Key Facts
- Status
- Applications Closed
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Application Closes
-
Eligibility Requirements
- South African citizen
- Admitted to full-time study at a recognised South African university
- Registered for a master's by dissertation or a doctoral degree
- Research relevant to the South African maize industry
- A supervisor approved by the Trust
- No other funding without the Trust's permission
Documents Needed
- A completed application form
- Certified copy of your South African ID or passport
- Your updated CV
- Your latest academic transcript on an official letterhead
- Proof of registration and a fee statement, if available
- A signed legal undertaking (Section E of the form)
About Maize Trust Bursary
The Maize Trust Bursary funds master's and doctoral research that is relevant to the South African maize industry. The Maize Trust grants about twelve bursaries a year to students at South African universities, and at least half of them go to students from disadvantaged communities.
Agri Manage Solutions administers the bursary for the Trust. Applications open on 1 September and close on 30 September every year, so the call for the 2027 academic year closed on 30 September 2026. The next call should open on 1 September 2027.
Funding Details
For the most recent call, the bursary was worth:
- Master's (MSc): R99,750 a year, for two years
- Doctorate (PhD): R131,250 a year, for three years
The Trust sets the amounts each year. It pays the first instalment in January, and later payments depend on approved progress reports. Bursars submit quarterly progress reports, and the Trust needs a positive report from your supervisor to keep funding you.
The bursary has a work-back condition. After you finish, you must work for a maize industry organisation or institution in South Africa, approved by the Trust, for as long as the bursary ran. If you do not, you must repay what you received, with interest at the prime overdraft rate, reduced in proportion to the time you did work. Failing a semester or year can also cancel the bursary and lead to repayment with interest.
Where You Can Study
The Trust funds study at South African universities that it recognises. In practice, this means universities with agricultural, plant science, crop science or related departments where a supervisor can guide maize-related research.
About Maize Trust
About the Maize TrustThe Maize Trust is a South African organisation set up in 1998 to look after the interests of the maize industry. It is based in the Grain Building in The Willows, Pretoria. Its income does not come …
View full provider profile →- Address
- Grain Building, 477 Witherite Street, The Willows, Pretoria, 0184
- Phone
- +27 12 807 3958
Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
The bursary is for South African citizens who are admitted to full-time study at an institution that the Trust recognises. It funds only students registered for a master's by dissertation or a doctoral degree, and your research must be relevant to the maize industry.
Your dissertation or thesis proposal must be approved by the Trust before your studies begin. Your university must designate a supervisor, the Trust must approve that supervisor, and your supervisor must register on the Trust's bursary scheme website.
You may not receive funding from other sources without the Trust's permission, so tell the Trust about any other bursary you hold or apply for.
Application Procedure
Apply through the "Apply now" link on the Maize Trust bursary page between 1 and 30 September. The Trust does not process applications without the signed legal undertaking. Shortlisted applicants have a telephone interview, and the Trustees make the final decision. Successful applicants hear within eight weeks of the closing date. If you hear nothing in that time, your application was unsuccessful. For questions, email sarie@agrimanage.co.za or call 012 807 3958.
Applications for this cycle have closed. Check the provider's site for the next intake.
- Closes
-
Last verified:
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the Maize Trust bursary open?
Applications open on 1 September and close on 30 September every year.
How much is the Maize Trust bursary?
For the latest call, R99,750 a year for an MSc and R131,250 a year for a PhD.
Does the Maize Trust fund honours students?
No. It funds only master's by dissertation and doctoral study.
Do I have to work in the maize industry afterwards?
Yes, for as long as the bursary ran, or you must repay it with interest.
