Key Facts
- Status
- Applications Closed
- Provider
- Field of Study
- Study Level
- Application Closes
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Eligibility Requirements
- Applying for an MSc or PhD at a South African university
- Accepted by a supervisor for a SAAO-supported research project
- Registered with ORCID, which you need before you can apply for NRF funding
- Meets the NRF's requirements for postgraduate funding, as set out in its framework document
- Any nationality, with strong preference for South African citizens and permanent residents
Documents Needed
- Your CV, to send to potential supervisors
- An ORCID number
- The documents and letters that the NRF application asks for
About SAAO Postgraduate Bursary
The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) supports master's and doctoral students who want to do research in astronomy and astronomical instrumentation. The SAAO is South Africa's national centre for optical and infrared astronomy, and a facility of the National Research Foundation (NRF).
The SAAO does not run a separate open bursary. Instead, it publishes research projects each year, and students who are accepted by a supervisor apply to the NRF for funding through their university. Students whose main supervisor is at the SAAO also receive extra support from the observatory.
For 2027, the NRF closing date for funding applications was 3 July 2026, and each university set its own earlier deadline. This page therefore shows the call as closed. The SAAO publishes new research opportunities each year.
Funding Details
Your main funding comes from the NRF, if your application succeeds. Students whose main supervisor is at the SAAO also receive:
- Computer resources, depending on the research project
- Funding for observing that their supervisor approves
- Funding for conferences or workshops that their supervisor approves, in South Africa or abroad
- Access to a mentor, usually an early-career researcher or a postdoctoral fellow
- Support from SAAO administrative and technical staff
These students sign a memorandum of understanding with the SAAO and their supervisor, and commit to at least 40 hours of service work for the SAAO each year. This can include observing, data analysis, coding, instrument building, web development and outreach. Students who speak South African languages other than English are encouraged to help with translating education material.
Where You Can Study
You must register at a South African university for your MSc or PhD. Your SAAO supervisor will help you decide which university to apply to. The SAAO supports postgraduate studies in multiwavelength astronomy across the country, so the research may be carried out at different places.
Most students whose main supervisor is a SAAO staff member spend at least half their time at the SAAO in Cape Town, and they are encouraged to visit their universities and attend conferences.
About South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO)
About the SAAO The South African Astronomical Observatory (SAAO) is South Africa's national centre for optical and infrared astronomy. It is a facility of the National Research Foundation. Its headquarters are in the Cap…
View full provider profile →Fields of Study & Who Can Apply
The opportunity is for students who want to do an MSc or a PhD in astronomy or a related field. The SAAO's projects cover observational and theoretical work on stars and galaxies, astronomical instrumentation and computer modelling. Many combine optical data from SAAO and SALT telescopes with radio data from MeerKAT or X-ray data from space.
Students of any nationality can apply for NRF bursaries, but the NRF gives strong preference to South African citizens and permanent residents. You must have the qualifications, skills and abilities that your chosen project needs, so discuss this with the supervisor before you apply.
If you are interested in a field that is not on the project list, you may contact potential supervisors to explore other projects.
Application Procedure
- Send your CV to the supervisors who offer the projects that interest you, and discuss the research with them.
- If a supervisor agrees to supervise you, decide together which university you will register with.
- Register with ORCID and get a number.
- Apply to the NRF for funding through your university, with the active support of your supervisor.
- Send your NRF application number to your supervisor.
Finish your discussions with supervisors well before the deadlines, because the NRF application takes time.
Applications for this cycle have closed. Check the provider's site for the next intake.
- Closes
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Frequently Asked Questions
Does the SAAO have its own bursary application?
No. Students apply to the NRF through their university, with the support of a SAAO supervisor.
When was the 2027 NRF deadline?
The NRF closing date was 3 July 2026, with earlier university deadlines.
Can international students apply?
Yes, but the NRF gives strong preference to South African citizens and permanent residents.
Do SAAO students work at the observatory?
Students with a SAAO supervisor commit to at least 40 hours of service work a year.
