
Does SANSA fund undergraduate degrees?
No. SANSA’s current programme covers honours (or fourth year), master’s and doctoral study only. Undergraduate fee statements are asked for as background, not because SANSA pays for those years.
Can I apply if my average is 63%?
No. SANSA states that it will not consider anyone below 65% for the last year of study or last examination.