APPLY NOW FOR A MASTERS OR DOCTORS DEGREE BURSARY FOR THE 2025/2026 FINANCIAL YEAR

Funds are made available on an annual basis by the Oil and Protein Seeds Development Trust (OPDT) for bursaries to assist deserving candidates to obtain a master’s or doctoral degree.  The objective in awarding a master’s bursary is to train students to become competent researchers, whilst a doctoral bursary is awarded only to students who have demonstrated their ability as researchers and who will be working on a research project (see guidelines) regarded as being of high priority by the oilseeds.

The objective of the OAC/OPDT Postgraduate Research Scholarship is to provide deserving students with the opportunity to obtain a Master’s degree that will enable them to make a contribution to high quality scientific research in oilseeds.  The study should be of a high quality and should result in a high level of research competence. It is hoped that, once qualified, these students will contribute to the realisation of the vision and mission of the OAC/OPDT. 
 
To qualify for a bursary, students must conduct an approved research project under the guidance of a recognised promotor at a recognised university. The project must be a major component of the requirements for the post graduate qualification.
 
In the case of a master’s degree the bursary will be paid for a maximum of two years, and for three years, for a doctoral degree.  However, successful candidates must not assume that the bursary will be awarded in successive years: the award for subsequent years will only be considered if proof of progress by the supervisor and proof of re-registration at the university accompanies the application and reaches the OAC/OPDT by 30 September 2024.

Universities please note:

• Applications for these OAC/OPDT bursaries may not be made directly to the OAC/OPDT by individuals; only those applications submitted by universities will be considered.
• The OAC/OPDT requests that each university evaluates all applications submitted through its Research Office and prioritises new applications before submitting only the best applications, to reach the OAC/OPDT by 30 September 2024
• The necessary guidelines, application form and tips for completing your bursary application, are available on the website.