The South African Reserve Bank (SARB) is inviting prospective Master’s degree students in Data Science and Machine Learning to apply for a full scholarship for the 2025 academic year.
About the South African Reserve Bank
The SARB serves the economic well-being of all South Africans by maintaining price stability and financial stability. It regulates the South African financial sector, designs and distributes banknotes and coins, manages interest rates, sets the cash reserve requirement for banks, and ensures the stability of both the banking sector and the wider financial system.
Purpose of the Scholarship
The SARB aims to address the severe shortage of skills in South Africa by providing scholarships and bursaries to students from disadvantaged backgrounds who are pursuing relevant fields of study. In collaboration with the Data Science Academic Committee of the National Graduate Academy for Mathematical and Statistical Sciences (NGA(MaSS)), the SARB invites prospective Master’s degree students to apply for competitive bursaries in the fields of data science, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, with a specific focus on financial analytics.
Eligibility Criteria
To be considered for the scholarship, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Provisional acceptance into one of the identified Master’s programs.
- Selection of modules that include financial analytics topics.
- A relevant Honours degree with an average of at least 65% overall pass mark.
- Full-time student status.
- South African citizenship.
- Younger than 35 years of age.
As part of the acceptance criteria, students may be expected to attend specific workshops as required by the SARB and the NGA(MaSS).
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Eligible Institutions and Programs
Acceptance into one of the following Master’s programs will be considered:
| Institution | Program | Website |
|---|---|---|
| North-West University (NWU) | MSc (Business, Mathematics and Informatics) | NWU BMI |
| University of the Western Cape | MSc (Statistical Science with specialization in Data Science) | UWC Data Science |
| University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) | MSc (eScience) | Wits eScience |
| University of Pretoria (UP) | MSc (eScience) | Wits eScience |
| Stellenbosch University | MSc (Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence) | SU MLAI |
| Stellenbosch University | MComm (Financial Risk Management) | SU Financial Risk |
| University of KwaZulu-Natal | MSc (Data Science) | UKZN Data Science |
| University of Pretoria (UP) | MIT (Big Data Science) | UP Big Data |
| University of Cape Town | Master’s degree (Analytics or Data Science) | UCT Analytics |
| University of Pretoria (UP) | MComm (Advanced Data Analytics) | UP Advanced Data |
How to Apply
The closing date for submission of applications is Thursday, 31 October 2024. Late applications will not be considered. Examination results, proof of acceptance at a recognized institution (student number), and any other supporting documents must be submitted with the application. Use PROMO CODE: SARBDSM25.
Submission of Examination Results
Bursary holders will be required to submit their examination results before Tuesday, 31 December 2024, regardless of whether they will be awarded a bursary for the following year or not.
Scholarship Agreement
Potential external bursars will be required to avail themselves for interviews. Successful applicants for the scholarship will be expected to sign an agreement with the SARB.
Conclusion
The SARB Master’s in Data Science and Machine Learning Scholarship offers a unique opportunity for South African students to advance their education and careers in a critical and high-demand field. By providing financial support, the scholarship aims to cultivate future leaders in data science and machine learning.
For more details and to apply, click the link below:
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