Bursaries

Fields of study

4-yr B.Ed (Foundation/Intermediate/Senior-FET Phase) or B.Ed ECCE (3rd-year University of Pretoria project students only); priority subjects incl. languages, Maths, Sciences; languages are funded predominantly for South African Indigenous Languages and Afrikaans in the Western Cape, Northern Cape, Free State and Eastern Cape, with a small portion of English teachers

Covers

Most essential expenses: tuition, accommodation & meals, books/materials, teaching practice, small monthly allowance depending on tuition cost; the bursary is capped, so bursars top up where university fees are higher than the cap

Marks needed

Bachelor's pass/endorsement at matric; min Level 4 (50%) in 2 specialisation subjects; phase-specific Maths rules apply

Citizenship

SA citizens with valid SA ID

Obligation

1 year of public school teaching per year funded; must apply for a teaching post within 6 months of graduating

Who applies

First-time and returning B.Ed undergraduates (B.Ed ECCE: 3rd-year University of Pretoria project students only), first-time applicants under 30 (the 2027 Application Notes say below 30; the landing page says 30 or younger)

Applications

Opened 1 October 2026 · closes 31 January 2027. 2027 cycle: new applications close 31 January 2027; re-applications from current bursars close 30 November 2026.

Excludes PGCE, Honours/Masters, and oversupplied subjects (History, Geography, Accounting, Economics, Business Studies, EMS, LO, PE), low-uptake subjects (Religious Studies, Music, Dance, Art) and combinations of two languages

Sources: Funza Lushaka Bursary Application Notes 2027, p.1 (age), p.2 (exclusions, languages), pp.2-3 (B.Ed ECCE) and pp.7-8 (what the bursary covers, cap)

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

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)

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)