ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme SAWBP – PhD Fellowship 2025 (Full tuition coverage + ZAR 219 749.00 per year)

Applications are now open for the 2025 ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme SAWBP – PhD Fellowship. Click here to learn more about this opportunity and apply for it.

Get latest opportunities in your email


Join Our Telegram Channel

About ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme

Opportunity Details

The ICGEB-SAWBP PhD Fellowship Scheme, in partnership with the  South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation will support South African women researchers intending to study towards a PhD degree, in Biotechnology at the Cape Town Component.
The SAWBP programme promotes the interaction and mobility of South African women Biotechnology researchers and the ICGEB community, including mobility support to visit other ICGEB Components in Trieste, Italy and New Delhi, India.
Proposed doctoral research projects must be innovative and fall within one of the ICGEB Cape Town Componentmacro areas of research, namely: Infectious Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, Bioinformatics, Plant Systems Biology and Virology.

Benefits of ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme

The Fellowships comprise a very attractive package:

  • Three-year PhD Fellowship
  • Tuition and stipend
  • Applying the latest techniques and methodologies to the applicant’s chosen research topic
  • Opportunities for mentoring, peer-to-peer learning and complementary skills
  • Immersion in a top class international scientific research environment

Financial support

Duration: 3 years 
Tuition fees at University of Cape Town & stipend: ZAR 219 749.00 per year

Stipend: The stipend will be covered from the remaining balance after the student’s university tuition fees are paid for the entire year.

Additional mobility support to visit other ICGEB Components in Trieste, Italy and New Delhi, India, will be provided.

ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme Requirements

  • Female applicants only. 
  • Only South African citizens and South African Permanent Residents with a valid South African ID number may apply. 
  • Preference will be given to Black and disabled applicants.

Application Date and Process

Email [email protected] with the following:

  • Copy of South African ID
  • CV
  • Detailed project proposal
  • Letter of endorsement from ICGEB Cape Town Group Leader
  • Proof of MSc degree or letter confirming intention to submit MSc thesis from supervisor (Note: at time of award, proof of MSc degree is required before commencing Fellowship).

To Apply

A letter of endorsement from the ICGEB Cape Town Group Leader must be submitted with the application. Please note that the written statement from the ICGEB Group Leader you have contacted and who is willing to support your project is mandatory to apply.

The Group Leader at the chosen ICGEB Cape Town laboratory should be contacted in advance to discuss the proposed research project.

ICGEB Cape Town group lists.

Proposed research projects must be innovative and fall within one of the ICGEB Cape Town Component macro areas of research, namely: Infectious Diseases, Non-Communicable Diseases, Bioinformatics, Plant Systems Biology, and Virology.

Application Deadline

17 June, 2025

Scholarship Application Portal

View details of ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme

Apply for ICGEB South African Women in Biotechnology Programme

Get latest opportunities in your email


Join Our Telegram Channel