Unemployed South African graduates are invited to apply for the Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) Graduate Internship Programme 2026 hosted at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU). The university’s Research and Innovation Directorate is offering six internship opportunities across various professional and academic support fields.
The programme provides graduates with an opportunity to gain practical workplace experience in areas such as Information Technology, Business Development, Finance, Postgraduate Administration and Chemistry. Successful candidates will be appointed on a 24-month internship contract and receive a monthly stipend of R9,000.
Graduates seeking to develop their professional skills and gain relevant work experience are encouraged to review the opportunity and submit their applications before the closing date.
Why Apply for the MQA Graduate Internship Programme?
The MQA Graduate Internship Programme offers unemployed South African graduates an opportunity to gain structured workplace exposure while developing skills relevant to their academic backgrounds.
Hosted by Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University through its Research and Innovation Directorate, the programme covers several professional fields. This allows graduates from different disciplines to gain practical experience in a university environment.
In addition, the 24-month contract provides an extended period for participants to develop workplace knowledge and strengthen their professional experience. Successful interns will receive a monthly stipend of R9,000 throughout the programme, subject to the applicable internship conditions.
MQA Graduate Internship Programme 2026 Overview
| Internship Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Programme | MQA Graduate Internship Programme |
| Funding/Programme Authority | Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) |
| Host Institution | Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University (SMU) |
| Directorate | Research and Innovation |
| Number of Positions | 6 |
| Internship Duration | 24 Months |
| Monthly Stipend | R9,000 |
| Location | SMU, South Africa |
| Target Applicants | Unemployed South African graduates |
| Closing Date | 6 November 2026 |
Available Internship Fields
The six graduate internship opportunities cover different areas within the university’s Research and Innovation Directorate. The advertised fields include:
- Information Technology: Opportunities for graduates interested in IT-related work and supporting technology operations.
- Business Development: Relevant to graduates interested in business support, development activities and organisational growth.
- Finance: Suitable for graduates with an academic background in finance or a related discipline.
- Postgraduate Administration: An opportunity for graduates interested in administrative support within postgraduate education and research activities.
- Chemistry: Relevant to graduates with qualifications in Chemistry or a related field.
The available information identifies these fields but does not provide the individual position titles, number of interns per field or detailed academic requirements. Applicants should consult the complete official advertisement for the specific qualifications and eligibility criteria.
Internship Duration and Monthly Stipend
Successful applicants will be offered a 24-month internship contract at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University.
The programme provides a monthly stipend of R9,000, offering financial support to graduates as they gain practical workplace experience.
The internship is intended for unemployed South African graduates who are interested in developing their professional capabilities in one of the advertised fields.
How to Apply for the MQA Graduate Internship Programme 2026
Interested graduates should review the complete vacancy advertisement to confirm the application procedure, required supporting documents and any field-specific eligibility conditions.
Applicants should ensure that they:
- Meet the stated eligibility requirements for the internship.
- Select an opportunity that matches their academic qualifications.
- Prepare an updated CV highlighting their education and relevant experience.
- Gather the supporting documents requested in the official advertisement.
- Follow the specified application submission instructions.
Closing date: 6 November 2026.
The application email address or direct application link was not included in the supplied vacancy information. Candidates should obtain the full official advertisement from SMU or MQA to access the correct submission details.
Tips to Strengthen Your Internship Application
- Ensure that your academic qualification matches one of the advertised fields.
- Clearly state your qualification, institution and year of completion in your CV.
- Highlight relevant projects, research work, computer skills or practical experience.
- Explain how your academic background relates to the selected internship field.
- Check that all supporting documents are complete and clearly readable.
- Submit your application according to the official instructions before the deadline.
Final Thoughts
The MQA Graduate Internship Programme 2026 at Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University offers six opportunities for unemployed South African graduates seeking practical workplace experience. With a 24-month internship contract and a monthly stipend of R9,000, the programme provides an opportunity to develop professional skills across Information Technology, Business Development, Finance, Postgraduate Administration and Chemistry.
Eligible graduates should review the full official advertisement and follow the specified application procedure before 6 November 2026.
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