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
  
26 Jan - 6 Feb 2026
The 16th CHPC and 8th NITheCS Coding Summer School (CSS) on Data Science and Machine Learning will run from 26 January to 6 February 2026 as a required physical-attendance hybrid event at various university and research locations across South Africa. The free programme is designed to train researchers, professionals, and final-year postgraduate-bound students in Python-based topics including Workflow Management, Data Science (ETL/EDA), Computational Thinking, and Machine Learning fundamentals. Due to the advanced curriculum, applicants must have a background in Python and successfully complete a mandatory online entrance test after registering before the 15 December 2025 deadline to be considered.
CHPC and NITheCS12/15/2025
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
NMU12/31/2025
Webinar​​​ on 4 Dec 2025 at 14h00 SAST
Attend the virtual Masterclass on preparing competitive applications for the 2026 IIASA Young Scientists Summer Program (YSSP). The session covers program objectives, IIASA’s interdisciplinary research priorities, proposal strategies, alumni insights, and application timelines.Register for the webinar here. 
The summer program will run in Laxenburg, Austria from 1 June to 28 August 2026. Applications close 12 Jan 2026.
NRF, SSARMO &IIASA1/12/2026
The University of Cape Town's Department of Biological Sciences and the DFFE are seeking an M.Sc. student for 2026 to research the larval development, growth, and settlement of the Cape sea urchin (Parechinus angulosus) under aquaculture conditions. This project is critical for developing a new, locally suitable aquaculture species for the Western Cape. The student will conduct research at the DFFE Marine Aquaculture Research Facility in Sea Point and will work as part of an international team, drawing on previous success with Tripneustes gratilla. Applicants must hold a B.Sc. Honours degree in a related biological science and should seek independent bursary funding, though funding options exist through the LIMAQUA International Joint Laboratory. ​No closing date indicated.
UCT & DFFE1/22/2026
The Bergen Summer Research School at the University of Bergen, Norway, will host 100 international PhD students from 1 to 11 June 2026. The theme, "Ocean Expectations," focuses on collaboratively developing solutions for urgent global challenges related to the sea, including climate change, food security and justice. Participants will engage in two weeks of intensive, interdisciplinary training across five parallel courses and two mandatory sessions, aiming to equip them to advance sustainable and equitable futures for our oceans.
UiB2/1/2026