Call for application for the SA-CERN Excellence Bursary Program 2027 is currently ongoing from suitably qualified masters, PhD or research students looking to to participate in the world’s premier and largest international research facility at CERN for Free!
The SA-CERN Excellence Bursary Program 2027 is a national programme funded by the Department of Science and Innovation and the National Research Foundation to provide South African researchers, students, engineers and technicians with an opportunity to participate in the world’s premier and largest international research facility at CERN. The The main aim of this Postgraduate Scholarship is to make the facilities at the European Centre for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland available to South African researchers, engineers, technicians and students. These facilities include ISOLDE (Isotope Separator On Line Device) and the LHC (Large Hadron Collider), the latter being a particle accelerator with a circumference of 27 kilometres, the largest and most powerful of its kind in the world. These facilities have been built to make new discoveries.
The SA-CERN Excellence Bursary Program gives scientists and research students in South Africa access to the data obtained at CERN and allows them to take part in the running of experiments in Geneva. The outcomes are world class research, participation in global science, high level capacity development, innovation and technology transfer leading to competitive industry and infrastructure, the attraction of high quality young South Africans into the Science and Technology system and the development of the public understanding of science.
The SA-CERN programme collects together several research thrusts in a collaborative and coherent way, building the network of science linkages within the country, and connecting them internationally. The following four sub-programmes of the SA-CERN programme are established:
- SA-ALICE, which participates in ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment)
- SA-ATLAS, which participates in ATLAS (A Toroidal LHC ApparatuS) Experiment
- SA-ISOLDE, which participates in ISOLDE (Isotope Separator On Line Device)
- SA-TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER (SA-TT) which participates within the research enterprise in areas that the other four pillars do not offer due to the nature of their research
- SA-THEORY, which participates in the High Energy Physics and Nuclear Physics Theoretical research related to work at CERN
SEE MORE: NNPC – SNEPCo National University Scholarship Award 2026
Requirements
Applicants must meet the following:
- A proven track record of excellence and clear evidence of outstanding future potential. The ideal candidate should have completed their previous degree with an aggregate of 65%.
- The research project and supervisor within the SA-CERN Programme: – The project must align with one of the Programme’s pillars: ALICE, ATLAS, ISOLDE, THEORY or Technology Transfer. The supervisor must be an SA-CERN member.
- Registration at a South African university for full-time MSc or PhD studies commencing in 2027. ● South African citizenship.
Bursary Benefits
Full-cost-of-study support which includes sponsorship of research trips to CERN aligned with the selected students’ projects.
The bursary values per annum are as follows:
● MSc level: up to R150 000.
● PhD level: up to R200 000.
Method of Application
To apply for the SA-CERN Excellence Bursary Program 2027, applicants should complete the application form and provide the required documents below:
- An up-to-date CV.
- A copy of your full academic record.
- A statement of purpose addressing: 1. The proposed research topic. 2. The proposed supervisor.
- A copy of your South African ID document.
- Three letters of recommendation.
- Copies of any research publications/reports you have authored or co-authored.
- A copies of your dissertation from your previous level of study.
Application Deadline: Not Specified.
For More Information: Visit the Scholarship Website.
