Bursary hub

South African bursaries 2026: complete guide

Every major SA bursary for the 2026/2027 academic cycle — categorised, with eligibility, closing dates, work-back rules, and links to deep-dive guides for the biggest funders.

Updated 17 May 2026 ·By GoCareers
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NSFAS 2026 closed
15 Nov 2025 (TVET T2 still open)
Funza Lushaka 2026
Closes 24 Jan 2026
SAIPA Scholarship
Closes 15 Jan 2026
Sasol 2027
1 Apr – 17 May 2026
SAICA Thuthuka
Closes 31 Aug 2026
Mandela Rhodes 2027
Closes 14 Apr 2026

Who SA bursaries are for

  • South African citizens accepted (or applying) to a recognised public university or TVET college
  • Most exclude private institutions — there are exceptions per funder
  • Income-tested bursaries: household typically under R350,000 (NSFAS, Thuthuka) or under R600,000 (missing middle, disability, some govt)
  • Some bursaries (Mainstream Sasol, Allan Gray Orbis) have no income cap
  • Most have a Matric academic minimum (typically 60–70% in Maths and Sciences)
  • Field of study must match the funder's sector (e.g. Sasol = engineering/science; Funza Lushaka = teaching)

Documents typically required across SA bursaries

  • Certified ID copy (applicant)
  • Certified IDs of both parents/guardians
  • Latest academic transcript or Matric statement of results
  • Proof of acceptance / registration at institution
  • Parents' latest payslips, affidavit (if unemployed), SASSA letter, or pension slip
  • Death certificate (deceased parent)
  • Proof of household income / tax certificates
  • Tailored motivational letter per bursary
  • 2–3 references (school principal, teacher, community leader)
  • Updated CV
  • Disability Annexure + medical report (where applicable)

Step by step

  1. Research broadly — don't bet on one bursary

    Successful SA students typically apply to 10–20 bursaries in a cycle. Match your field, province, household income and demographic to each funder. Use the calendar below to map closing dates.

  2. Prepare your document pack early

    Get all certified copies done at a SAPS station or Commissioner of Oaths in one go — they're free at SAPS. Keep digital scans for online uploads.

  3. Write a tailored motivational letter per bursary

    Don't recycle one letter. Each bursary wants to see you've understood their values and mission. Tell your SA story (socio-economic context, school quintile, family circumstances) without playing the victim card. Link your career to national skills priorities.

  4. Apply through the funder's official portal

    NSFAS: my.nsfas.org.za · Funza Lushaka: eservices.gov.za · Sasol: sasolbursaries.com · Thuthuka: thuthukabursaryfund.co.za. Never via third-party agents.

  5. Track confirmations

    Save reference numbers. If you haven't had an acknowledgement after 4 weeks, follow up directly with the funder.

  6. Plan a backup

    Most bursaries reject 80–95% of applicants — even well-qualified ones. Have an NSFAS or student-loan plan B.

NSFAS and 'missing middle' funding

  • NSFAS / DHET Bursary — full cost of study at public universities and TVET colleges; household income under R350,000/year (R600,000 for students with disabilities). 2026 cycle closed 15 November 2025. See our full NSFAS guide.
  • NSFAS Comprehensive Student Funding (Missing Middle Loan) — household income R350,000–R600,000. Loan with potential bursary conversion (up to 40–50%) if academic progression met.
  • ISFAP (Ikusasa Student Financial Aid Programme) — separate missing-middle programme via partner universities.

Major corporate bursaries (2026/2027 cycle)

  • Sasol Bursary 2027 — engineering, science, IT, commerce. Closes 17 May 2026.
  • Eskom Bursary — engineering, IT, finance, science. Typically opens August, closes October.
  • Anglo American Bursary — mining, metallurgical, mechanical, electrical engineering. Includes medical aid + vacation work.
  • MTN Bursary — engineering, IT, computer science. Closes 31 May annually.
  • Standard Bank Group Bursary — finance, banking, IT, engineering; mentorship + graduate pipeline.
  • Transnet Bursary — engineering & logistics. Year-for-year work-back.
  • Plus: Shoprite, FirstRand, KPMG (R150k), Deloitte, PwC, Vodacom, De Beers, Nedbank, MultiChoice, Amazon, SARB.

SETA bursaries

  • MQA (mining)
  • MERSETA (manufacturing, engineering)
  • BANKSETA (banking) — UNISA & CPUT partnerships
  • MICT SETA (IT, media)
  • HWSETA (health, social) — disability bursaries closed 6 Feb 2026
  • INSETA (insurance) — ISSF bursary closed Oct 2025
  • Services SETA (broad services)

Government department bursaries

  • Funza Lushaka Bursary (DBE) — teaching degrees. Closes 24 Jan 2026.
  • Department of Health Bursary — per province; nursing, medicine, allied health.
  • National Treasury Bursary — Accounting, Economics, Logistics. 2027 cycle expected mid-2026.
  • Provincial Treasuries — e.g. Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury.
  • Department of Tourism, Compensation Fund, Department of Water & Sanitation — also run annual schemes.

Professional body bursaries

  • SAICA Thuthuka — BCom Accounting (CA stream) for Black African and Coloured students. Closes 31 Aug 2026.
  • SAIPA Scholarship Programme 2026 — 5 scholarships for BCom Accounting; closes 15 January 2026; email scholarship@saipa.co.za.
  • ACCA, CIMA, SAICE, ECSA, IIASA — profession-specific.

University-specific bursaries

Every major SA university runs internal bursaries — many auto-match based on Matric results:

  • UCT — annual Undergraduate Bursaries & Loans Booklet; Klaus-Jürgen Bathe, Mastercard Foundation, VC's Scholarship
  • Wits — Wits Hardship Fund, Wits Sports Bursary, donor bursaries (opened 2 March 2026)
  • Stellenbosch — Merit bursaries (automatic), Rector's Award, Andrew W. Mellon Foundation Scholarship, GEM Scholarship
  • UP — UP merit bursaries (automatic for top Matric students), TuksSport bursary
  • UJ, UWC, UKZN, NMU, Rhodes — internal funds, opening 1 April 2026

NGO and foundation bursaries

  • Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship — university (Commerce, Science, Engineering, Law, Humanities, Arts, Health) at 7 partner universities. Selective.
  • Mandela Rhodes Scholarship — postgraduate (Honours/Master's) at any SA university. Age 19–29; 70%+; African citizen. 2027 cycle closes 14 April 2026.
  • Dell Young Leaders (Michael & Susan Dell Foundation) — invitation-only for first-year NSFAS-eligible students at UCT and UP. R150,000 + laptop + textbook allowance.
  • Investec Bursary — High School + Tertiary. 2026 cycle closed 30 Sept 2025; next cycle mid-2026.
  • Studietrust, Canon Collins Trust, Moshal Scholarship, Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program (Wits/UCT/Pretoria)

Disability-specific bursaries

  • NSFAS Disability Support — household income threshold raised to R600,000; assistive devices + human support up to R52,000 + device up to R54,080
  • HWSETA Bursary for Unemployed Persons with Disabilities — up to R240,000 per learner. 2025/26 closed 6 Feb 2026.
  • SAIPA Disability allowance — household ≤ R600k qualifies
  • Disabled Students Programme at most major universities (UCT, Wits, Stellenbosch, UP)
  • Most major corporate bursaries accept disability applicants with adjusted criteria

2026/2027 bursary closing date calendar

DateBursary
15 Nov 2025NSFAS 2026 (closed)
30 Nov 2025Funza Lushaka returning students
15 Jan 2026SAIPA Scholarship
24 Jan 2026Funza Lushaka new applicants
6 Feb 2026HWSETA Disability & PG bursaries
20 Feb 2026MERSETA Bursary 2026/2027
14 Apr 2026Mandela Rhodes Scholarship 2027
17 May 2026Sasol Bursary 2027
30 May 2026W&RSETA Bursary (continuing)
31 May 2026MTN Bursary
Aug 2026Eskom Bursary opens (typically closes Oct)
31 Aug 2026SAICA Thuthuka 2027
Sep 2026NSFAS 2027 expected to open
Oct 2026Transnet Bursary 2027 expected

Work-back obligations — who has them

Most corporate and government bursaries require work-back service:

  • Sasol, Eskom, Transnet, Anglo American: 1 year of service per year of funding, subject to vacancies
  • Funza Lushaka: 1 year teaching at a public school per year funded — strictly enforced by DBE
  • Department of Health: provincial service per year funded
  • Breach typically converts the bursary into a repayable debt plus interest

Bursaries without work-back: NSFAS, Thuthuka (replaced by guaranteed articles), Allan Gray Orbis, Mandela Rhodes, most university merit bursaries.

Common reasons bursary applications are rejected

  1. Missing or uncertified documents (single biggest reason)
  2. Failing eligibility — wrong income bracket, wrong field, wrong institution
  3. Missed deadline (most funders reject late applications automatically)
  4. Inconsistent information across documents
  5. Weak / generic / recycled motivational letter; spelling and grammar errors
  6. Poor academic results below the published minimum
  7. Wrong contact details (lost communication)
  8. Fraudulent documents — leads to blacklisting
  9. Not following format instructions (PDF vs JPG, file naming, subject line)
  10. Applying to bursaries you don't qualify for

Bursary scams — warning signs

  • "You have been awarded R500,000 — click here to claim" for a bursary you never applied for
  • Requests for an upfront fee to process, "facilitate", or release funds (legitimate SA bursaries never charge)
  • WhatsApp or Facebook pages cloning known bursary names (the "Jobs Learnerships and Bursaries" clone pages flagged by Africa Check)
  • No verifiable website or registered company
  • Pressure tactics, urgent deadlines, demands for ID + bank details outside official portals
  • Misuse of NSFAS / Funza Lushaka logos

Frequently asked questions

What bursaries are open for 2026 in South Africa?
As of May 2026: Sasol (closes 17 May), MERSETA (closed 20 Feb), Funza Lushaka returning (closed Nov 2025), various university bursaries (Wits, UCT, UP, UJ, UWC). NSFAS 2027 expected September 2026. Most major corporate bursaries for 2027 open March–August 2026.
How do I apply for NSFAS 2026?
The main 2026 cycle closed 15 November 2025. TVET Trimester 2 2026 is currently open. See our full NSFAS application guide for step-by-step.
What is the closing date for Funza Lushaka 2026?
24 January 2026 for new applicants. 30 November 2025 for returning bursars. Apply at eservices.gov.za.
What is the difference between a bursary and a scholarship?
In SA the terms overlap. Generally, bursaries emphasise financial need; scholarships emphasise academic or sporting merit. Both are non-repayable financial aid.
Can I apply for more than one bursary at the same time?
Yes — and you should. Most successful SA students apply to 10–20 bursaries per cycle. You can only accept one if multiple offer, and most exclude double-funding.
Do bursaries cover accommodation and meals?
Full-cost bursaries (NSFAS, Sasol Mainstream, Thuthuka, Allan Gray, Mandela Rhodes, most corporate) cover tuition, accommodation, meals, books, laptop and a monthly stipend. Partial bursaries cover only tuition or a fixed Rand amount.
What happens if I fail a year on a bursary?
Most bursaries require you to maintain a minimum average (typically 50–60%) and progress within the standard study period. Failing a module or year usually means losing the bursary; some allow one repeat with academic conditions.
Do I have to pay back a bursary?
No — provided you meet the conditions. A bursary becomes repayable if you fail to graduate, refuse a placement, drop out, or breach a work-back agreement.
What is the missing middle and how do I qualify?
Households earning R350,001–R600,000/year — too much for NSFAS, too little for full private fees. The NSFAS Missing Middle Loan covers this group, with up to 40% per year converting to bursary if you pass.
How can I avoid bursary scams?
Legitimate SA bursaries never charge fees, never contact you out of the blue, and only use official .gov.za, .org.za or company domains. Report suspected scams to SAFPS on 0860 101 248.
When do 2027 bursaries open?
Sasol 2027 is already open (1 April – 17 May 2026). Most other 2027 bursaries open August–October 2026 (Eskom, Transnet, MTN, NSFAS). Mandela Rhodes 2027 closes 14 April 2026.

Related guides

NSFAS Application 2026

The biggest bursary scheme in SA — apply first if you qualify by household income.

Sasol Bursary 2027

Full-cost engineering, science and IT bursary. Closes 17 May 2026.

SAICA Thuthuka Bursary

Full-cost CA(SA) bursary for Black African and Coloured students.

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