Applications are now open for the 2025/2027 Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Internship Programme. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.
About Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Internship Programme
Opportunity Details
The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Internship Programme offers an opportunity to unemployed graduates in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET), Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) as well as Research Development and Innovation fields to:
- Acquire practical work experience through mentoring and exposure; and
- Promote an environment in which the interns acquire the required skills needed to ease entry into the relevant sector/job market;
- Transfer their knowledge to host institutions and contribute to the goals of the institution;
- Gain experience in research management, research support, and administration at public higher education institutions and research institutions at large.
What They Do
- Establish and increase the pool of skilled human resources for the National System of Innovation (NSI);
- Provide graduates and postgraduates with work experience in SET and HSS fields commensurate with their qualifications, thus increasing their chances of employment;
- Provide SET graduates and postgraduates with exposure to research and development projects that are critical to the NSI and attract them to pursue careers in the NSI;
- Build capacity and capability in research management at higher education institutions (HEIs) and research institutions throughout the country and to improve equitable access to marginalized groups;
- Contribute to life-long learning
Duration of the Internship
The internship programme is offered for a period of 24 months.
Benefits of Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Internship Programme
- The internship provides monthly stipends for participants throughout the duration of the internship, administered through the HSRC.
Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Internship Programme Requirements
Who can apply?
To be eligible, interns MUST meet the following minimum requirements:
- Be a South African citizen or South African Permanent Resident (with a valid South African Identity Document).
- Non-South Africans are not eligible to apply;
- Should be currently unemployed and 35 years of age or younger at the time of appointment to the internship programme; A graduate holding any of the following:
- NQF Level 7 Bachelor’s, Advanced Diploma, or B-Tech Degree;
- NQF Level 8 Bachelor’s Hons Degree and Postgraduate Diploma;
- NQF Level 9 Master’s Degree or M-Tech.
- Hold a qualification in Science, Engineering and Technology, Research, Development, Innovation, Social Sciences and Humanities or related disciplines and SHOULD HAVE COMPLETED THEIR STUDY at the time of submitting the application.
The following applies to candidates who are NOT ELIGIBLE to be appointed as DSI-HSRC interns:
- Candidates who hold a Diploma at BELOWNQF level 7 as well as PhD at
NQF level 10;
- Candidates who would be registered full-time for study
- Registered Doctoral (PhD, DPhil and DTech) students; and
- Candidates who hold DSI-funded scholarships or bursaries during the internship year.
- Candidates who are past beneficiaries of the DSI-NRF or DSI-HSRC Internship programme
Application Date and Process
- Click on the link to the application website to apply.
Application Deadline
17 March, 2025
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