The Industrial Development Corporation is inviting students to apply for the IDC bursary — the IDC External Bursary Scheme for the 2027 academic year. Applications opened on Monday, 1 June 2026 and close on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
The scheme is open to unemployed South African citizens with financial need who are studying, or intend to study, full-time in one of the approved fields. The IDC is one of South Africa’s leading development finance institutions, and it funds qualifications tied to the country’s industrial and economic priorities.
IDC Bursary 2027: Key Dates
- Applications opened: Monday, 1 June 2026
- Applications close: Wednesday, 30 September 2026
- Academic year funded: 2027
- Who can apply: Unemployed South African citizens with financial need
- Study mode: Full-time
Which Fields the IDC Bursary Covers
The IDC groups approved qualifications into four categories: Finance and Management, STEM, Law, and Postgraduate Honours studies.
Finance, Management and related courses
The IDC lists the following qualifications in this category:
- Accounting (CA)
- Financial Management
- Internal Audit
- Cost and Management Accounting
- Investment Management
- Risk Management
- Transport or Logistics Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance Studies
- Economics
- Econometrics
- Business Management
- Financial Accounting
- Financial Engineering
Separate lists apply for the STEM, Law and Honours categories. These are shown in the tabs on the IDC bursary page — check yours before you apply.
The most important rule
The IDC states this in capitals on its own page: applications will only be considered for the fields of study listed. Any qualification not on the list will not be considered.
This is the single most common reason IDC applications fail. Check the exact name of your qualification against the IDC’s list before spending time on the form.
How to Apply for the IDC Bursary
Applications must be completed online. The IDC requires applicants to submit clear copies of all mandatory supporting documents and to complete an interview questionnaire as part of the application.
- Visit idc.co.za/bursaries, or go to the IDC website, select About IDC, then Bursaries.
- Open the Eligibility and Requirements tabs on that page and read them in full. The requirements tab lists the compulsory documents you must upload.
- Complete the online application form, giving accurate personal, academic and household income details.
- Upload clear copies of every mandatory document. Incomplete applications are not considered.
- Complete the interview questionnaire.
- Submit before 30 September 2026.
Successful applicants are notified by email.
IDC Bursary Contact Details
For queries, the IDC lists Noluthando Baepi on 011 269 3374, or email noluthandob@idc.co.za or ExternalBursaryQueries@idc.co.za.
Reporting Fraud
The IDC operates a zero-tolerance policy on fraud and corruption, and urges students, clients and service providers to report it. Its hotline is 0800 303 336, by email to IDC@tip-offs.com, or by SMS to 39640.
The IDC bursary is free to apply for. Nobody can secure you a place, and no legitimate bursary charges a fee. If you are approached for payment, report it using the details above.
Other Bursaries Open Now
Bursaries are competitive, and applying to several is the sensible approach. Also currently open for the 2027 academic year:
- StudyTrust — one application covering many sponsors, most closing 30 September 2026
- Eskom Bursary 2027 — engineering and non-technical degrees, closing 22 September 2026
NSFAS and Funza Lushaka have not yet opened for 2027 at the time of writing. See everything currently open on our Bursaries page, or look for work on our Jobs page.
Details on this page were taken from the IDC’s official bursaries page on 14 September 2026. Eligibility criteria, required documents and bursary benefits are set out in full on that page. Always confirm against the official listing before applying. We are not the funder and do not receive or process applications.