07/04/2015
South African Square Kilometre Array Project
National Diploma Bursary Programme
Call for applications for July 2015
Application Guide
(For a Bursary to study towards a National Diploma in Electronic or Mechanical Engineering - TO COMMENCE WITH STUDIES IN JULY 2015)
THIS CALL IS ONLY FOR APPLICATIONS FOR BURSARIES TO STUDY THE THEORY / ACADEMIC COMPONENT OF A NATIONAL DIPLOMA IN ELECTRONIC OR MECHANICAL ENGINEERING (i.e. applications for bursaries for the Work Integrated Component of a National Diploma will not be considered in this particular call)
Read this guide carefully before completing an application form
Applications must be submitted via the Financial Aid / Research office at the university of technology where you intend registering for the diploma
Your application must reach the SKA SA by 30 April 2015
Please consult the university of technology, with regard to their earlier internal closing dates)
1. Eligibility for an SKA SA National Diploma bursary
1.1. Students must be South African citizens.
1.2. Students must be from the Northern Cape Province. Preference will be given to candidates from the towns of Brandvlei, Carnarvon, Calvinia, Lokston, Van Wyksvlei, Victoria West, Vorsburg West and Williston.
1.3. Students who wish to study, or are studying, towards a National Diploma in Electronic or Mechanical Engineering, at a South African university of technology, in July 2015.
1.4. Students who have passed Grade 12 with Mathematics and Physical Science (with a mark of at least 50%-59% for BOTH subjects).
1.5. Students currently studying towards a national diploma must have achieved a minimum average of at least 60%
2. Structure of a national diploma
2.1. A national diploma extends over three years of full-time study, and consists of an academic component and an experiential learning component.
2.2. The academic component takes two years to complete and is divided into four six- month semesters (referred to in this document as S1, S2, S3 and S4).
2.3. The experiential learning component consists of two six-month semesters (referred to in this document as P1 and P2). Experiential learning integrates a student’s academic studies with work experience. It is a compulsory component of all engineering diplomas and constitutes essentially a third of the qualification.
2.4. If a student passes the academic component and the experiential learning component, the student qualifies with a national diploma.
3. Conditions of an SKA SA bursary award
3.1. The award of an SKA SA bursary to a student will be based on academic performance, determined through the evaluation of the student’s latest Grade 12 results and / or the student’s latest university of technology results.
3.2. Students currently completing Semester 1, Semester 2, Semester 3 or Semester 4 of a national diploma must include a certified copy of all their university results, and a certified copy of their final Grade 12 results.
3.3. Students who are awarded a bursary will have to provide proof of registration at a South African university of technology, before any funds will be paid to the university, for the student.
3.4. After a bursary is awarded, continued funding is dependent on satisfactory academic performance (maintaining a minimum 60% average for every semester). All successful students will be required to submit their academic transcripts at the end of each semester, for evaluation by the SKA SA. Students who do obtain a minimum of 60% will not receive further funding from SKA SA, and may be liable to pay back all funds received from SKA SA.
3.5. Students, who complete the academic component of their national diploma, with funding from the SKA SA, will be required to complete their experiential learning (P1 and P2) in radio astronomy engineering. The SKA SA will facilitate this training and it will take place in Gauteng and / or Cape Town and / or the Karoo area of the Northern Cape Province.
3.6. On completion of all studies funded by the SKA SA, students are required to submit proof of their national diploma.
4. Structure of the SA SKA bursaries for 2014
4.1. Academic Semesters (S1 / S2 / S3 / S4) in 2015
Maximum bursary duration: S1: 2 years, S2: 18 months, S3: 1 year, S4: 6 months
Maximum bursary grant in 2015 (all inclusive): R 88 000.00
5. Payment of an SA SKA bursary
5.1. For national diploma students, funds will be paid to the university of technology, where the student is registered, at the beginning of each semester.
5.2. The amount remaining after tuition, and residence fees (if relevant), has been paid to the university of technology, must be used by the student to pay for living costs (rent, food, travel etc.), and for books and stationery.
5.3. No additional funding will be provided for any reason.
5.4. Any other funding (non-SKA SA) received by a student must be declared to the SKA SA in writing.
6. Application process
6.1. Application forms can be found online at http://skagrants.nrf.ac.za/FPF
6.2. Only one application form per student must be completed and submitted.
6.3. Enquiries may be directed to SKA SA: [email protected]
6.4. In completing an application form for a bursary from the SKA SA, you accept the conditions listed above.
6.5. No late or incomplete applications will be accepted.
6.6. Successful students will be notified by 10 June 2015
6.7. The SKA SA reserves the right not to accept any application in part or in whole. The decision of the SKA SA will be final and no correspondence will be entered into after the decision.
6.8. As a business unit of the National Research Foundation, the SKA SA is committed to employment equity and redress.
