BURSARIES FOR Masters in Business Administration (MBA) AND PhD/Doctoral POSTGRADUATE STUDIES

The Wholesale and Retail SETA (W&RSETA) hereby invites interested candidates to apply for Masters in Business Administration(MBA) and PhD/Doctoral postgraduate bursariesto further their studies in areas/fields that are related to the Wholesale and Retail Sector. The research topic or thesis should be specific to the Wholesale and Retail sector.

The W&RSETA has identified, as a key objective linked to the National Research and Development Strategy of 2002, a need to promote and support research through funding and human capacity development by creating a robust National System of Innovation (NSI) in South Africa. In addition, the NSDS III requires that SETAs establish credible institutional mechanisms for skills planning. Consequently, W&RSETA has made available financial support for MBA (4) and Doctoral students (4). The programme supports South African citizens studying on a full-time or part-time basis who wish to pursue MBA and PhD/Doctoralpost graduate studies with Research Topics that have a specific focus on the Wholesale and Retail sector.

The objectives of thesebursariesare to:

  • Contribute towards an increase in the number and improve the quality of research by South African postgraduate students within wholesale and retail sector;
  • Enhance research within the Wholesale and Retail sector thereby improving the quality of the Sector Skills Plan
  • Build a pipeline of the next generation of researchers in the South African retail landscape; and
  • Contribute towards professionalizing the wholesale and Retail sector
  • Ensuring that the wholesale and retail sector becomes a career of choice

Candidates wishing to apply for the bursaries must be South African citizens wanting to study either on a part-time or full-time basis at any of the South African universities. Only candidates who do not have bursaries elsewhere will be considered (multiple bursary holders should not apply).

The bursaries are open to South African citizens employed or with experience within the Wholesale and Retail sector howeverpreference will be given to qualifying and deserving people from the designate groupings such as blacks, women and people with disabilities in order to meet the national imperatives and to address the NSDS III objectives.

The International Leadership Development Programme (ILDP) graduates are encouraged to apply as this creates an opportunity for career progression.

The following are application requirements:

  • Proof and years of employment within the Wholesale and Retail sector
  • An updated CV (with contact details etc.);
  • A recent research report;
  • A certified academic transcript of your qualifications (honours and undergraduate, and masters, if relevant);
  • A letter of motivation stating why you should be considered for the bursary (related experience, future research plans, interest in the research topic, etc);
  • A completed application form obtainable on the W&RSETA website; and
  • Candidates will be required to attend interviews at W&RSETA Head Office in Centurion, Pretoria.

All applications must reach W&RSETA on or before the closing date. For more information about this bursary please contact Andile Sipenganeon 012622 9500 or . You could also visit our website on

Closing Date: 15 February 2013