Labour Market Intelligence (LMI) Bursary South Africa 2025

The Labour Market Intelligence Bursary is funded by the National Skills Fund (NSF) and implemented by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) in partnership with the Development Policy Research Unit (DPRU) at the University of Cape Town (UCT).

This multi-stakeholder program aims to establish a sustainable system for skills planning in South Africa.  

About the Labour Market Intelligence Bursary

The LMI Bursary supports postgraduate studies (Masters and PhD) for South African students conducting research in the area of labor market and skills development.

The research focus aligns with the LMI program’s broader goals:

  1. Identifying current and future skills demands and shortages.
  2. Developing interventions to address skills gaps.
  3. Exploring the relationship between education and the labor market.

The program essentially seeks to identify and measure skills imbalances within the South African labor market.

Successful candidates will contribute to the LMI program’s research efforts by collecting information, analyzing data, and identifying areas requiring intervention.

Labour Market Intelligence Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the LMI Bursary, applicants must meet the following criteria:

  1. Be a South African citizen.
  2. Not have previously completed a degree at the level they are applying for.
  3. Register for a full-time Masters or PhD program at a South African Higher Education Institution listed in the bursary information pack.
  4. Be on track to graduate by December 31, 2024 (applicable only for the 2022/2023/2024 academic years).
  5. Not be receiving funding from NSFAS/NRF or another government bursary program (students with existing university bursaries are encouraged to consult their university’s postgraduate funding office for eligibility details).

How to Apply

While applications for the 2022/2023/2024 cycle are closed, the application process for future opportunities normally involves:

  1. Downloading the Call for Applications information pack from the LMI website or contacting the DPRU at UCT.
  2. Completing the application form and compiling all required documents.
  3. Sending an email with the subject line: “LMI Scholarship Application: MASTERS or PhD – NAME & SURNAME” to Ms Mira Blumberg Pahad at lmischolarship2022@vula.uct.ac.za.
  4. Attaching a single PDF document containing the completed cover sheet and all required application documents.

How to Contact 

For inquiries about future LMI Bursary opportunities, please contact:@vula.uct.ac.za.

Labour Market Intelligence Closing Date 

The application deadline for the 2022/2023/2024 cycle was July 31, 2022. 

Be sure to check the LMI website or contact the DPRU for application deadlines for future funding cycles.