Apply: South Africa NYS Programme 2026 For Unemployed Graduates

Boost your career while serving the community through Science, Technology, and Innovation.

Are you an unemployed graduate looking for a way to break into the professional world? The South African Department of Science, Technology and Innovation (DSTI), in partnership with NRF-SAASTA, is looking for 200 motivated individuals to join the National Youth Service (NYS) programme for 2026.

This 12-month initiative offers graduates the chance to gain invaluable work experience while contributing to science engagement across the country. Successful candidates will begin their journey in April 2026.

Available Pathways

• Science, Engineering, & Technology: Deploy to science centres, schools, biodiversity sites, and botanical gardens.
• Journalism & Media: Work with community media outlets as science knowledge intermediaries to bridge the gap between complex research and the public.

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Monthly Stipends

To support your daily needs, the programme provides a monthly stipend based on your qualification level:

Successful candidates will receive a monthly stipend to support their daily needs, tiered according to their qualification level: 

National Diploma NQF Level 6 (R 4 500)

Bachelor’s degree / B. Tech NQF Level 7 (R 5 000)

Honours NQF Level 8 (R 5 500)

Master’s NQF Level 9 (R 6 500)

and PhD NQF Level 10 (R 7 700).

Deadline: 31 January 2026

Required Documents:

• Covering letter (explaining your motivation).
• Comprehensive CV.
• Certified copies of ID and Qualifications (or academic transcript/letter of completion).

Apply Online here https://seims.dsi.gov.za/nys/landing

Contact for Enquiries

Coordinator: Macdonald Kapu

Tel: (012) 392 9300

Email: [email protected]

For more details, visit the official SAASTA website.