OPDT   OIL & PROTEIN SEEDS DEVELOPMENT TRUST
OAC   OILSEEDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

OPDT
OIL & PROTEIN SEEDS DEVELOPMENT TRUST

OAC
OILSEEDS ADVISORY COMMITTEE

Allocation of a Post Graduate Scholarship for a Masters or Doctors degree: Oil and Protein Seeds Development Trust (OPDT)

Funds are made available on an annual basis by the Oil and Protein Seeds Development Trust (OPDT) for bursaries to assist deserving candidates to obtain a master's or doctoral degree. The objective in awarding a master's bursary is to train students to become competent researchers, whilst a doctoral bursary is awarded only to students who have demonstrated their ability as researchers and who will be working on a research project (see guidelines) regarded as being of high priority by the oilseeds.

The objective of the OAC/OPDT Postgraduate Research Scholarship is to provide deserving students with the opportunity to obtain a Master's degree that will enable them to make a contribution to high quality scientific research in oilseeds. The study should be of a high quality and should result in a high level of research competence. It is hoped that, once qualified, these students will contribute to the realisation of the vision and mission of the OAC/OPDT.

To qualify for a bursary, students must conduct an approved research project under the guidance of a recognised promotor at a recognised university. The project must be a major component of the requirements for the post graduate qualification.

In the case of a master's degree the bursary will be paid for a maximum of two years, and for three years, for a doctoral degree. However, successful candidates must not assume that the bursary will be awarded in successive years: the award for subsequent years will only be considered if proof of progress by the supervisor and proof of re-registration at the university accompanies the application and reaches the OAC/OPDT by 30 September 2025.

Universities please note:

  • Applications for these OAC/OPDT bursaries may not be made directly to the OAC/OPDT by individuals; only those applications submitted by universities will be considered.
  • The OAC/OPDT requests that each university evaluates all applications submitted through its Research Office and prioritises new applications before submitting only the best applications, to reach the OAC/OPDT before 30 September 2025.
  • Click here for the necessary guidelines and application forms.

It would be appreciated if this information could be made known to appropriate staff and students through the regular communication channels.