Find bursaries for your field and see which are open now.
Apply only on the funder's own website. Genuine bursaries never charge an application fee. Dates and criteria change every year: confirm them there.
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Aimed at
Obligation
14 of 55 bursaries1 filter on
Field lists change each year: confirm the exact degree with each funder and the institution’s funding office; related degrees do not establish eligibility.
Open now 3
NSFAS Bursary Scheme (DHET Bursary Scheme)
National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) · Official page ↗
Closing soon
Financial need
Disability
Closes 31 October 2026 (4 days left)
Covers
Full: tuition, accommodation, transport (up to R7,500/yr), living allowance (R15,000/yr), books (R5,200/yr), incidentals
For
School leavers and already at university · Any accredited qualification at a public university or TVET college
More details
Fields of study
Any accredited qualification at a public university or TVET college
Household income
Up to R350 000 a year
Citizenship
SA citizens; SASSA grant recipients also qualify
Obligation
none stated
Who applies
Prospective and current students at public universities/TVET colleges
Applications
Opened 18 September 2026 · closes 31 October 2026. 2027 cycle. NSFAS gives the closing time as 31 October 2026 at 23:59 and has said there will be no extension. The Minister's launch speech on 18 September 2026 gave 18 November; NSFAS's own website and its 22 September statement give 31 October.
Aimed at
National Student Financial Aid Scheme says: “Person with disability: Combined household income must not be more than R600 000 per annum”
The household income cap is R350,000 a year, or R600,000 for students with disabilities.
Varies per bursary; administers 25+ named sponsor bursaries/scholarships, described as an investment of up to roughly R500,000 per student
For
School leavers, already at university and postgraduate · Full-time undergraduate and postgraduate study, largely in critical and scarce-skills fields; varies by individual sponsor bursary
More details
Fields of study
Full-time undergraduate and postgraduate study, largely in critical and scarce-skills fields; varies by individual sponsor bursary
Marks needed
Academic potential assessed per bursary; criteria vary by sponsor
Household income
Up to R850 000 a year
Citizenship
South African citizens only
Obligation
Some bursaries (e.g. recruitment bursaries) carry a work-back obligation; varies per sponsor
Who applies
One online application considered automatically against every bursary/scholarship you qualify for
Applications
Opened 1 June 2026 · closes 31 October 2026. Most StudyTrust bursaries for 2027 closed on 30 September 2026. Extended: the AWS Skills Development Bursary to 16 October 2026, and the Lilitha Solar PV, Amandla Omoya, Letsatsi Borutho, Sibona Ilanga, Sishen Solar Facility and Perdekraal East Wind Farm community-trust bursaries (for learners from set local areas) to 31 October 2026.
StudyTrust runs bursaries for many different funders, so one application can reach several of them.
Annual scholarship (2027 framework, Table 2): Honours R180,000 at full cost of study (FCS)…
For
Postgraduate · All research disciplines; NRF's student funding calls are Honours, Master's, Doctoral and postdoctoral only
More details
Fields of study
All research disciplines; NRF's student funding calls are Honours, Master's, Doctoral and postdoctoral only
Covers
Annual scholarship (2027 framework, Table 2): Honours R180,000 at full cost of study (FCS) or R140,000 at partial cost of study (PCS); Master's R190,000 / R145,000; Doctoral R200,000 / R150,000. FCS adds a once-off R10,000 electronic study device allowance and up to R20,000 for an assistive technology device. FCS is for financially needy applicants, applicants with a disability and exceptional achievers; FCS-eligible applicants may be funded at PCS because of budget limits
Marks needed
First-time funding needs a minimum average of 65% (honours: major subjects in the final undergraduate year; master's: honours level; doctoral: master's level)
Citizenship
Honours: South African citizens and permanent residents only; master's and doctoral: other nationalities with valid passports and study permits may also apply
Obligation
none stated
Who applies
Honours, Master's and Doctoral students only - undergraduates are NOT funded
Applications
Opened 7 July 2026 · closes 23 November 2026. Dates shown are for Honours (General) for the 2027 academic year, applied for on NRF Connect. Other 2027 calls: NRF-SARAO Honours 1 June to 14 August 2026; first-time Master's 1 April to 3 July 2026; first-time Doctoral closed 3 July 2026; Master's and Doctoral extension support closed 14 August 2026.
Aimed at
National Research Foundation says: “all postgraduate funding must prioritise support for appropriately qualified applicants from designated groups, viz. Black, female, and persons living with disabilities” (source)
The NRF funds Honours and postgraduate study only. There is no NRF undergraduate bursary.
Closed on 6 October 2025 · next round not yet published
Covers
Tuition fees, accommodation and meals, a book allowance and experiential training
For
School leavers and already at university · Technical: Industrial/Electrical/Electronic/Mechanical/Metallurgy/Computer/Civil/Electro-mechanical/Chemical Engineering and Mechatronics.
Satisfactory academic results at secondary/tertiary level (no minimum percentage published). Final selection also depends on an interview and medical fitness
Obligation
1 year of service per year of funding received; subjects failed must be repeated at student's own cost
Who applies
Prospective full-time undergraduates at any SA university in relevant fields
Last published cycle
Closed 6 October 2025. Last published cycle: the 2025 application form gave a closing date of 6 October 2025 for support in 2026. No form for 2027 support has been published yet.
The page still shows the 2025 application form (closing date 6 October 2025, for support in 2026); no 2027 call has been published.
none stated (bursary feeds into Exxaro's Professional-in-Training graduate programme and internship programme)
Who applies
Advertised Sept-Oct via university Head of Department contacts, student platforms and Exxaro's social media/website
Aimed at
Exxaro Resources says: “Every year, we select talented community members to study at formal tertiary institutions”
Details come from Exxaro's official bursary information document. No application dates or Maths mark are published. After graduating, bursars with a 4-year (NQF 8) or Honours degree join the PIT graduate programme; 3-year (NQF 7) graduates join the internship programme.
Bachelor's pass (university exemption) with at least 60% (Rating Code 5) in Mathematics, Science and English
Obligation
Must work for the Company for the full period of the bursary and undertake vacation work at the Company at the end of each year
Who applies
Prospective and current undergraduates apply on the downloadable bursary application form (e-mail it to bursaries@implats.co.za); Chemistry, Geology, Accounting and Human Resources (BCom) are funded to honours level
Last published cycle
Closed 30 September 2026. The application form says applications close on 30 September (no year given) and that late applications are not considered.
Mechanical and Electrical (heavy current) disciplines must comply with DMPR requirements. The closing date, minimum marks and the Nursing and Teaching disciplines come from the bursary application form linked on the page (pages 1-2).
Comprehensive package including financial and developmental support throughout the study period (tuition, and other study costs per Sasol's package)
For
School leavers, already at university and postgraduate · Chemical, Civil, Electrical, Electronic, Industrial, Mechanical, Mining Engineering; Chemistry; Geology; Data Science; Metallurgy (B.Eng/B.Sc)
Mainstream undergraduate bursary: 70-79% or more in Mathematics and Physical Sciences, and English at 60% (First Additional Language) or Home Language, or 50% (Level 4) for English Second Additional Language. Applicants must be below the age of 30 at the time of the bursary application. University students must keep up their results. Honours students applying for a Masters bursary apply with their 3rd-year results and Masters students applying for a PhD bursary with their Honours results; undergraduate and Honours students must have passed all modules. B.Eng.Tech Mine Surveying (University of Johannesburg only): Level 5 (60-69%) in Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Citizenship
South African citizens
Obligation
Workback and/or payback obligation after graduation; potential placement on Sasol Graduate Development Programme
Who applies
Grade 12 learners and current undergraduates applying online via sasolbursaries.com; Mainstream also funds MSc, MEng and PhD studies in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, with core research areas that also include Cyber Security and Data Science (Honours students apply for a Masters bursary, Masters students for a PhD bursary)
Aimed at
Some of Sasol's bursaries are restricted. Sasol says: “STEM / Non-STEM bursaries are reserved only for qualifying children of Sasol employees, Khanyisa/Inzalo shareholders or candidates from Sasol fence-line communities.”
These are the Mainstream bursary criteria. Sasol Foundation bursaries (household income up to R800,000, South African citizens by birth) are reserved for children of Sasol employees, Khanyisa/Inzalo shareholders and Sasol fence-line communities; Foundation applicants must not be older than 25 at the time of application and first-year applicants must have completed matric within a year (or be completing it); university students applying for 2nd, 3rd or 4th year need an average of 60% for all modules. Applications were closed when we checked in September 2026. Technical Maths and Maths Literacy are not accepted.
Our confidence in these details: medium. The official page publishes little.
Valterra Platinum Bursary Programme
Valterra Platinum (formerly Anglo American Platinum) · Official page ↗
Need considered
Work-back
Employees or local communities
No dates on the official page
Covers
Tuition fees, accommodation (private or university residence), meals/living allowance, prescribed textbooks, and a laptop for qualifying students
For
School leavers and already at university · Mining, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering; Metallurgy; Geosciences; Mechatronics; Electronic Engineering (fields vary year to year)
More details
Fields of study
Mining, Mechanical, Electrical Engineering; Metallurgy; Geosciences; Mechatronics; Electronic Engineering (fields vary year to year)
Marks needed
Applicants need strong academic performance (65% average or above); bursary holders must keep an average above 65% to remain in the programme
Citizenship
South African citizen
Obligation
Work-back period equal to the duration of the bursary funding; mandatory vacation work at operations during university holidays
Who applies
SA citizens studying/accepted for a mining-related degree; apply online, applications open annually around mid-year
Aimed at
Valterra Platinum says: “In line with our commitment to supporting the communities in which we operate, bursary opportunities are prioritised for learners from the provinces where we have mining operations.”
Anglo American Platinum demerged from Anglo American and rebranded as Valterra Platinum in 2025; this is its current official bursary page. Applicants may not hold another full bursary elsewhere.
No application dates on the official bursary page; bursaries are advertised under the vacancies section of the Sibanye-Stillwater website.
Covers
Not published
For
School leavers and already at university · BSc Mining, Mechanical, Electrical, Metallurgical and Chemical Engineering; BSc Geology; Finance; Survey
More details
Fields of study
BSc Mining, Mechanical, Electrical, Metallurgical and Chemical Engineering; BSc Geology; Finance; Survey
Marks needed
Proof of academic results for grade 11 and progress in grade 12, or a grade 12 certificate with acceptable symbols or tertiary results; acceptance by the university for the degree course
Citizenship
South African citizens
Obligation
none stated
Who applies
South African citizens under or turning 21 during their first year of study (23 for second year), studying or intending to study full-time towards a bachelor's degree at a recognised South African university
Last published cycle
No application dates on the official bursary page; bursaries are advertised under the vacancies section of the Sibanye-Stillwater website.
Age limits apply. The scheme aims to provide the company with graduates who wish to make their career there, but the page states no formal work-back term or what the bursary pays for.
Supplementary funding: stipend, laptop, technical equipment and wrap-around mentoring support; core tuition/accommodation comes from NSFAS or an external bursary
For
School leavers and already at university · Wide range of undergraduate disciplines at public universities or TVET colleges
More details
Fields of study
Wide range of undergraduate disciplines at public universities or TVET colleges
Household income
Up to R350 000 a year
Obligation
none stated
Who applies
Selected via REAP's Post School Readiness Programme at partner rural schools; not an open public application
Aimed at
REAP says: “assists young people from low income households in marginalised rural communities in South Africa to access and succeed in post-school education and training (PSET) opportunities”
REAP wraps around NSFAS/other bursary funding rather than being the primary funder itself; supported 206 students in 2026 (120 university, 86 TVET).
Closed on 9 October 2026 · next round not yet published
Covers
not stated (full-time bursary; benefits not itemised on the page)
For
School leavers and already at university · Core/critical mining fields (60% of intake), non-core mining-related fields (30%), other disciplines (10%); varies per year
More details
Fields of study
Core/critical mining fields (60% of intake), non-core mining-related fields (30%), other disciplines (10%); varies per year
Marks needed
National Senior Certificate with 60%+ in all subjects; engineering applicants also need at least 70% in Mathematics and Physical Sciences; tertiary students must maintain 60%+ average in major subjects
Citizenship
South African citizen with valid SA identity document
Obligation
none stated
Who applies
Applicants aged 18-35, from communities in and around Harmony's mining operations, applying with a brief 3-page CV
Last published cycle
Closed 9 October 2026. 2027 intake (now closed): applications were by email to Bursaryscheme@harmony.co.za with the documents listed on the official page.
Aimed at
Harmony Gold Mining Company says: “At Harmony we offer full-time bursaries to communities in an around our mining operations.”
The 2027 bursary intake closed on 9 October 2026 (official page, checked 29 September 2026). On 12 October 2026 the page says the 2027 intake is closed and "The 2028 intake will open in October 2027."
Varies by university/faculty; typically a partial or full tuition-fee award for high NSC achievers
For
School leavers and already at university · All faculties; most SA public universities award automatic or application-based merit/entrance bursaries on NSC results
More details
Fields of study
All faculties; most SA public universities award automatic or application-based merit/entrance bursaries on NSC results
Marks needed
Awarded to applicants meeting each faculty's published NSC/APS threshold; often automatic, no separate application
Citizenship
Typically restricted to South African citizens and permanent residents (varies by university)
Obligation
none stated
Who applies
Automatic on admission at most universities (e.g. UCT); some require a separate application - check per institution
Aimed at
UCT, the verified example, says: “Entrance Scholarships are awarded to applicants on the basis of National Senior Certificate (NSC) achievement in open and redress pools.” Other universities set their own criteria.
Terms, thresholds and amounts vary significantly by university and faculty; verified example is UCT's Entrance Scholarship policy
Our confidence in these details: medium. The official page publishes little.
Closed schemes usually run again at about the same time each year. Tags such as “Designated groups” use each funder’s own wording: see More details for the exact criteria.
