Organisation: South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law
Programme: Intellectual Property Law Bursary
Study Level: LLB / LLM
Number of Bursaries: 4
Bursary Value: R70,000
Closing Date: 31 March 2026
About the Bursary
The South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law (SAIIPL) is offering four bursaries to support students pursuing careers in Intellectual Property (IP) Law.
This initiative aims to help previously disadvantaged students enter specialised legal fields such as:
- Trade Marks
- Copyright
- Patent Law
The programme supports the development of future legal professionals in South Africa’s IP sector.
Bursary Categories
The bursaries are awarded as follows:
- 2 × Trade Mark and/or Copyright Law bursaries
- 2 × Patent Law bursaries
Bursary Value
Successful applicants will receive:
- R70,000 funding
- Valid for the current academic year
Who Can Apply
Applicants must:
✔ Be a South African citizen or permanent resident
✔ Be 18 – 30 years old
✔ Be enrolled in an LLB or LLM programme at a recognised university
✔ Be eligible to be admitted as an attorney in South Africa
✔ Demonstrate financial need and academic potential
✔ Show strong interest in Intellectual Property Law
Additional Requirement
Applicants must have:
✔ Completed at least one course from the
World Intellectual Property Organization
(e.g. the DL001 free course)
Required Documents
Applicants must submit:
- Motivation letter (max 500 words) including:
- Interest in IP Law
- Preferred bursary (Trade Mark or Patent)
- Career goals
- Certified copy of ID or passport
- Proof of residence
- Academic transcripts (all years)
- CV
- Proof of registration
- Proof of financial need
- Patent qualification documents (if applying for Patent bursary)
- Letter of recommendation (optional)
- Consent to interview
How to Apply
Send your complete application to:
Attention: Ms Michelle Macguire
Executive Officer – SAIIPL
Closing Date
31 March 2026
Late or incomplete applications may not be considered.
NextStepZA Tip
To stand out:
✔ Choose clearly between Trade Mark or Patent bursary
✔ Write a strong motivation focused on IP law
✔ Complete the WIPO course early
✔ Show clear career direction in law