The South African government has a number of bursaries, scholarships, and other funding opportunities available to students who would like to study further at a university or Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) college.
Studying further can be expensive, which is why bursaries can be incredibly beneficial to a student who would like to further their education but cannot necessarily afford it, as well as all the other expenses it comes with, such accommodation, transport and buying study materials.
The bursaries offered by the government give deserving students the opportunity to study and gain access to quality education, by footing some of their tertiary education bill.
A popular government bursary is the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), also known as the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) Bursary, which is offered to students who come from poor or working-class families.
Students who attend one of South Africa's 26 public universities or 50 TVET colleges can apply for the DHET bursary, as long as they meet the bursary requirements.
There are many other bursaries offered by the government that are in collaboration with other major companies in South Africa.
There are also several governmental departments; from Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, to Basic Education, Health, Labour, Public Works, and many more.
The bursaries offered all have different requirements and conditions as to what the bursary may cover. When you apply for these bursaries, you will need to meet the stipulated requirements, follow the prompts and/or fill out the bursary application form that may be required in order to successfully apply for the bursary.
Although each Department differs, and therefore the bursaries they offer may also be different, here are the general eligibility requirements students need to meet when applying:
- Must be a South African citizen.
- Must currently be in matric with good academic results so far, OR have already completed matric with good academic results.
- Must be studying or have been accepted to study in certain fields (usually, within a skills shortage field).
- Must be residing in a certain area, depending on whether the bursary specifies that it is offered for a particularly municipality, for example.
The fields of study covered by government bursaries differ between each bursary listing.
To find government bursaries, here are few sources to check out online:
The Government Website
On the government website, bursaries and funding options available are showcased, mostly focusing on NSFAS. Also provided is a list of bursaries that are available, but that are not necessarily funded by the government.
Careers Portal and Bursaries Portal
With constant daily updates on all opportunities available in South Africa, we also display government opportunities that include internships, learnerships and bursaries.
Local Government Website
Your local government website (for example, the Western Cape government, Gauteng government, etc.), as well as local municipality websites, will showcase bursaries offered by the government, local universities, National Departments and public entities.
National Youth Development Agency
The National Youth Development Agency (NYDA) displays bursaries that are available all over South Africa, often including government bursaries.
