Opportunities at IGD

DST-NRF Internship Programme 2013/14

The National Research Foundation (NRF) is responsible for the management of the DST-NRF Internship Programme, in which unemployed Science, Engineering and Technology (SET) graduates and postgraduates are offered an opportunity to acquire practical work experience through mentoring and exposure to a research environment. This opportunity is also offered to those unemployed graduates and postgraduates who are interested in research management; research support and administration at public higher education institutions and research agencies through a partnership with the Southern African Research & Innovation Management Association (SARIMA). Click here to download a PDF with the details.

Staff positions

From time to time, the IGD looks for energetic, intelligent and interested analysts and administrators to fill vacancies when they become available. Some of these vacancies are advertised in the media and the website.

Internships

The Institute also hires graduate students working on their Masters and PhD degrees in relevant social science fields as interns for period ranging from six to 12 months every year. Interested persons are invited to send their CVs and a sample of a recent written research paper to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Volunteers are also welcome to write to the IGD explaining their areas of interest and intentions. 

Student assistants

The IGD also offers opportunities for senior students studying towards administrative and financial diplomas and degree to serve as student assistants on volunteer basis. This offers students opportunities to acquire much needed experience in areas such as secretarial admin, book-keeping, financial accounting, website management, event management, protocol services and marketing.  Those interested in these experiential learning opportunities may write to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or call 012 337 6082

Fellowships

The IGD welcomes international researchers on short self-funded research visits to SA and the region to spend some time at the IGD. Given the fact that competition for office space is usually high, those planning to take short research residence with the IGD are encouraged to write to the Director ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) six months in advance. Spaces are not guaranteed until a written notice to that effect is issued.

Diplomatic fellowships

The IGD also welcomes former diplomats who are interested in research and analysis of foreign policy and diplomacy or in writing their memoirs using IGD’s space. The target is on post-apartheid retiring diplomats that want an opportunity to debrief and reflect on their past work. This is subject to availability of space and support funds. Please write to the Director at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it six months before the intended fellowship period.

Mr Aziz Pahad, the former deputy minister of foreign affairs, is writing his diplomatic memoirs using office space at the IGD.

Van Zyl Slabbert Visiting Professorships 2014 – 2017

The Open Society Foundation for South Africa has provided a five-year grant to fund a series of Van Zyl Slabbert Visiting Professorships in the Departments of Political Studies and Sociology in the Faculty of Humanities.

Frederik Van Zyl Slabbert was a South African politician, scholar and entrepreneur. He helped to develop a distinctively liberal anti-apartheid tradition in South African politics and a critical analysis of South African society. He played a significant role in initiating dialogue between the apartheid regime and the African National Congress and in developing the conditions for the establishment of representative democracy.

A successful candidate will hold the Van Zyl Slabbert Chair in Politics and Sociology, which honours Dr Slabbert’s commitment to an open and democratic society. The Visiting Professors will normally hold the position for between six and twelve months. The University of Cape Town is now seeking suitable candidates who would like to occupy the chair for such a period between 2014 and 2017.

The Visiting Professors will be expected to undertake one or more of the following activities:

• to engage in appropriate scholarly research;
• to organise and deliver public lectures and other events;
• to encourage synergies between the academic departments of Politics and Sociology;
• to contribute to postgraduate teaching and supervision.

Applications from South African and international scholars and political practitioners are welcomed. Applications are encouraged from those with a comparative interest in the experiences with democratisation and democracy of different countries.

A generous stipend will be offered to the successful candidates.

Enquiries may be directed to Professor Anthony Butler, Head of the Department of Political Studies on +27 21 650 3381 or via email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Application process:
To apply, please e-mail a letter of motivation, plus the completed UCT Application form (HR201) and all other relevant documentation as indicated on the form, with the subject line “Van Zyl Slabbert Visiting Professorships” followed by the reference number to: Ms Carla Ravens, Dean’s Suite, Faculty of Humanities, Beattie Building, University Avenue, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, 7700, South Africa.

E-mail: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ; Faculty website: www.humanities.uct.ac.za

Applicants should indicate clearly when they are available to take up the visiting professorship, and detail what they propose in terms of the activities listed above, explaining how these are related to the issues raised by Van Zyl Slabbert’s legacy.

The application form can be downloaded at
http://web.uct.ac.za/depts/sapweb/forms/hr201.doc

An application which does not comply with the above requirements will be regarded as incomplete.

Reference number for this position: 2403

Closing date for applications: 30 November 2012

UCT is committed to the pursuit of excellence, diversity and redress. Our Employment Equity Policy is available at http://www.uct.ac.za/downloads/uct.ac.za/about/policies/eepolicy.pdf

SAFe Think programme 2013-2014

The SAFe Think programme seeks to fund exceptional students wishing to undertake a Master's degree at a French University. It was launched in 2010 with the view of strengthening the connection between South African research institutes and their French counterparts.

By assisting academic partners in establishing sustainable cooperation, the French government aims to facilitate the integration of South African research and policy-oriented institutions into French, European and francophone African scientific networks.

Bursaries are allocated for the duration of a French academic year, i.e. from September 2013 to May 2014, either for the first (M1) or for the second (M2) year of a Master programme. The duration of the grant is one year, once renewable should the student elect to continue with the Master 2 programme.

Requirements for eligibility:

· Bachelor’s or Honour’s degree (depending on academic year the candidate is enrolling for) in a discipline pertinent to the Master programme which they are applying for
· Applicants from all fields of human and social sciences will be considered.
· No knowledge of French language required (depending on the study program applied for)

Students need to undertake the university application process concurrently to applying for this bursary.

Full bursaries include up to:
· annual study fees
· round-trip airfare
· health insurance
· a monthly stipend to towards living cost
· Schengen visa fees

Selection will be carried out by the French Embassy, together with the South African institutes involved in the project.

Deadline for applications: 15 March 2013

Before submitting and for any information regarding the bursary programme please contact:

Ms Cyrielle Maingraud
Programme officer

Tel no: +27 (0) 12 425 1714
E-mail :

This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Click here to download the Call for Applications document.