Bursaries and closing dates

Funding for university, college and teaching. Apply in Grade 12, before you get your results. Most bursaries close months before matric ends.

Funza Lushaka BursaryDepartment of Basic Education

Open now

Study: Teaching (BEd)
Who can apply: South Africans under 30 who qualify for a BEd at a public university. Grade 12 learners can apply while in matric.
Covers: Tuition, accommodation, meals, books and a living allowance. You teach one year in a public school for every year funded.

Closes 31 January 2027.

Official site

Moshal Scholarship ProgramMoshal Foundation

Open now

Study: Most degrees
Who can apply: Academically strong learners from low-income households who have applied to a partner university.
Covers: Tuition, accommodation, a living allowance and a laptop, plus mentoring.

Closes 31 December 2026. Confirm on the official site.

Official site

NSFASNational Student Financial Aid Scheme

Closed for now

Study: Any course at a public university or TVET college
Who can apply: South Africans from households earning up to R350 000 a year.
Covers: Tuition, accommodation, transport, food and learning materials.

Last round closed 31 October 2026. September to October. No late applications.

Official site

ISFAP BursaryIkusasa Student Financial Aid Programme

Closed for now

Study: Engineering, health, commerce and more
Who can apply: Learners from households earning up to R600 000 a year who are too well-off for NSFAS.
Covers: Full study costs plus academic and life-skills support.

Last round closed 31 October 2026. Usually June to the end of October.

Official site

SAICA Thuthuka BursarySAICA

Closed for now

Study: Chartered accountancy, CA(SA)
Who can apply: Grade 12 learners doing pure Mathematics and Accounting who want to become chartered accountants. You must write the NBT.
Covers: Tuition, accommodation, meals, books and mentoring.

Last round closed 31 August 2026. Usually closes at the end of August.

Official site

Allan Gray Orbis FellowshipAllan Gray Orbis Foundation

Closed for now

Study: Commerce, science, engineering and more
Who can apply: Grade 12 learners under 21 with strong marks and an entrepreneurial mindset.
Covers: Full university costs plus an entrepreneurship development programme.

Last round closed 30 April 2026. February to the end of April of your matric year.

Official site

Sasol BursarySasol

Closed for now

Study: Engineering and science
Who can apply: Grade 12 learners with strong Mathematics and Physical Sciences marks.
Covers: Full study costs, with vacation work at Sasol.

Last round closed 17 May 2026. April to mid-May.

Official site

Sasol Foundation BursarySasol Foundation

Closed for now

Study: Engineering, science and technology
Who can apply: Learners from Sasol's operating communities and beyond. Check the requirements each year.
Covers: Tuition, accommodation, meals and books.

Last round closed 23 August 2026. August.

Official site

Eskom BursaryEskom

Closed for now

Study: Engineering and technical fields
Who can apply: Grade 12 learners with good Mathematics and Physical Sciences marks.
Covers: Study costs, with work-back at Eskom.

Last round closed 22 September 2026. Usually closes in September.

Official site

Nedbank External BursaryNedbank

Closed for now

Study: Commerce, finance and IT
Who can apply: Grade 12 learners and students with strong Mathematics marks.
Covers: Tuition, accommodation, books and a living allowance.

Last round closed 31 August 2026. April to the end of August.

Official site

Standard Bank Group BursaryStandard Bank

Closed for now

Study: Commerce, IT, actuarial science and law
Who can apply: Grade 12 learners and students with good academic results.
Covers: Tuition, accommodation, books, a laptop and a stipend.

Last round closed 30 September 2026. June to the end of September, through StudyTrust.

Official site

Transnet BursaryTransnet

Closed for now

Study: Engineering and technical fields
Who can apply: Grade 12 learners with strong Mathematics and Physical Sciences.
Covers: Study costs, with work-back at Transnet.

Last round closed 6 October 2026. Usually August to early October. Confirm the date with Transnet.

Official site

Nothing matches right nowNew rounds open through the year. Choose All bursaries to plan ahead.

Dates were last checked on 7 November 2026. Some come from bursary listing sites, so always confirm on the official site before you apply. Bursaries never ask you to pay to apply. If someone asks for money, it is a scam.

How to win a bursary

Start in Grade 11
Most bursaries look at your Grade 11 final results, and many close by the middle of your matric year.
Apply to a university at the same time
Bursaries usually need proof that you applied to study. Use our universities list.
Get your documents ready
Certified copies of your ID, your latest report, and your parents' or guardians' ID and proof of income.
Apply for more than one
Apply for NSFAS and at least two other bursaries in your field. You can only accept one, but more applications mean better chances.

Not sure which field?

A free career adviser can help you choose a course and the bursaries that fit it.

0860 35 66 35

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Bursaries and closing dates

How to win a bursary

Not sure which field?

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