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.
| A fully funded PhD position is available from January 2026 to December 2028, focusing on mangrove trophic dynamics in South Africa. Offered by UKZN and UCT, this research explores food web interactions essential for coastal resilience. Candidates need an MSc in ecological modeling, marine biology, or environmental science. Applications close 16 June 2025; shortlisted applicants must apply for NRF bursaries. UKZN offers tuition exemption for three years.
| UKZN and UCT | 6/16/2025 | | Two MSc positions are available for an interdisciplinary research project on mangrove trophic ecology and habitat complexity in South Africa. Offered by UCT, UWC, and international collaborators, the projects focus on mangrove crab feeding plasticity and mangrove root complexity's impact on biodiversity. Candidates need a BSc Honours in marine biology, ecology, or related fields. Applications close 17 June 2025, with bursary applications due 4 July 2025.
| UCT, UWC & partners | 6/17/2025 | | 18 June 2025 | 13h00 – 14h00 SAST
Join us for the fifth webinar in our Power Skills series, focusing on Scientific Writing – an essential skill for preparing articles, theses, dissertations, scientific papers, and other academic documents. Speaker: Dr Kolisa Yola Sinyanya, Founder of Ulwazi Scientific Communications.
| APECSSA, SAPRI & SANCOR | 6/18/2025 | | Stellenbosch University is offering two MSc positions in aquatic environmental DNA metabarcoding, focusing on marine biodiversity and conservation. The projects involve genomics, ecological research, and bioinformatics, with full-time study over two years. Applicants need at least 65% in their Honours degree, with some molecular biology experience preferred. Funding is available via the NRF and Stellenbosch University.
| Stellenbosch University | 6/19/2025 | | Research Opportunities at the University of Cape Town - A PhD in Public Law, supervised by the Institute of Marine and Environmental Law, focuses on developing legal frameworks for sustainable offshore petroleum extraction in South Africa.
- An MSc project under the Benthic BRACE initiative explores marine nematodes as bioindicators of pollution across depth gradients in False Bay, requiring fieldwork and microscopy skills.
- A two-year postdoctoral fellowship in invertebrate population genetics, also part of the Benthic BRACE project and hosted by MARIS, investigates genetic diversity in benthic invertebrates to inform conservation and marine spatial planning.
All positions require strong academic backgrounds and independent scholarship funding applications.
| UCT | 6/20/2025 | | Join this free, interactive course running on 21, 22, 23, 28, 29 & 30 July 2025 (afternoons, 14h00–17h30). Designed for South African and African participants passionate about the ocean, this 20-hour course is ideal for interns and early career professionals across sectors. Participants will explore ocean sustainability, governance, and local action, with certificates awarded for full attendance. | IOI-SA | 6/27/2025 | | Looking for a motivated marine science student, interested in rays and/or movement ecology, for a project using acoustic telemetry to track the movements of blue stingrays Dasyatis chrysonota and diamond rays Gymnura natalensis inside and outside South African estuaries.
University: Dept. Ichthyology & Fisheries Science, Rhodes University Supervisors: Dr Chantel Elston and Dr Taryn Murray
To apply, email your 1) CV, 2) academic transcripts, 3) a short motivational letter explaining why you are interested in this project, and 4) a one page piece of academic writing on any topic related to ray movement ecology to 📧 celston@ori.org.za by the closing date to be considered. This project is fully funded.
| Rhodes University | 6/30/2025 | | SCAR has launched its 2025 Antarctic-related Fellowships for early-career researchers. Following the launch of the Polar Initiative in 2022 the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has funded an additional SCAR fellowship and as a result SCAR will offer in total four to five fellowships of up to USD $15,000 each for 2025.
| SCAR | 7/31/2025 | | 27-31 October 2025 | Online The Centre for Statistics in Ecology, Environment and Conservation (SEEC) at the University of Cape Town is offering an online short course on statistical modelling and data analysis using R from October 27-31, 2025. Targeting researchers and scientists, the course covers R basics, regression, experimental design, and generalized linear models. The fee is R5000, and participants need basic statistical knowledge and their own computer with R and R-Studio.
| UCT | 9/26/2025 | | The DSTI and NRF have announced a call for new Master's and Doctoral funding applications for the 2026 academic year, with continuing eligible students required to submit progress reports. Funding is available at Full Cost of Study (FCS) for eligible South African citizens and permanent residents (financially needy, disabled, or exceptional academic achievers) and Partial Cost of Study (PCS) for a limited number of international students and other qualifying South Africans. Applications across Science, Engineering, Technology, Social Sciences, and Humanities must be submitted online via the NRF Connect System, with specific opening and closing dates for students at different study levels. Closing dates: Honours (General): 21 November 2025 NRF-SARAO Honours: 31 August 2025 First-time Master’s: 04 July 2025
First-time Doctoral: 04 July 2025 Master’s and Doctoral Extension Support: 15 August 2025
| NRF | 11/21/2025 | | The Institute for Coastal and Marine Research (and collaborators) is offering a free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) to share lessons learnt in developing the Algoa Bay Marine Spatial Plan (MSP). The MOOC will be available for free on the Nelson Mandela University's Engage platform and can be accessed at any time by anybody around the World! Click here for further details, if you are interested in doing this Course, kindly register here. YouTube details: https://youtu.be/_g2PxfPKVOQ | NMU | 12/31/2025 |
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