SAIIPL Bursary South Africa 2026

The South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) is a professional body that represents and supports practitioners working in the field of intellectual property (IP) law in South Africa. The organisation promotes high standards of expertise and ethical practice in specialised areas such as trade mark, copyright, and patent law, while also contributing to the development of the country’s IP legal framework. The South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme, for the2026 academic year.

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered): You must be a South African citizen or permanent resident in South AfricaYou must be between 18 and 30 years oldYou must be studying towards an LLB or LLM degree, at a recognised university in South AfricaYou must have strong academic potentialYou must be eligible to be admitted as an attorney in South Africa, as defined under Section 24(1)(b) of the Legal Practice Act, No. 28 of 2014You must have completed at least one course offered by the World Intellectual Property Organisation(such as the DL001 free course) and provide proof of completion of the course (seeWIPO Academyhere)You must have a strong interest in Intellectual Property Law, including but not limited to Trade Marks, Copyright, Designs, Patents, Indigenous Knowledge, Plant Breeders Rights, Geographical Indicators, and Trade SecretsYou must have proven financial need

Information not available

Students who meet the above criteria, may apply via email to:saiipl@saiipl.co.za(Insert the words “SAIIPL Bursary 2026” in the email subject line. Applications must be marked for the attention of: Ms Michelle Macguire). Note: there is no application form to be completed for this bursary application – students need only submit the list of documents below to apply. Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your application email (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified): ID document or passport (certified copy)Academic transcripts for all years of study (certified copy)Proof of registration for the current/upcoming academic yearProof of residenceProof of financial need (household income)Curriculum vitae (CV)Motivational letter, indicating the following: 1) your interest in IP Law, 2) whether you are applying for the Trade Mark or Patent bursary, 3) your career aspirations in the IP field (maximum 500 words)Consent to an open and honest interview and publication thereofLetter of recommendation (optional)Patent bursary application: copy of your relevant qualification that qualifies you to enrol for the examinations prescribed by the Patent Examination Regulations, 2003