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
  
9-10 March 2026
Nelson Mandela University will host a seminar and hands‑on workshop on 9–10 March 2026, led by Luther Adams, a benthic ecologist and PhD candidate at Rhodes University. Please refer to the link above for full details and registration information.
  • The hybrid seminar on 9 March introduces strategies for using computer vision to count marine fauna and flora across sensors, space and time.
  • ​The in-person full‑day workshop on 10 March trains participants to prepare datasets, build and evaluate deep‑learning models and generate ecological metrics. No prior experience is required, but attendees need a laptop, mouse and BIIGLE account. No closing date indicated.
NMU and partners3/6/2026
​We are excited to announce the launch of the next phase of the Mahlalela Mentorship Programme, commencing in April 2026. This cohort continues our mission to support postgraduate students and early-career researchers in the marine and polar sectors through focused, small-group mentorship. From April to September 2026, mentors will lead monthly discussions centered on research growth, academic progression and career development. The programme complements—but does not replace—formal academic supervision. Spaces are limited and will be allocated to applicants who can fully commit to the six-month schedule. We look forward to welcoming our group of next-generation researchers!  For more information, visit the SAPRI website.
SAPRI, APECSSA, SANCOR3/9/2026
The International Fellowships 2026 programme supports outstanding early‑career researchers to conduct two years of independent research at a UK institution. Jointly run by the British Academy and the Royal Society, it aims to build a globally connected research workforce by attracting international talent, supporting innovative research, enabling skills transfer and fostering long‑term collaborations. Applicants must hold a PhD, have under five years’ postdoctoral experience, work outside the UK, not hold UK citizenship and secure a UK host. Awards include research and relocation funding.
British Academy & Royal Society3/11/2026
The International Ocean Institute–Southern Africa will host a free, 20‑hour Ocean Academy Online Training Programme over six interactive afternoon sessions on 7–9 and 14–16 April 2026. Aimed primarily at South Africans but open to African participants, the course targets interns and early‑career professionals interested in ocean literacy, governance and sustainable ocean use. Attendance at all sessions via Zoom is required for a certificate. Applications close Friday, 13 March 2026. More information is available from Kgovender@ioisa.org.
IOI-SA & Partners3/13/2026
Info Sessions 4-5 March; Closing date: 13 March 2026
The Ocean Stewards Programme offers Honours and Masters students an immersive introduction to offshore marine research, engagement with scientists and practitioners and ocean‑focused communication skills. The initiative builds a national network of future ocean leaders through leadership development, mentorship, research cruises, field trips, water‑based skills support and academic top‑up funding. Applicants must be South African citizens aged 18–35, registered for postgraduate study in marine or related fields with at least 60 percent. Online information sessions take place on 4 and 5 March 2025 at 18h30.
WILDOCEANS Ocean Stewards Initiative3/13/2026
The Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity, a joint initiative of AWI and the University of Oldenburg, invites applications for two PhD positions in marine policy and governance. Projects focus on how infrastructures, knowledge and policy practices shape marine management, with emphasis on biodiversity and environmental justice. Candidates will use qualitative methods, join an interdisciplinary research community, and receive extensive training through AWI programmes. The three‑year positions are based in Oldenburg, Germany.
HIFMB3/18/2026
Call for Applications: SEAmester 2026
Applications are now open for SEAmester IX, South Africa’s Class Afloat, taking place 1–10 June 2026. This immersive learning voyage aboard the SA Agulhas II offers students hands‑on training, daily lectures and deck‑based practicals across two streams: Oceans in a Changing World and Tools of the Trade. Potential applicants can consult the Excel overview to understand the programme layout that was used in an earlier voyage. Click here for student and lecturer​ application forms. All documents must be submitted as a single PDF by 19 March 2026.
UCT & partners3/19/2026
Workshop: Developing Socio‑Ecological Arguments for Ocean Justice
20 March 2026 at UCT MARiS Centre
The workshop “Developing Socio-Ecological Arguments to Resist Unsustainable Development in South Africa's Oceans” invites participants to reflect on how interdisciplinary knowledge shapes court decisions. Led by Alessandro Mazzi from Wageningen University​, it explores how South African communities use law to challenge harmful oil and gas activities, focusing on a current High Court case in the Deepwater Orange Basin. The 90‑minute session highlights the role of social and natural sciences in supporting more sustainable, equitable ocean governance.
UCT-MARiS3/19/2026
Stellenbosch University offers a PhD exploring how different coastal vegetation types contribute to sedimentary organic carbon in South African estuaries. Using isotope analysis and environmental DNA, the research assesses carbon sources in Zostera capensis meadows and salt marshes to support blue carbon accounting and ecosystem restoration. The project is based in Prof Sophie von der Heyden’s molecular ecology lab, with an annual stipend of R170,000 for three years.
Stellenbosch University3/21/2026
The South African Fulbright Foreign Student Program 2027–2028 offers grants for South African graduates to pursue master’s or doctoral degrees in the US. Options include degree-seeking tracks and one-year research visits for current PhD students. Applicants must demonstrate academic excellence, leadership and cultural curiosity. Prospective candidates can attend virtual information sessions to navigate the rigorous selection process and application requirements.
US Embassy & Consulates in SA4/8/2026
The TWAS‑DFG programme enables early‑career researchers from sub‑Saharan Africa to spend three months at German research institutions for collaboration. Hosts receive up to €2,350 monthly for accommodation and visa costs, plus €700 for project expenses, while travel costs up to €1,350 are reimbursed. Eligible applicants must hold a research position in sub‑Saharan Africa, have at least five years in a science system, and have obtained their PhD in 2021 or later (with extensions for mothers).
TWAS-DFG4/15/2026
The Hoogenboom Scholarship ​
The scholarship ​empowers female leaders from Sub-Saharan Africa by funding full master's degrees at Heriot-Watt University’s Lyell Centre Edinburgh, Scotland. Focused on environmental sustainability and planetary health, the programme addresses critical challenges like climate resilience, biodiversity loss and plastic pollution. Students gain technical expertise and practical skills through cutting-edge research and fieldwork. By bridging academic excellence with community engagement, the scholarship ensures graduates are equipped to deliver real-world impact and drive sustainable development across the African continent and beyond.​
Heriot-Watt University4/26/2026
Rhodes University will host a free introductory eDNA workshop on 6 and 7 July 2026 in Makhanda. Led by international and local experts, the course covers sample collection, metabarcoding and data analysis for biodiversity conservation. Designed for researchers and students, no prior experience is required, though a laptop is essential for bioinformatics sessions. Participants must register online and arrange their own travel. Early booking is advised as the event follows the National Arts Festival when accommodation is scarce. No closing date specified.
UJ & partners4/30/2026
The Paul Silva Student Grant supports postgraduate students conducting phycology research, including taxonomy, evolution and ecology. Awarded twice a year to eight students per round, each grant provides USD 1,000 for conference travel or student‑led algae research. Applicants must be members of the International Phycological Society, which offers journal access, discounted congress registration and global networking. Deadlines are 31 May and 31 December, with applications for the current round due 31 May 2026.
International Phycological Society5/31/2026