Student Opportunities

Opportunities
​A list of training opportunities for early and mid-career professionals in fields relating to marine science. For internship and postdoctoral opportunities, please have a look at the Vacancies page.
Opportunity
Institution
  
Closing Date
  
The SCAR Ant-ICON and SC-ATS are offering fellowships for early and mid-career researchers to engage in Antarctic policy-making. Selected fellows will attend key Antarctic policy meetings, contribute their research expertise, and work with experienced mentors. This is an excellent opportunity to gain valuable experience, network with policymakers, and influence the future of Antarctic conservation.
SCAR12/31/2024
The Erasmus Mundus Coastal Hazards MSc programme is now accepting applications for its fourth edition. This two-year program offers students the opportunity to study at three European universities (in Spain, the Netherlands and Portugal), specializing in coastal processes, modeling, climate change, and adaptation. The program provides 20 fully-funded scholarships covering tuition and living expenses, as well as additional positions with reduced tuition fees. South African students are encouraged to apply by 6 January 2025.
Erasmus Mundus 1/6/2025
The GOOD-OARS Summer School 2025 is now open for applications! This program is designed to train the next generation of ocean oxygen and acidification scientists and researchers. It will be held from 4-11 November  2025 in Penang, Malaysia, hosted by the Centre for Marine and Coastal Studies of Universiti Sains Malaysia (CEMACS). The school is open to early career researchers, MSc and PhD students. It will provide instruction and lectures from world experts in a friendly setting for discussion.  To apply or learn more, visit the program website.
GOOD-OARS1/10/2025
The International Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) is offering a fantastic opportunity for PhD students!  Applications for the 2025 Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP) are open until 13 January 2025. This program allows doctoral students working on research projects that utilize systems analysis methodology to advance their work under the guidance of an IIASA-linked researcher for three months in Vienna, Austria.
IIASA1/13/2025
OceanX Education is offering young people the following opportunities to provide insights into the importance of ocean conservation, research, and storytelling through hands-on experience and behind-the-scenes opportunities.Click on the link for full details and how to apply. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis until positions are filled.
  • Young Explorers is a program that gives students ages 18-24 the opportunity to embark on an immersive multi-day experience onboard the OceanXplorer.  Through workshops, hands-on activities, and independent study, Young Explorers acquire knowledge and skills in marine science, vessel operations, and digital media storytelling from world-class experts.
  • ​Early Career Explorers is a program tailored for professionals aged 25+ with less than five years of experience. This multi-day, at-sea experience helps participants build support networks, expand their knowledge of ocean exploration methods, and strengthen their advocacy skills for ocean conservation.
OceanX1/31/2025
This project offers exciting MSc and PhD research opportunities to investigate how wind patterns and ocean temperatures are affecting South Africa's coasts. The project focuses on three key areas:
  • Marine Ecosystems: Explore how changing wind patterns and ocean temperatures affect marine life and habitats.
  • Human Dimensions: Investigate how coastal communities adapt to environmental changes and the socio-economic implications.
  • Economic Impacts: Develop advanced forecasting models to improve port operations and minimize disruptions.
NRF Earth System Science Research Programme (ESSRP)1/31/2025
The Africa Earth Observatory Network (AEON) is offering 1x Postdoc, 2x PhD, and 2x Masters Bursaries in 2025. Interested students are encouraged to send a short motivation letter and CV to bastien.linol@mandela.ac.za and emily.bosire@mandela.ac.za. The following projects are available:
  1. Earth and Planetary Sciences (Postdoc/PhD)
  2. Hydrochemistry of surface and groundwater (PhD)
  3. Marine geosciences (PhD)
  4. Ambient seismic noise imaging (Masters)
  5. ​Analysis of vesicular basalts for determining paleo-elevations (Masters)
AEON1/31/2025