Human Capacity Programme

The Human Capacity Programme aims to make a contribution to a transformed National System of Innovation through management of student and graduate support programmes. This is achieved by ensuring participation of candidates in Honours, Masters, Doctoral and Postdoctoral programmes. In addition to securing and providing financial support to students and fellows, the Human Capacity Programme is involved in value-adding strategic initiatives with the aim of retaining researchers within the National System of Innovation. On one hand, under the banner of Student and Postdoctoral Support (SPS), the programme manages the implementation of strategic projects with the aim of developing and increasing skilled human resources in scarce skills areas, in line with NRF Vision 2015. On the other hand, the DST-NRF Internship Programme provides unemployed graduates with experiential learning and an opportunity to enhance workplace competencies by participating in research projects at various host Institutions.


Student and Postdoctoral support programmes

1.   Innovation Bursary Scheme: providing support for
1.1.    Honours
1.2.    Masters and
1.3.    Doctoral students

2.    Innovation Postdoctoral Fellowships

3.    Human Capacity development projects in Innovation
3.1.    Biomathematics at University of Stellenbosch
3.2.    African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS)

4.    Space Science and Technology human capacity development projects
4.1.    F’SATI at CPUT

5.    Square Kilometer Array (SKA) Bursaries
5.1.    Undergraduate programme
5.2.    Masters
5.3.    Doctoral
5.4.    Postgraduate fellowships
5.5.    Technician development programme

6.    Scarce Skills development Fund (SSDF) providing support for:
6.1.    Honours
6.2.    Masters
6.3.    Doctoral students and
6.4.    Strategic projects
6.4.1.    Black researchers/academics development programme (BRAD)
6.4.2.    Masters in Nuclear Sciences and Material Science (Manus Matsci)

7.    National Bioinformatics Functional Genomics providing support for:
7.1.    Honours
7.2.    Masters and
7.3.    Doctoral students and
7.4.    Postdoctoral research fellows

8.    NRF Freestanding Scholarships, providing support for
8.1.    Honours
8.2.    Masters
8.3.    Doctoral
8.4.    Postdoctoral support

DST-NRF Internship Programme

The Department of Science and Technology (DST) and the National Research Foundation (NRF) is a graduate work experience programme that was introduced three years ago as an enabling platform for young unemployed graduates and postgraduates in the Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) fields to enhance their skills and competencies.

Human Capacity Programme

Programme Secretary:  Ms Hellen Lefifi:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : 012 4814020
Programme  Director: Dr Thandi Mgwebi:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : 012 4814022

Student and Postdoctoral Support

Programme Officers:
Ms Nonkqubela Silulwane:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : 012 481 4050
Ms June-Rose Ngcobo :  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : 012 481 4390                     
Mr Moraba Meela:   This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : 012 481 4049
DST-NRF Internship Programme
Co-ordinators:
Mrs Irene Mare:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : 012 4814278
Mr Monwabisi Mfihlo:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : 012 481 4023
Admin Officer: Mr Nelson Komane:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it : 012 481 4219