Agricultural Research Council (ARC)

About the Agricultural Research Council

The Agricultural Research Council (ARC) is South Africa's main agricultural research institution. It was set up as a public entity under the Agricultural Research Act 86 of 1990. It reports to the national department responsible for agriculture. Its scientists work on crops, livestock, soil, water and natural resources, and they share new technology with farmers and industry.

Research needs skilled people. The ARC runs a Professional Development Programme to build that pool of young scientists, economists and researchers. Its bursaries are part of the programme.

Agriculture touches food security, rural jobs and exports. As a result, research on farm economics and natural resources has direct value for South African households. A bursary holder in this area can influence how land, water and markets are managed. Strong applicants explain the problem they want to study, and they link it to the council's work.

How the ARC supports students

The ARC awards postgraduate bursaries for master's and doctoral study. The number of awards is small. One earlier call offered 14 bursaries, split equally between master's and doctoral candidates, so competition is stiff. Funding can run for up to three years at master's level and up to five years at doctoral level.

Fields have included agribusiness management, agricultural economics, agricultural extension, agricultural management, econometrics, and environmental and natural resource management. More recent calls also mention areas such as gender studies and socio-economics in agriculture. Each call states its own list, so read the advert closely.

Bursary holders are paired with senior ARC professionals as mentors. Depending on the discipline, they are based at one of the council's institutes. They can use ARC laboratories, join real projects and attend academic writing workshops. In addition, the ARC supports publication of research. Successful candidates may also be considered for work placement at the ARC or at partner organisations, but a job is not guaranteed.

What to know before applying

Recent calls asked for South African citizens aged 18 to 35 who are unemployed. Master's applicants needed an honours degree, while doctoral applicants needed a master's degree in a qualifying field. You must be registered at a South African university. The ARC also states that recipients may not accept other bursary funding, including NSFAS.

Applications go through online portals, with separate reference numbers for master's and doctoral candidates. The most recent call we found closed on 17 June 2026. A contact address for the development programme is published in each advert. Dates change yearly, so check the ARC website before you plan.

The sources we reviewed do not confirm a formal work-back contract. Read your bursary agreement carefully before signing.