Who we are

The Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC) Internship Programme offers an opportunity to unemployed graduates in Science, Engineering and Technology (SET),  Humanities and Social Sciences (HSS) as well as Research Development and Innovation fields to:

  • Acquire practical work experience through mentoring and exposure;
  • Promote an environment in which the interns acquire the required skills needed to ease entry into the relevant sector/job market;
  • Transfer their knowledge to host institutions and contribute to the goals of the institution;
  • Gain experience in research management, research support, and administration at public higher education institutions and research institutions at large.

 

What we do

  • Establish and increase the pool of skilled human resources for the National System of Innovation (NSI);
  • Provide graduates and postgraduates with work experience in SET and HSS fields commensurate with their qualifications, thus increasing their chances of employment;
  • Provide graduates and postgraduates with exposure to research and development projects that are critical to the NSI and attract them to pursue careers in the NSI;
  • Build capacity in research and research management at higher education institutions (HEIs) and research institutions throughout the country and to improve equitable access for marginalized groups;

 

20-year impact

Celebrating two decades of transformative impact, the HSRC Internship Programme has been dedicated to shaping the next generation of bright young minds in South Africa since 200. Over this 20-year journey, the programme achieved the following: 

  • Contracted 7 531 interns - and counting
  • Of these, 4 965 were female, while 2 566 were male
  • Contracted 41 interns living with a disability
  • 322 interns were placed in permanent positions at partners institutions

 

Discipline trajectory

Since its inception, the HSRC Internship Programme has expanded its pool of disciplines significantly, ensuring that the programme appeals to a broader cohort of applicants. See the image on the left for an indication of disciplines added over the years. Current disciplines covered, include:

    • Economic & Management Sciences,
    • Engineering & Technology,
    • Humanities & Social Sciences,
    • Sciences,
    • Law
    • Information Sciences
    • Communications

 

Our Funders & Strategic Partners

We extend our sincere gratitude to our primary funding and strategic partners whose support powers our capacity development and graduate placement initiatives:

  • Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI): Partnering with the HSRC to fund, guide, and implement national graduate internship frameworks aligned with South Africa's Decadal Plan.
  • Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ): Supporting specialized capacity building, international exposure, and skills development within the emerging green hydrogen () and Power-to-X sectors.
  • National Skills Fund (NSF): Supporting critical skill-building interventions and graduate work-readiness across strategic sectors.

 

News and Updates

News

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Infographics

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Presentations

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