The Maize Trust Bursary

The Maize Trust was founded in August 1998, after the closure of the Maize Board, to promote the South African maize industry. The Trust serves the industry through financial support for institutions and organisations with programmes aimed at market and production related research. The secondary objective of the Trust is to fund the assimilation and dissemination of market information and to broaden market access for the benefit of the maize industry. The mission of the Maize Trust is to facilitate the continuous improvement of the entire maize industry in South Africa, to ensure that the industry becomes the leader in the region and that it is internationally competitive. The Trust comprises of six Trustees and are appointed for a term of two years. Three of these Trustees are appointed by specific maize industry sectors, while the other three Trustees are selected by the Minister for Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. Since its establishment, the Maize Trust has granted a large amount of money to a variety of organisations and institutions involved in research, development and information programmes in the South African maize industry. The Maize Trust currently funds most of its transformation projects through the Maize Trust Bursary Scheme, Farmer Development Programme of Grain SA, SAGRA and by means of the late Grain Farmer Development Association (GFADA). Masters by Dissertation: Bursaries totaling R99 750,00 per annum, for two years, in respect of MSc Applicants. Bursaries will only be paid out according to the submitted and approved progress reports by both the student and their supervisor. Doctoral Research: Bursaries totaling R131 250,00 per annum, for three years, in respect of PhD Applicants. Bursaries will only be paid out according to the submitted and approved progress reports by both the student and their supervisor.

The Maize Trust is offering postgraduate bursaries for those who wish to further their studies within the maize industry. To apply for the bursary , applicants must meet the following basic requirements: Applicants must be South African citizens. Applicants must be admitted to study full-time at an institution of their choice. The Maize Trust bursaries are only available for Masters and Doctoral studies. The field of study must be relevant to the South African maize industry. Successful applicants cannot receive funding from alternative sources or accept any other study-related funding without explicit prior permission from the Trust. The Maize Trust must approve the proposal for the dissertation/thesis before commencing studies. Applicants must submit a completed application form, a certified copy of a South African identity document/passport, an updated curriculum vitae, the latest academic transcript/record on an official letterhead, and proof of registration and a fee statement (if available) upon application. A formal bursary agreement must be concluded with the Maize Trust if a bursary is awarded. The University where the study will be undertaken must designate a supervisor for the study programme and must be approved by the Maize Trust. Applicants are responsible for informing their supervisor that they are required to register with the particular Bursary Scheme on the Maize Trust website. Applicants must work in the South African maize industry for the same period for which the bursary was awarded. The Maize Trust will determine the annual bursary amounts each year. The deadline for bursary applications is 1 October 2024.

To apply for the Maize Trust Bursary, visit the Maize Trust website to download and fill out the most recent application form.