SANBI Student and Intern Programmes
Students and interns benefit from numerous learning opportunities, including orientation, formal and informal training, field work and networking with many specialists. To apply for this opportunity candidates must be SA citizens, and must be team players.
The objectives of SANBI’s student and intern programmes are to
•provide students with practical experience and on-the-job skills
•prepare post-graduate students for a career in research
•expose students to career prospects in biodiversity
•provide SANBI with the opportunity to observe and track students for pemanent positions
•accelerate the development of designated groups into the mainstream of competitive biodiversity conservation opportunities.
Eligibility
•South African citizens only
•Teamwork capabilities
•Leadership qualities
•Academic achievement
A variety of student and internship programmes as well as post-graduate bursaries become available on a regular basis.
1. Work-integrated (experiential) learning
Work-integrated (experiential) learning opportunities provide students with opportunities to apply knowledge and skills learned in the classroom in a real work place context.
At present SANBI offers work-integrated learning only to students studying Horticulture and Nature Conservation.
Horticulture
Second and third year Horticulture (National Diploma) students can apply for placement at most of our national botanical gardens.
The duration of the programme is six months and is offered from January – June and July to December.
Placement opportunities are advertised on the SANBI website and at relevant universities.
Nature Conservation
Final year Nature Conservation (National Diploma) students are accommodated at the Kirstenbosch and Walter Sisulu National Botanical Gardens.
The duration of the programme is 12 months.
2. Internship programmes
SANBI offers a variety of internship opportunities to students, graduates and entry-level job seekers.
Our internship programme was initiated at the Kirstenbosch Research Centre in 2001 and has since been extended to many other programmes in SANBI.
These programmes range for three to twelve months.
The research internships are run during the summer vacation (generally December, January and February) and interns are placed with specific programmes, depending on the need.
The aim of the programme is to offer students the opportunity to contribute towards ongoing research projects and at the same time gain practical experience in various fields of the biological sciences.
Other internship opportunities include (but is not limited to) Horticulture, Environmental Education, Biodiversity Planning, Biodiversity Monitoring and Reporting, Molecular Ecology, Threatened Species and Biodiversity Mainstreaming.
3. Post-graduate bursaries
Honours, MSc and PhD bursaries are made available regularly. Students are placed at our centres and co-supervised by our scientists. Research topics cover a wide range of fields.
Duration: Honours – 1 year, MSc – 2 years and PhD – 3 years.
4. Kirstenbosch Scholarship
The Kirstenbosch Scholarship was established in 1966 to enable suitably qualified candidates to aid in the preservation of the indigenous flora of South Africa.
The scholarship is project-based combining both practical and basic research input and include a unique garden project which is developed under the guidance of a senior Kirstenbosch horticulturist.
The programme is offered annually from January – December.
Applicants should be in possession of a National Diploma Horticulture/Nature Conservation or BSc Biological/Environmental Sciences.
How do I apply?
These student and intern opportunities are advertised on the SANBI website and at universities.
For more information on our programmes, please contact:
How to apply
Closing date: Unspecified
