SAMRC Internship Scholarship Programme - Masters and PhD Scholarships for Clinical/Health Research

The objective of the SAMRC Internship Scholarship Programme is primarily to transform the composition of the country’s health and clinical research human capital to be more representative of the demographics of the nation. Within the context of the SAMRC, the SAMRC Internship Scholarship Programme is specifically designed to open an opportunity to develop Black Scientists i.e., African Black, Coloured, and Indian scientists through PhD training. Preference will be given to candidates registered for a doctoral degree or MSc in scarce skills and strategic and/or emerging research areas.

The purpose of this Request for Applications (RFA) is to attract black scientists in the following research fields, which will be given preference: Biostatistics, Bioethics, Bioinformatics, Data Science, Digital Health, Demography, Epidemiology, Evolutionary Virology, Implementation Science, Health Economics, Genomics, Immunology and Structural Biology. The SAMRC priority research areas are as follows: Biomedical Research, HIV,TB and other communicable diseases, Health system strengthening, Health promotion and disease prevention, Maternal child and woman health, Non-communicable diseases, Public health innovation and Violence, injury and trauma.  

Requirements for application

1. South African citizen or permanent resident.
2. Black candidate (African Black/Coloured/Indian).
3. A fully developed and officially approved research proposal for the MSc/PhD.
4. Must be registered as a full-time student at a South African university.
5. Research project must fall within the SAMRC priority research areas.
6. Current registration at the university in which the degree will be awarded.
7. Must provide written commitment of participation by a research unit director from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to host the student for the entire duration of the degree.
8. Must be receiving supervisory support from SAMRC intramural unit or SAMRC extramural unit or SAMRC research centre who is willing to train the student for the entire duration of the degree.
9. The hosting research unit or supervisor must have research funding for the project and appropriate facilities for the scholar to effectively conduct the research project.

How to apply

Opening date: 22 January 2024

Closing date:  22 February 2024, 23:59

Application Process

Application steps 1 to 2 below must be completed before or by 22 February 2024, 23:59.

• Step 1 – Complete the online application  and upload all the required supporting documents (see page 7-8).
• Step 2 – Main research supervisor must complete the research supervisor’s commitment form

Attached are two documents to assist you with your application (1.) Abstract sample and (2) example of the application form template which includes the checklist of the required supporting documents.

Pre-application Workshop recording and slides

The recording and slides below provide guidance on how to prepare your application, and it is therefore strongly recommended that you refer to this material before submitting your online application form and supporting documents.

• Pre-Application workshop recording
• Scholarship Application process slides

The South African Medical Research Council reserves the right to disqualify ineligible, incomplete and/or inappropriate applications, change the conditions of the award, extend the closing date, or make no awards at all. Please note that only successful candidates will be contacted after completion of the review, selection, and approval processes.

Should you not hear from the SAMRC by 28 March 2024, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

For enquiries contact Dr Lindokuhle Ndlandla at Lindokuhle.Ndlandla@mrc.ac.za / Tel. 021 938 0442.

For technical enquiries contact the RedCap support team at redcap.support@mrc.ac.za