South African National Biodiversity Institute (SANBI)

About SANBI

The South African National Biodiversity Institute, known as SANBI, is the public body that leads the country's work on biodiversity knowledge. It was set up under the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act of 2004. Its responsibilities include the national botanical gardens, and the best known of these is Kirstenbosch in Cape Town.

The institute's work combines science with public life. Researchers study plants, animals and ecosystems, and they assess which species face danger. Meanwhile, the gardens welcome visitors and teach them about South African plants. SANBI's research also feeds into national decisions on conservation and on threats such as invasive species.

Its recent student calls show where its attention lies. They mention the illegal trade in succulents, biological invasions, ecological restoration, species assessment, bioinformatics and molecular laboratory work. These fields need people with strong science training and a real interest in fieldwork.

How SANBI supports students

SANBI offers several kinds of funding. It has advertised postgraduate bursaries for Honours, Master's and doctoral study, as well as bursaries in biological invasions. It also runs the SANBI Joan Wrench Scholarship fund, which began in 2018 to recognise academic achievement and support practical training or postgraduate study.

The Joan Wrench Kirstenbosch fund has recently taken the form of paid internships in Cape Town. Its 2026 call offered monthly stipends between R8,349 and R11,385, depending on the field and on your qualification. This route suits graduates who want hands-on experience before they commit to a career or a higher degree.

What to know before applying

Read each call closely, because SANBI's programmes differ from one another. Some fund your studies, while others ask you not to enrol for a higher degree during the placement. The Joan Wrench internships fall into that second group, and they are open to South African citizens only.

SANBI posts its calls on its website, usually with short application windows, so check the site regularly. Each call lists its own documents, and these usually include an online cover sheet, a letter of interest, a CV, certified transcripts and an academic reference.

The institute also makes its awards in line with national equity targets, and it may choose not to fill a position. If you hear nothing within the time that the call states, you should treat your application as unsuccessful and look at the next round.

For questions on a recent call, SANBI named Dr Ferozah Conrad and Ms René du Toit as its contacts.