Bursaries

Bursaries and scholarships for South African students, with the requirements, closing dates and official application links. Every listing on this page is checked against the funder’s own website before we publish it.

Before you apply: no legitimate bursary charges an application fee. If anyone asks you to pay to apply, to reserve a place or to have your application processed, it is a scam. Report it to us through our Contact page.

Current Bursaries and Scholarships

When South African Bursaries Open

Most bursaries for the following academic year open between June and November. Corporate schemes tend to close first, often in September, while government funding runs later. Applying to several is normal and sensible — competition is heavy and one application is rarely enough.

• Corporate bursaries — usually open mid-year and close around September
• NSFAS — typically opens in the last quarter for the next academic year
• Funza Lushaka (teaching) — usually opens around October
• Missing-middle funding such as ISFAP — often runs later, into October

Prepare your documents early: a certified ID copy, latest results, proof of university acceptance and, where required, parents’ income documents. Most applications fail on missing paperwork rather than marks.

Looking for work instead? Browse current openings on our Jobs page, or read our Career Advice section.