Allan Gray Orbis Foundation

Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship 2026: how to apply

Full-cost undergraduate fellowship at 11 SA partner universities, plus mentorship, entrepreneurial curriculum and a lifelong alumni network. Highly selective — historical acceptance rate is ~2–3%.

Updated 17 May 2026 ·By GoCareers
Open Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship
Apply on
allangrayorbis.org/fellowship
2026 closing
30 April 2026, 17:00 SAST
Age cap
Under 21 in application year
Funding model
Tiered by household income
Acceptance rate
~2–3% (historical)
Region
SA + EBN (Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia)

Who can apply

  • South African citizen (EBN stream open to Eswatini, Botswana, Namibia citizens)
  • Under 21 years old in the application year
  • Currently in Grade 12 (first-year university students at a partner institution may also apply)
  • Minimum 60% in Pure Mathematics OR 80% in Mathematical Literacy (Grade 11 final results)
  • Minimum 70% overall average in Grade 11 (excluding Life Orientation)
  • Plan to study a qualifying degree (Commerce, Science excl. Medicine/Dentistry/Vet, Engineering, Law, Humanities, Arts, Health Science)
  • Must attend a Fellowship partner university
  • Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset and leadership
  • Open to all races and income levels (funding is needs-based)

What you'll need

  • Certified copy of South African (or Eswatini/Botswana/Namibia) ID
  • Certified copy of final Grade 11 academic record
  • Certified copy of latest Grade 12 record (if available)
  • For EBN stream: AS Level or Form 6 transcript
  • Completed application form with personal statement and entrepreneurial questions

Step by step

  1. Open the Fellowship application

    Visit allangrayorbis.org/programmes/fellowship. Applications for the 2026 intake (starting in 2027) open February 2026 and close 30 April 2026 at 17:00 SAST. EBN stream closes 31 July 2026.

  2. Gather your supporting documents

    Certified ID, Grade 11 final academic record, Grade 12 record if available. EBN applicants use AS Level or Form 6 transcripts.

  3. Complete the application form

    Allow at least 2 days. The form includes a substantial personal statement and entrepreneurial questions. This isn't a tick-box exercise — the Foundation reads every word.
    Tip: Most successful applicants prepare draft answers in a document, get feedback from a teacher or mentor, then paste polished versions into the portal.

  4. Submit before 30 April 2026

    Submit via the online "Gray Matter" portal (preferred), or hand-deliver to the Cape Town or Johannesburg office. Posted applications are accepted but not recommended — late forms aren't taken.

  5. Pass the assessments (July)

    Shortlisted candidates sit psychometric, situational judgement and entrepreneurial aptitude assessments, then attend an interview in July.

  6. Attend the Selection Camp (September)

    A multi-day assessment camp with group exercises and interviews — the toughest hurdle. Only a small fraction of interviewees make it through.

  7. Entrepreneurial Camp + offer (October)

    Finalists attend the Entrepreneurial Camp in October. Offers are made thereafter. Sign your agreement and confirm university placement for the 2027 academic year.

What the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation is

AGOF is a Southern African non-profit established in 2005 by Allan W B Gray, founder of asset manager Allan Gray. Gray first articulated the vision in a 1984 letter to the SA government — proposing to catalyse small, labour-intensive businesses in disadvantaged communities.

The Foundation was seeded with an R1 billion initial endowment plus an ongoing commitment of 5% of Allan Gray Proprietary Limited's taxable profits. In 2015, the Allan & Gill Gray Foundation took controlling stakes in the asset management groups to secure perpetual funding.

Vision: "An empowered, prosperous, productively engaged African citizenry thriving in ethical societies with dignity and hope."

The 11 SA Fellowship partner universities

  1. University of Cape Town (UCT)
  2. Stellenbosch University (SU)
  3. University of Pretoria (UP)
  4. University of the Witwatersrand (Wits)
  5. University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
  6. Rhodes University (RU)
  7. Nelson Mandela University (NMU)
  8. University of Johannesburg (UJ)
  9. University of the Western Cape (UWC)
  10. University of the Free State (UFS)
  11. TSiBA Business School

What the Fellowship covers (tiered by income)

Household incomeCoverage
< R1 million / yearFull funding — tuition, accommodation, meals, textbooks, tutoring, monthly stipend, medical aid where applicable
R1m – R1.5m / yearTuition, accommodation, meals, tutoring, counselling
> R1.5m / yearTuition, tutoring, counselling only

Non-financial benefits (all Fellows, regardless of income tier):

  • Dedicated Personal Development Officer + Entrepreneurial Leadership Officer
  • Individual industry mentor
  • Online entrepreneurial curriculum
  • Annual conferences, seminars, workshops
  • Business incubation access
  • Potential venture funding via E Squared (sister entity)
  • Lifelong access to the Association of Allan Gray Fellows alumni network

Two programmes — Fellowship vs Scholarship

Fellowship Programme (this guide)
For Grade 12 learners (and some first-year university students). Funds a 3–4 year undergraduate degree at one of 11 partner universities.
High School Scholarship Programme
For Grade 6 learners (note: Grade 6 only, not Grade 6–7 as some sources say). Selected scholars are placed in 33 partner schools for Grades 7–12.

Additional programmes: Allan Gray Entrepreneurship Challenge (AGEC), a Postgraduate pilot (launched 2025, 30 participants), and the Association of Allan Gray Fellows alumni network.

The "Responsible Entrepreneur" philosophy

AGOF's defining belief: "It takes one responsible, high-impact entrepreneur to change the reality of a city, or even a country."

The philosophy rests on three pillars:

  • Economic context — genuine value creation by business
  • Leadership context — activating opportunity and influencing others
  • Community context — diverse backgrounds, social transformation

This is explicitly not a cash bursary. It builds entrepreneurs through long-term mentorship, curriculum, network and capital pathways. The Foundation's stated goal: help participants launch 500 ventures by 2030, 10 valued at R1bn, creating 30,000 jobs.

Selection process — five stages

  1. Online application (closes 30 April 2026)
  2. Foundation assessments — psychometric, situational judgement, entrepreneurial aptitude
  3. Interview (July) for shortlisted applicants
  4. Selection Camp (September) — multi-day assessments, group exercises, interviews
  5. Entrepreneurial Camp (October) for finalists

Offers are made thereafter. Historical acceptance rate is ~2–3% — ~1,800 Candidate Fellows from ~68,000+ applicants over 20 years.

Work-back and commitment

No formal work-back contract. Fellows are not obliged to work for Allan Gray Proprietary, the Foundation, or any associated company.

The expectation is moral and aspirational: Fellows contribute to South African society as Responsible Entrepreneurs — ideally starting ventures, creating jobs, and engaging with the alumni network.

The Fellowship is renewed annually subject to academic performance and programme participation. It runs for the duration of the undergraduate degree (typically 3–4 years).

Track record

  • 975+ Allan Gray Fellows in the alumni Association (56% female)
  • 300+ ventures launched by Fellows; ~800+ jobs created across Fellow-founded businesses
  • 600+ Scholars placed through the High School Programme (selected from 72,000+ applicants)
  • 1 million+ lives impacted across 20 years (Foundation's own claim)
  • All 2024 Grade 12 Scholars achieved bachelor's degree passes

Contact

Frequently asked questions

Is the Allan Gray Fellowship a bursary?
Technically a fellowship, not a traditional bursary. There's no work-back obligation; the goal is to develop entrepreneurs, not employees. Funding is tiered by household income.
Can I apply if my family earns over R1 million?
Yes. Funding is tiered by household income, but all selected Fellows receive tuition, tutoring, counselling and the full non-financial benefits (mentorship, network, curriculum).
What degrees are not covered by the Allan Gray Fellowship?
Medicine, Dentistry, and Veterinary Science are explicitly excluded. Most other undergraduate degrees at partner universities are covered.
Can first-year university students apply?
Yes, if already enrolled at a partner university and under 21.
How competitive is the Allan Gray Fellowship?
Extremely. Historical data shows ~1,800 Candidate Fellows from 68,000+ applicants — roughly a 2–3% selection rate.
Do I need to attend a specific high school?
No. The Fellowship is open to learners from any school, including public schools and quintile 1–3 schools. The Foundation actively recruits from under-resourced schools.
What's the difference between the AGOF Scholarship and Fellowship?
Scholarship = high school (Grade 6 entry, placement at partner schools for Grades 7–12). Fellowship = undergraduate (Grade 12 entry, study at partner universities for 3–4 years).
Can international students apply?
Only citizens of South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, and Eswatini are eligible. SA stream closes 30 April; EBN stream (Eswatini/Botswana/Namibia) closes 31 July.
Is there a household income cap for the Allan Gray Fellowship?
No — funding is tiered. Households earning under R1m get full funding; R1m–R1.5m get tuition + accommodation + meals + tutoring + counselling; over R1.5m get tuition + tutoring + counselling only. All Fellows get the full mentorship and network benefits.
What if I'm strong academically but not entrepreneurial?
Then this isn't the right bursary for you. The Foundation explicitly selects for entrepreneurial mindset and leadership — strong academics alone won't get you through. Consider SAICA Thuthuka or Funza Lushaka instead.

Related guides

SAICA Thuthuka Bursary

Full-cost CA(SA) bursary — academically rigorous, alternative if Allan Gray rejects.

Sasol Bursary 2027

Full-cost engineering and science bursary — work-back model.

Bursaries South Africa 2026 — complete guide

Compare all major SA bursaries by field, income bracket and closing date.

Last updated 17 May 2026. We review and refresh this guide regularly — if something here is out of date, let us know.