South African Association of Botanists (SAAB) Scholarship For South Africa Students

Are you passionate about plants and the environment?

If you’re pursuing postgraduate studies in Botany or a related field, the South African Association of Botanists (SAAB) Scholarship might be just what you need.

South African Association of Botanists (SAAB) Scholarship 2025

This scholarship supports students who want to further their studies in plant sciences and contribute to the field of botany.

The SAAB Scholarship is available for students studying postgraduate qualifications in Botany and related fields.

The bursary supports students pursuing their Honours (4th year) or MSc (Master’s) degrees at recognized institutions in South Africa.

The SAAB Scholarship offers financial assistance to deserving students.

The bursary provides:

Honours (4th Year) Bursary: Three students will receive R15,000 each for one year of study. Recipients will also get a one-year complimentary SAAB membership.
MSc Bursary: Three students will receive R50,000 each, with R25,000 paid in the first year and another R25,000 in the second year (subject to satisfactory academic performance). MSc recipients will also receive a two-year complimentary SAAB membership.

The Honours bursary is for one year only.
The MSc bursary is awarded for two years, with the second payment depending on good academic performance in the first year.

Successful applicants will be contacted by mid-March 2025 (for MSc students) and mid-April 2025 (for Honours students).

If you do not receive any feedback by then, consider your application unsuccessful.

To qualify for the SAAB Scholarship, you must meet the following criteria:

Be a resident of one of the SADC countries (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Lesotho, Eswatini, Angola, Malawi, DRC, Tanzania, Seychelles, Mozambique, Mauritius, Madagascar, Comoros).
Be studying towards a postgraduate qualification (Honours or MSc) in Botany or a related field.
Have graduated with at least a 70% average in your previous studies.
Be enrolled at a recognized university in South Africa.
Have a supervisor who is a paid-up SAAB member.
MSc students must be in their first year of study and have graduated with a BSc Honours degree with a minimum 70% average.

Follow these steps to apply for the SAAB Scholarship:

Complete the online application form: Visit the SAAB Scholarship Application Form 2025.
Prepare the required documents (all documents must be in PDF format):
- Certified copies of full academic transcripts.
- If transcripts are unavailable, submit your latest marks along with a letter from your course coordinator (on official letterhead) confirming your marks.
- Curriculum Vitae (CV) with the names and contact details of two references.
- A personal motivational letter describing your research interests.
- A motivational letter from your supervisor.
Submit your application before the deadline.

Late applications will not be considered, so make sure to apply on time.

For any queries about the scholarship, contact SAAB:

Application queries: Email saabsecretary@gmail.com
Academic enquiries: Contact Prof. Kelsey Glennon via email: Kelsey.glennon@wits.ac.za