A bursary is a form of financial aid provided to deserving students, which normally pays their tuition fees and some cost related to their studies.
Some bursaries many provide students several allowances including transport and accommodation, while other bursaries may only cover a percentage of a student's tuition fees.
Every year South African companies, associations and government departments open up bursaries opportunities to fund tertiary studies for students who need funding.
Here are some of the top bursaries in the country:
- National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS): This is a government-funded bursary scheme providing financial assistance to academically deserving and financially needy students throughout the country.
- TETA Bursary: This bursary is available for various fields of undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications within the Transport sector and related fields.
- Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship: The foundation offers a comprehensive fellowship programme that provides financial support for high school learners and university students.
- Sasol Bursary Scheme: Sasol offers bursaries to students who demonstrate academic potential and financial need in various fields, including Engineering, Science, Accounting, and more.
- Investec Bank CSI Bursary: Investec provides financial aid to students from low-income backgrounds who demonstrate academic excellence and are pursuing degrees in Commerce, Engineering, Computer Science, or Information Technology.
- Anglo American Platinum Bursary: This bursary supports students interested in pursuing careers in the mining industry. It is awarded based on academic merit and financial need.
- Thuthuka Bursary: Offered by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants, (SAICA) this programme provides financial support, mentoring, and academic enrichment for students aspiring to become Chartered Accountants.
- The South African Reserve Bank Bursary Scheme: This bursary scheme offers bursaries to students pursuing studies in fields relevant to the Reserve Bank's functions, such as Economics, Finance, and Accounting.
- Shoprite Bursary: The bursary provides financial support to African students who are pursuing a Accounting Data Science, Food Science, Information Systems, Pharmacy, Retail Business Management, Supply Chain & Logistics and UI Design (Product Design).
- Old Mutual Education Trust Bursary: The Old Mutual Education Trust provides financial assistance to South African students studying in the fields of Accounting, Actuarial Science, and other related areas.
Application Tips
It is always important to start your bursary search early, this will also allow you to apply to as many bursaries as possible.
Once you have identified the bursary opportunity you are interested in, make sure you read and understand the eligibility criteria. Some bursaries may be limited to specific fields of study, nationalities, or academic levels.
A key tip for when submitting applications, is to check for any errors within your submission. Before submitting your application, always check for any grammatical or punctuation errors or have someone look over your application.
If you are not successful in your first application attempt, keep applying. There are many funding opportunities available, and persistence can pay off in the long run.
Find the latest bursaries, how to apply for bursaries and any other information you need on bursaries on our website.
