Maize Trust Bursary

Who can apply

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must have completed Matric
• You must be studying or intend on studying full-time towards a Masters or Doctoral qualification relevant to the South African maize industry
• You must be studying or enrolled to study at a tertiary institution recognised by the Maize Trust
• You must NOT be in receipt of any other funding or bursary awards (unless agreed to by the Trust)
• You must intend on conducting a dissertation/ thesis on a topic that has been approved by the Maize Trust
• You must be willing to work within the South African maize industry after completing your studies
• You must have read and agreed to all of the bursary conditions, policies and procedures (on the application form)
• You must agree to the terms of and complete the the Legal Undertaking form of the bursary (Section I on the application form)

How to apply

Applications are submitted directly to Maize Trust - we do not collect applications. Read the eligibility criteria, prepare your supporting documents, then complete your application on the official page.

Full details

Maize Trust Bursary South Africa 2027

WHAT FIELDS OF STUDY DOES THE MAIZE TRUST BURSARY COVER?

The Maize Trust is inviting students to apply for their postgraduate bursary programme, for the 2027 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded for Master (MSc) Doctorate (PhD) studies, within the maize industry, including the following fields:

• Agronomy
• Agricultural Economics
• Agricultural Engineering
• Agricultural Meteorology
• Biometry
• Food Sciences (relevant to the crop industry)
• Livestock Science
• Molecular Biology
• Pasture Science
• Plant Biochemistry
• Plant Breeding
• Plant Entomology
• Plant Nematology
• Plant Pathology
• Plant Physiology
• Soil Microbiology
• Soil Science
• Weed Science

WHAT IS THE VALUE OF THE MAIZE TRUST BURSARY?

The value of the bursary will depend on the level of study:

• MSc/ Masters by Dissertation students will receive funding up to R99 750 per annum, for 2 years.
• PhD/ Doctoral Research students will receive funding up to R131 250 per annum, for 3 years.

Bursary funds will be paid out according to the submitted and approved progress reports by the bursary recipient and their supervisor, with the first installment to be paid in January 2027.

WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS AND SERVICE CONTRACT FOR THE MAIZE TRUST BURSARY?

Once students have graduated, they must work within the maize industry of South Africa, for a duration of time equal to that of the bursary received.

Shortlisted candidates will be contacted and required to partake in telephonic interviews. Successful applicants will be notified within 8 weeks of the application closing date - if you do not receive any feedback within this time frame, please regard your application as unsuccessful.

WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE MAIZE TRUST BURSARY?

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THE MAIZE TRUST BURSARY?

Applications must be submitted online at: Maize Trust Bursary Application 2027

Enter “www.zabursaries.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the Maize Trust Bursary.

WHAT DOCUMENTS MUST I SUBMIT FOR THE MAIZE TRUST BURSARY?

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your online application (the submission of these documents is compulsory - if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

• ID document or Passport (certified copy - not older than 3 months old)
• Colour ID photo
• Curriculum Vitae
• Proof of tertiary registration and fee statement (on institutions letterhead) (if not yet available, please submit these documents after being registered)
• Full tertiary academic record, including latest results (on institutions letterhead)
• Details of proposed research, including: working research title, description of research and gantt chart
• Motivational letter to support your application, including: details of your academic abilities, financial need and future career goals

WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE MAIZE TRUST BURSARY?

30 September 2026.

(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted - please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)

HOW CAN I CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER?

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact Agri Manage Solutions (the Administrators of The Maize Trust) directly:

• Contact person: Beatrix de Witt (Chief Executive Officer at Agri Manage)
• Tel: 012 807 3958
• Email: [email protected]

WHAT DOES THE MAIZE TRUST DO?

The Maize Trust was established in 1998 following the closure of the Maize Board, with the purpose of supporting and strengthening South Africa’s maize industry. The Trust works to promote the long-term development of the sector by encouraging innovation, research and improved competitiveness, both locally and across the region.

Through its funding programmes, the Maize Trust supports organisations and institutions undertaking research related to maize production, markets and industry development. It also contributes towards the collection and sharing of market information and initiatives that improve market access and create greater opportunities for the maize sector.

Over the years, the Trust has supported a range of initiatives benefiting the South African maize industry. Its bursary programme is one such initiative, providing financial assistance to students pursuing studies relevant to the agricultural and maize sectors.

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