NRF: 2024 Graduate / Internship Programme
Closing Date: 2 November, 2024
The National Research Foundation (NRF) is responsible for the management of the DST-NRF Internship Programme in which unemployed Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) graduates and postgraduates (including those in Social Sciences and Humanities) are offered an opportunity to acquire practical work experience through mentoring and an exposure to a research environment. This opportunity is also offered to those unemployed graduates and postgraduates who are interested in research management; research support and administration through placement at research offices in public higher education institutions and research agencies. Candidates with disabilities are especially encouraged to apply. Applications are invited from candidates who are interested in acquiring work experience in specific areas of specialisation or disciplines.
Please look below for more information about the Provinces and Areas of Specialisation/Disciplines (Choose 1 discipline
per province up to a maximum of 3 in order of preference):
| Eastern Cape |
| Agricultural Economics • Agricultural Management • Agricultural Sciences •Analytical Chemistry • Animal Production • Animal Scien ce • Anthropology •Biochemistry • Biological Oceanography • Bi ology • Biotechnology • Botany• Chemistry • Communication & Media Studies • Communication Technologies • Computer Sciences • Computer Software • Dental Sciences •Development Studies • Ecology • Ecology & Environmental Science •Education • Electrical Engineering • Ele ctronic Engineering • Engineering Sciences • Environmental Studies • Epidemiology • Fisheries • Food Sciences & Technology • Fresh Water Biology & Limnology • Health Informatics •Health Promotion & Disease Prevention • Health Systems Research •Horticulture • Indust rial Psychology & Sociology • Information & Computer Technologies • Information Systems • Inorganic Chemistry • Knowledge Management (Records Administration) • Languages & Literature • Linguistics • Management • Marine Biology • Material Sciences & Technologies • Ma thematics • Mechanical Engineering • Microbiology • Molecular & Cell Biology • Nursing Science • Nutrition • Obstetrics & Maternal H ealth •Oceanography • Organic Chemistry • Physical Chemistry • Physics •Physiology • Plant Production • Political Sciences • Political S ciences & Public Policy • Process Engineering • Public Health • Public Management & Administration • Quality Management • R & D Psychology • Research Management, Research Support & Administration • Rural Development •Social Science • Social Work • Sociology • Soil & Water Sciences • Sports & Recreational Arts • Sports Science • Statistics • Statistics & Probability •Zoology |
| Free State |
| Agricultural Economics • Agriculture • Agrometereology • Analytical Chemistry • Animal Production • Animal Science • Anthropology •Architecture • Biochemistry • Biotechnology • Botany • Chemistry • Civil Engineering • Communication & Media Studies • Cultural S tudies •Development Studies • Ecology & Environmental Science • Education • Food Sciences & Technology • Forest Science • Genetics • Geology • Home E cono mics • Human G eography • Immunology • Industrial Psychology & Sociology • Infectious Diseases • Inorganic Chemistry • Languages & Literature • Linguistics • Mathematics • Medical Virology • Microbiology •Molecular & Cell Biology • Musicology • Pharmacology • Philosophy •Physical Chemistry • Physical Geography • Physiology • Plant Biotechnology • Plant Production • Political Sciences & Public Policy • Polymer Science •Psychology • Research Management, Research Support & Administration •Sociology • Soil & Water Sciences • Sustaina ble Development • Town & Regional Planning . |
| Gauteng |
| Aeros pace & Aeronautical Engineering • Agricultural Economics •Agricultural Engineering • Agricultural Management • Agricultural Sciences •Agrometeorology • Analytical Chemistry • Anatomical Sciences • Animal B reeding & Genetics • Animal Production • Animal Science • Anthropology •Applied Mathematics • Archaeology • Architecture • Artificial I ntelligence •Astronomy • Atmospheric Science & Meteorology • Atomic, Molecular & Nuclear Physics • Biochemistry • Bio – engineering • • Biological Sciences •Biology • Biomedical Technology • Biometrics • Biophysics • Biostatistics •Biotechnology • Botany • Chemical Engineering • Chemical Pathology •Chemical Sciences • Chemistry • Chemistry Sciences Engineering • Civil Engineering • Communication & M edia Studies • Communication Technologies • Computer Engineering • Computer Multimedia S ystems •Computer Programming • Computer Science • Computer Software •Construction Industry & B uilding • Demography • Dental Sciences • Design S tudies • Development Studies • Dram atic arts • Ecology • Ecology & Environmental Science • Economics • Education • Electrical Engineering •Electronic Engineering • Embryology & Fetal Development • Endocrinology •Energy • Engineering • Engineering Management • Engineering Sciences •Environmental Engin eering • Environmental Health • Environmental Studies • Epidemiology • Fine A rts • Food Sciences & Technology • Food Technology • Forensic Sciences • Forest Science • Fresh Water Biology & Limnology • Genetics • G eographic Information Systems • Geology •Geophysics • Ha ematology • Health • Health Economics • Health Informatics • Health Promotion • Health Promotion & Disease Prevention • Health Systems Research • Health Technology • Historical S tudies • Horticulture •Human G eography • Human Resources • Hydrology • Immunology • Industr ial D esign • Industrial Engineering • Industrial Psychology & Sociology •Information Communication Technology • Information & Computer Sciences • Information & Library Science • Information Management •Information Systems & Technology • Information Technology • I nternational Relations • IT – Graphic Design • Knowledge Management (Records Administration) • Languages & Literature • Law • Management •Manufacturing & Process Technologies • Marine Biology • Material Sciences & Technologies • Mathematical Sciences • Mathematics • M echanical Engineering • Medical Microbiology • Medical Virology • Mental Health & Substance A buse • Metallurgical Engineering • Microbiology • Mining E ngineering • Molecular & Cell Biology • Morphology • Natural Sciences •Neuroscience • Nuclear Engineering • Nursing Science • Nutrition •Operations research • Orthopaedics • Performing A rts • Pharmacology •Photography • Physical Chemistry • Physical Geography • Physics •Physiology • Plant Biotechnology • Plant Production • Political Sciences •Political Sciences & Public Policy • P olymer Science • Psychology • Public Health • Public Management & Administration • Public Relations • Quality Management • Quantity S urveying • R & D Psychology • Research Management with Mathematics • Research Management, Research Support & Administration • Respira tory D iseases • Rural Development • Science Education • Science Journalism • Social Science • Social Work • Sociology •Soil & Water Sciences • Space & Earth Science • Sports Medicine • Statistics •Statistics & Probability • Surgery • Sustainable Development • Theology •Theoretical & Condensed Matter Physics • Town & Regional Planning •Toxicology • Trauma • Veterinary Science • Virology • Zoology |
| KZN |
| Agricultural Economics • Agriculture • Agrometereology • Analytical Chemistry • Animal Production • Animal Science • Anth ropology • Applied Mathematics • Archaeology • Artificial Intelligence • Astronomy •Atmospheric Science & Meteorology • Biochemistry • Bio – engineering •Biological Sciences • Biology • Biotechnology • Botany • Chemical Engineering • Chemistry • Civil Engineering • Commu nication & Media Studies • Computer Engineering • Computer Hardware • Computer Multimedia S ystems • Computer Programming • Computer Science •Cultural S tudies • Dental Sciences • Development Studies • Earth Science •Ecology • Ecology & Environmental Science • Educati on • Electrical Engineering • Electronic Engineering • Energy • Engineering Management •Environmental Engineering • Environmental Health • Environmental Studies • Epidemiology • Fisheries • Food Sciences & Technology • Forest Science •Fresh Water Biology & Limnology • Genetics • Geochemistry • Geographic Information Science • Geology • Geophysics • Geospace Physics •Haematology • Health • Health Economics • Health Informatics • Health Promotion • Health Promotion & Disease Prevention • Health Systems Research • Horticulture • Hydr ology • Industrial Biotechnology • Industrial Engineering • Industrial Psychology & Sociology • Infectious Diseases •Information & Computer Sciences • Information & Library Science •Information Systems & Technologies • Inorganic Chemistry • IT Graphic Design • Lan guages & Literature • Linguistics • Management • Marine Biology • Material Sciences & Technologies • Mathematics • Mechanical Engineering • Medical Microbiology • Medical Technologies • Medical Virology • Microbiology • Molecular & Cell Biology • Nutrition • Obstetrics & Maternal H ealth • Organic Chemistry • Pharmacology • Physical Chemistry •Physics • Physiology • Plant Biotechnology • Plant Production • Political Sciences & Public Policy • Psychology • Public Health • Public Management & Administration • Rehabilitation Medicine • Research Management with Mathematics • Research Management, Research Support & Administration •Respiratory D iseases • Social Science • Social Work • Sociology • Soil & Water Sciences • Space & Earth Science • Sports Science • Statistics •Statistics & Probability • Sustainable Development • Toxicology • Veterinary Microbiology • Veterinary Science • Virology • Zoology |
| Limpopo |
| Agricultural Economics • Agricultural Engineering • Agriculture •Agrometereology • Analytical Chemistry • Animal Diseases • Animal P arasitology • Anima l Production • Animal Science • Anthropology •Biochemistry • Biology • Biotechnology • Botany • Cardiovascular D iseases •Chemical Engineering • Communication & Media Studies • Computer Science • Development Studies • Ecology & Environmental Science •Education • Elec tronics Engineering • Environmental Studies • Food Sciences & Technology • Forest Science • Fresh Water Biology & Limnology •Game Ranching & Farming • Geology • Geophysics • Horticulture • Human G eography • Hydrology • Industrial Psychology & Sociology • Information & Computer Sciences • Information & Library Science • Information Systems & Technology • Information Technology • Inorganic Chemistry • International Relations • Invertebrate Taxonomy • Knowledge Management (Records Administration) • Library Services • Limnology • L inguistics • Macro – Invertebrates • Material Sciences & Technologies • Mathematics •Mechanical Engineering • Microbiology • Molecular & Cell Biology • Nutrition• Nutrition & Metabolism • Organic Chemistry • Parasitology • Physical Chemistry • Physical Geography • Phys ics • Physiology • Plant Production •Psychology • Public Health • Research Management, Research Support & Administration • Rural Development • Science Education • Social Science •Social Work • Sociology • Soil & Water Sciences • Sports & Recreational Arts •Sports Sc ience • Statistics & Probability • Taxonomy • Theoretical & Condensed Matter Physics • Town & Regional Planning • Veterinary Nursing •Zoology |
| Mpumalanga |
| African Languages • Agricultural Economics • Biology • Education • Food Sciences & Technology • Food Technology • Information Communication Technology • Microbiology • Physical Geography • Plant Production •Research Management, Research Support & Administration • Zoology |
| Northern Cape |
| Analytical Chemistry • Applied Mathematics • Botany • Computer Programming • Computer Scie nce • Ecology • Ecology & Environmental Science • Information Systems • Inorganic Chemistry • Microbiology •Organic Chemistry • Polymer Science • Science Education • Stati stics & Probability • Zoology |
| North West |
| Agricultural Management • Agricultural Sciences • Astr onomy • Atomic, Molecular & Nuclear Physics • Biochemistry • Biological Sciences •Biostatistics • Biotechnology • Cardiovascular Diseases • Chemistry • Civil Engineering • Communication & Media Studies • Construct ion Industry & Building • Demography • Diabetology • Di etetics • Ecology & Environmental Science • Education • Epidemiology • Food Sciences & Technology • Forest Science • Fresh Water Biology & Limnology • Genetics • Health • Health Promotion & Disease Prevention • Healt h Systems Research • Health Technology • Home Econom ics • Horticulture • Information Systems & Technologies • Management • Manufacturing & Process Technologies •Marine Biology • Mathematical Sciences • Microbiology • Molecular & Cell Biology • Neuroscience • Nursing Science • Nutrition • Nutrition & Metabolism • Pharma cology • Physics • Physiology • Plant Production •Psychology • Public Health • Public Management & Administration •Research Management, Research Support & Administration • Social Sciences • Social Work • Sociology • Soil & Water Sciences • Statistics |
| Western Cape |
| A erospace & Aeronautical Engineering • Agricultural Engineering •Agricultural Management • Agriculture • Anaesthesia & Pain Management •Analytical Chemistry • Anatomical Sciences • Animal Production •Anthropology • Applied Mathematics • Archaeology • Astronomy • Atm ospheric Science & Meteorology • Biochemistry • Bio – engineering •Biological Sciences • Biology • Biomedical Technology • Biophysics •Biostatistics • Biotechnology • Botany • Cardiovascular diseases • Chemical Engineering • Chemistry • Civil Engineering • Communication & Media Studies • Computer Programming • Computer Science • Computer Software• Dermatology • Development Studies • Diabetology • Ecology • Ecology & Environmental Science • Education • Electrical Engineering • Electronic Engineering • Embryology & Fetal Development • Endocrinology • Energy •Energy Efficiency • Engineering • Engineering Management • Engineering Sciences • Environmental Engineering • Environmental Health •Environmental Studies • Epidemiology • Food Sciences & Technology •Forensic Sciences • Fresh Water Biology & Limnology • Genetics •Geochemistry • Geology • Geospace Physics • Haematology • Health Economics • Health Informatics • Health Promotion • Health Promotion & Disease Prevention • Health Systems Research • Health Technology •Historical Studies • Horticulture • Human G eography • Hydrology •Immunology • Industrial Biotechnology • Industrial Engineering • Industrial Psychology & Sociology • Infectious Diseases • Information & Computer Sciences • Information & Library Science • Information Systems •Information Systems & Technology • Inorganic Chemistry • Knowledge Management (Records Administration) • Management • Manufacturing & Process Technologies • Marine Biology • Material Sciences & Technologies •Mechanical Engineering • Medical Biotechnology • Medical Virology •Metallurgical Enginee ring • Microbiology • Molecular & Cell Biology •Morphology • Musicology • Natural Sciences • Neuroscience • Nutrition •Nutrition & Metabolism • Oceanology • Organic Chemistry • Paediatrics & Child H ealth • Paleontology • Particle & Plasma Physics • Pharmacology •Phen omenological Physics • Physical Geography • Physics • Physiology •Plant Biotechnology • Plant Production • Political Sciences • Psychology •Public Health • Public M anage ment & A dministration • Quality Management • R & D Psychology • Research Management, Research Su pport & Administration • Respiratory D iseases • Rural Development •Science Education • Science Journalism • Social Science • Social Work •Sociology • Soil & Water Sciences • Space & Earth Science • Sports & Recreational Arts • Sports Medicine • Sports Science • Stati stics • Statistics & Probability • Surgery • Sustainable Development • Theoretical & Condensed Matter Physics • Toxicology • Veterinary Science • Virology • Zoology |
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- To be eligible to apply, candidates must be:
- South African citizens or permanent residents who hold a South African identity. Non-South Africans are not eligible to apply.
- Unemployed graduates who hold an Advanced Diploma or Bachelor’s degree at NQF level 7, Honours or BTech degrees at NQF level 8 and MTech or Master’s degrees at NQF level 9 qualify to apply for this internship. Applicants who are in their final year of study may apply provided that studies will be completed by 28 February 2024 and would therefore be able to provide proof of qualification before commencement of internship on 1 April 2024.
- In the fields of Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET), Research and Development, Social Sciences and Humanities.
- 35 years old or younger at the time of submitting an application.
The following candidates are NOT eligible to apply:
- Candidates holding a National Diploma at NQF level 6 as well as DTech and PhD at NQF level 10
- Candidates who would be registered full-time, as well as first year registered Masters (part-time or full time) students during the 2024 academic year
- Candidates who have been beneficiaries of the DST-NRF Internship Programme in the past
DURATION
The internship programme is offered for a period of 12 months. Successful applicants will be required to sign a contract for the duration of the internship.
REMUNERATION
Interns will receive a monthly salary ranging between R6 070.00 and R8 050.00 per month – depending on the level of qualification.
PLACEMENT AT VARIOUS HOST INSTITUTIONS
Participating Host Institutions are located throughout the country and so interested applicants should ensure that they apply for a position available in the province where they would like to be placed. Kindly note that the NRF does not pay relocation costs to any appointed candidates who choose to relocate to another province.
SHORT LISTING AND INTERVIEWS
Short listing and interview of applicants will be conducted by mentors at the participating Host Institutions. Applicants will be shortlisted and contacted using the personal email provided in the application to schedule interviews. Applicants are advised to check their emails regularly during the period18 December 2024 to 31 March 2024.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply Online for the NRF Graduate / Internship Programme.
Applicants must first register under the tab new registration and provide their personal details as required. After registration, log in with your ID number and password, go to my applications and create an application and then Internship Programme Applicants 2024 and apply there following instructions. The closing date for applications is 02 November 2024, no late applications will be considered.
ATTACHMENTS
- Certified copies of certificates;
- Certified academic records; and
- Certified copy of the South African ID
ENQUIRIES
For technical online enquiries, please contact the Support Desk (Mondays to Fridays from 08h00 to 16h30) on: Tel: (012) 481 4202 or E-mail: supportdesk@nrf.ac.za.
For programme related queries contact:
Sello Raseruthe
Tel: (012) 481 4388
E-mail: sello.raseruthe@nrf.ac.za
Monwabisi Mfihlo:
Tel: (012) 481 4023
E-mail: monwabisi.mfihlo@nrf.ac.za
Correspondence will be limited to short listed candidates only. If no correspondence has been received 4 months after the closing date, applicants should consider their applications unsuccessful. Successful applicants will start their internship on 1 April 2024.