The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) is the largest particle physics laboratory in the world. Under the auspices of the SACERN Programme, administered by NRF-iThemba LABS, researchers and postgraduate students from South Africa contribute to CERN’s ALICE, ATLAS, and ISOLDE experiments and covers a wide range of disciplines such as quantum-field theories, nuclear astrophysics, solid-state physics, big data and artificial intelligence, and much more.
The SA-CERN Programme Excellence Bursaries seek outstanding candidates interested in postgraduate studies in research related to the CERN facility. For
successful individuals at a South African University in 2024, it provides the full cost of study and includes sponsorship of research trips to CERN.
Only postgrads starting their MSc or PhD studies in 2024 are eligible. The Bursary values per annum are as follows:
MSc: R115 000 – 150 000
PhD: R102 000 – R177 000
