SANParks Social Science Student Support
The SANParks Social Science Student Support Programme is a multi-year programme that supports tertiary learning and research. South African National Parks (SANParks)’s operations, including conservation management and research involves a number of professions that relate to fields of study offered by the University of Pretoria (UP). SANParks has identified the need to support previously disadvantaged students by assisting their studies at the UP.
SANParks, through its own initiatives, raised financial support from the National Lottery to allocate bursaries to deserving previously disadvantaged students. Financial assistance will be offered to students studying in fields related to professions considered important for the operations and mission of SANParks; the bursaries offered will support a full period of study for undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in any field of study. Support will also be given to deserving students who have acquired a Bachelor’s degree and have enrolled for postgraduate research degrees in fields considered relevant to the operations of SANParks.

Bursaries are available to enable eligible undergraduate students to complete a full qualification in their area of choice; and support postgraduates to completing their research projects.

The criteria for undergraduate bursaries applicants (closing date 28 February 2012)

1. They must be registered UP students in any field of study, in particular social sciences, heritage conservation and related fields. Other fields will be considered by the UP SANParks Bursary Selection Committee if their work is considered relevant to SANParks
2. They must be coming from economically disadvantaged families
3. They must be living within SA national parks or communities considered close or in proximity to South African National Parks.

The criteria for postgraduate student bursaries (closing date 31 May 2012)

1. They must be registered UP students in any field of study in the broader fields of humanities, natural and social sciences. Students from other fields will be considered by the UP SANParks Bursary Selection Committee if their work is considered relevant to SANParks.
2. They do not need to be necessarily black and/or South African, but SA black students have priority
3. Their research must be relevant to SANParks whether conducted within SANParks or outside SANParks
The bursary is only awarded to South African citizens in accordance with the funder terms and conditions. Non SA Postgraduate researchers will only be considered on the relevance and agreement with the partners and funder. Applications will not be considered unless the applicant has a valid South African ID number. Applicants for the bursary must be recommended by SANParks officials or the partner recognised higher education institution, in this case the University of Pretoria. Applicants also need to meet certain admission criteria of the university and they must also meet the national selection criteria for the SANParks Social Science Student Support Programme.
Selection criteria include the following:

• The applicant’s academic ability;
• Eligibility for an approved degree in one of the priority areas;
• Commitment to protected areas conservation, ecotourism, heritage and related career, which includes: interest in working with people in/and conservation; enthusiasm for a professional career in conservation; readiness to face and surmount difficult challenges and personal integrity;
• Everything else being equal, selection should favour candidates from communities neighbouring our national parks, candidates whose financial position would otherwise exclude them from enrolment for the qualification.
• Applicants may be assessed on the bases on the National Means Test (NMT) which takes the following in consideration: - gross family income; net value of asserts and number of dependents.

Programmes to be funded

• 14 undergraduates and 10-15 postgraduates can be funded. These are shown in the table below.
• If in matric: You have grade 12 certificate with university exemption and aggregate of 65% or higher
• If you are already at university: You have received an average of 60% or higher for the previous year of study.
• Further refer from the University of Pretoria Requirements for Admission.

How to apply
Undergraduates: You need to apply for admission to the University of Pretoria through SANParks Corporate Social Investment Official: Ishmael M. Makwaeba; Manager Community-Based Conservation; South African National Parks; P.O.Box 787; PRETORIA 0001; Tel: 012 426 5047; Fax 012 343 2832; email: ishmael.makwaeba@sanparks.org. Once you have gained admission at the university, you will be notified to proceed with the necessary administrative requirements.

Postgraduates: Applications must be directed to: Prof. Innocent Pikirayi; Department of Anthropology and Archaeology; Humanities Building, HB-14/15; University of Pretoria; Pretoria; 0002. The bursary is awarded for one academic year at a time and, on proof of academic success, the bursary may be renewed each year until the recipient of the bursary has qualified. The bursary holder will be required to re-apply by the end of October for the following year.
What the bursary covers
The bursary covers all the recipient’s essential expenses. Expenses covered include tuition, full accommodation including meals, books and learning materials, and a small allowance for monthly living expenses. The University of Pretoria cost structures will be used as a guide to these costs.
Conditions for repeating a year
The bursary period may be extended to cover one additional year in a degree programme, or the time required for completion of one additional course in the postgraduate programme. Only one such extension will be granted. Any additional time required will be at the recipient’s own cost. The bursary is renewable for one academic year at a time. On proof of academic success the bursary may be renewed each year until the recipient of the bursary has qualified.

Ishmael M. Makwaeba; Manager Community-Based Conservation; South African National Parks; P.O.Box 787; PRETORIA 0001; Tel: 012 426 5047; Fax 012 343 2832; Mobile 083630 4585; email: ishmael.makwaeba@sanparks.org