BANKSETA Doctoral & Post-Doctoral Grant Funding

The BANKSETA Council has indicated that there is a continuing need for the funding of skills development for Doctoral and Post-Doctoral research studies pertinent to the broader banking and inclusive banking (micro-finance) sector.

The need is expressed for funding of Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Research programmes, offered by South African Institutions of Higher Education.

The rationale for funding the Doctoral and Post-Doctoral programmes is to address the following:

• Provide financial support and assistance primarily to previously disadvantaged individuals who are engaging in Doctoral and Post-Doctoral research within the banking and microfinance sector; maths and science as well as learning and development:
• Stimulate research pertinent to the broader banking and microfinance sector to support the growth and development of the financial services sector;
• Grow the knowledge economy by encouraging research and innovation in new fields that will add to the body of knowledge for the banking and microfinance sector and learning and development in South Africa.
• Make research results available in the interest of the financial services sector and the South African economy as a whole.
• Increase the pool of previously disadvantaged individuals graduating with a doctoral degree to contribute to achieving transformation targets in the sector

Doctoral/Post-doctoral students must be nominated by the Employer where the student is employed.

BANKSETA will evaluate the application based on the importance of the research to the banking and inclusive banking sector and will approve/decline applications and allocation of funds.

The BANKSETA reserves the right not t o allocate the funding available.

Funding Offered:

The BANKSETA will consider funding applications from

1. employees of BANKSETA registered employers to provide support to employees who want to pursue their doctoral or post-doctoral studies

2. Lecturers from public TVET Colleges, Universities of Technology and Universities who want to complete their doctoral studies by completing their dissertation in the financial services sector; maths and science and learning and development.

The funding will be paid to the University where the doctoral student is registered.

BANKSETA will also accept applications from doctoral and post-doctoral students registered at South African Institutions of Higher Education to fund studies that relate to research in the broader banking and inclusive banking (microfinance) sector as well as Post-school Education and Training.

For students who are registering for their doctoral studies for the first year and do not have an approved research proposal, BANKSETA will only fund the university fees.

For students who have an approved research proposal with confirmation from the University, BANKSETA will fund the university fees as well as costs related to carrying out the research.

The research allowance is to be used for research related activities like purchase of books, national conferences, supervisor fees if the supervisor is an external person, the collection of data and data analysis, editing and printing.

It is not a living stipend and cannot be used for international travel and accommodation nor the purchase of laptops, software, etc. BANKSETA will on an annual basis review the amount to be allocated per student.

For the 2018-2019 year, BANKSETA will fund a doctoral student to a maximum of R25 000.00 for the first year doctoral student who does not have an acceptable research proposal.

For doctoral students who have an approved research proposal (any year of study), BANKSETA will provide funding to a maximum of R50 000.00 per annum.

An internal Evaluation Panel will conduct an in-depth evaluation of the application and make recommendations to BANKSETA Executive Management for approval based on the following criteria:

1. In line with employment equity targets, funding allocation will prioritize Previously Disadvantaged Individuals.

2. Strong Master’s degree (preferably with an appropriate focus on financial services, education, entrepreneurship, mathematics and related fields) with a minimum average of 65%.

3. The relevance of research proposal and priority of the topic for the sector

4. The extent of the value the research will contribute to the sector:

– A letter (maximum 2 pages) by the applicant explaining how your potential Ph.D. research would contribute to the interest of the financial services sector and the South African economy as a whole.

– A letter (maximum 1 page) from the company or higher education institution endorsing applicant.

5. Satisfactory progress made if the applicant is a subsequent registration.

For applicants who have received prior funding, a progress report must accompany the application form (use the BANKSETA Ph.D. Progress Report Template).

If there is no progress report, the application will be rejected.

The application form must be accompanied by the following documents:

1. A copy of the student’s ID

2. Proof of registration from the university

3. The fully completed application form

4. A letter (maximum 2 pages) by the applicant explaining how your potential Ph.D. research would contribute to the interest of the financial services sector and the South African economy as a whole.

5. A letter (maximum 1 page) from the company or higher education institution endorsing applicant.

6. An approved research proposal with confirmation from the University (not a prescribed requirement for the first-year doctoral student)

7. Progress Report (if the student is applying for funding for the subsequent year of study)

The Application Form must be sent to BANKSETA Research Unit via:

Email: [email protected] or [email protected]

Fax: +27-11-805-8348

Physical address: BankSETA; 94 Bekker Road; Thornhill Office Park; Block 22 Midrand

Postal address: PO Box 11678, Vorna Valley, Midrand, 1685

Please direct all enquiries to the Research Specialist, Mr. Chere Monaisa at BANKSETA:

Email: [email protected] Tel: +27 11 805 9661

 

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