Bursaries

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

8 of 55 bursaries1 filter on

No dedicated bursary is listed for Optometry. Check the general schemes below and confirm eligibility 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.

Sources: NSFAS website: 2027 applications open 18 September 2026 and close 31 October 2026 at 23:59 · NSFAS media statement, 22 September 2026: closes 31 October 2026, no extension

StudyTrust Bursary & Scholarship Platform

StudyTrust (Educational Trust, est. 1974) · Official page ↗

Closing soon
Financial need
Work-back varies

Closes 31 October 2026 (4 days left)

Covers: 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.

Sources: StudyTrust: administered bursaries, with each bursary's closing date · StudyTrust: bursary applications (income limit, local-area rules for renewable-energy bursaries)

NRF/DSTI Postgraduate and Honours Student Funding

National Research Foundation (NRF) · Official page ↗

Closing soon
Need considered
Postgraduate only
Designated groups
Women
Disability

Closes 23 November 2026 (27 days left)

Covers: 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.

Sources: NRF Postgraduate Funding Framework 2027, PDF pp.7-8 (eligibility, 65% minimum), p.11 (full cost of study for the financially needy), p.18 (financial means test), p.20 (Table 2, values) and p.21 (application dates)

Closed for now, or no dates published 5

SABS Bursary Opportunities

South African Bureau of Standards (SABS) · Official page ↗

Financial need

No dates on the official page

Covers: Tuition costs, textbooks, accommodation and mentoring support
For: School leavers and already at university · Fields of study not specified on the page

More details

Fields of study: Fields of study not specified on the page
Citizenship: South African
Obligation: none stated
Who applies: Academically deserving undergraduate students with proven financial need

The page gives only a short overview, with no fields of study, amounts, dates or application link.

Our confidence in these details: low. The official page publishes little.

SARB External Bursary Scheme (undergraduate studies)

South African Reserve Bank (SARB) · Official page ↗

Closed
Financial need

Closed on 30 September 2026 · next round not yet published

Covers: Not published
For: School leavers · Any field 'with a bearing on the functions and activities of the SARB' (e.g. finance, economics, IT, law)

More details

Fields of study: Any field 'with a bearing on the functions and activities of the SARB' (e.g. finance, economics, IT, law)
Marks needed: 70% average in the June Grade 12/Matric examinations (final award subject to final results)
Citizenship: South African citizens
Obligation: Sign bursary agreement with SARB after interview; specific service-back terms not published
Who applies: Prospective first-year undergraduates at any SA university, under 30
Last published cycle: Closed 30 September 2026.

For the 2027 academic year intake; distinct from the SARB Economics-specific bursary above

Rural Education Access Programme (REAP)

REAP · Official page ↗

Financial need
Rural

No dates on the official page

Covers: 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).

Harmony Gold Bursary Scheme

Harmony Gold Mining Company · Official page ↗

Closed
Employees or local communities

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."

Sources: Harmony: opportunities for students (60% in all subjects; 70% Maths and Physical Sciences for engineering; closes 9 October 2026)

University Entrance / Merit Scholarships

South African public universities · Official page ↗

Redress places

No dates on the official page

Covers: 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.