Bursaries Closing in October 2026
South African bursaries with application deadlines in October 2026. Prepare your documents now — late applications are not accepted.
Standard Bank Bursary Programme
Standard Bank
Standard Bank bursaries support commerce, finance, actuarial science, and IT students. Recipients join Standard Bank's vacation programme and are fast-tracked into the graduate pipeline.
Absa Bank Bursary Programme
Absa Group
Absa offers a full bursary for commerce, finance, accounting, and IT students. Includes tuition, accommodation, and a living allowance with vacation employment.
Funza Lushaka Teaching Bursary
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)
The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a government-funded full bursary for education students who commit to teaching in public schools after graduation.
Telkom Foundation Bursary
Telkom Foundation
The Telkom Foundation funds ICT, computer science, and electrical engineering students. Notably, this bursary has no workback obligation and is NSFAS-compatible.
FNB (First National Bank) Bursary
First National Bank (FNB)
FNB funds finance, accounting, actuarial science, and IT students with tuition and a living allowance. Part of the FirstRand Group talent pipeline.
National Skills Fund (NSF) Bursary
National Skills Fund (NSF) — DHET
The NSF funds students in scarce and critical skills fields — including medicine, engineering, social work, and agriculture — at university and TVET level.
Tiger Brands Foundation Bursary
Tiger Brands Foundation
Tiger Brands funds food science, engineering, and commerce students with a focus on Gauteng, KZN, and Western Cape. NSFAS-compatible.
Department of Agriculture Bursary (DALRRD)
Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development
The Department of Agriculture funds agriculture, environmental science, and veterinary science students with a full bursary including workback in government agriculture programmes.
Capitec Bank Foundation Bursary
Capitec Bank Foundation
The Capitec Bank Foundation funds commerce and mathematics students — primarily in Western Cape, Gauteng, and KZN — with tuition and accommodation support. No workback obligation.
⏰ Deadline Tips
- •Gather your documents at least 2 weeks before the closing date — ID certifications and transcripts take time.
- •Submit early — online portals sometimes crash on the final day due to high traffic.
- •Apply to multiple bursaries simultaneously. There is no penalty for applying to more than one.
- •Legitimate bursaries are always free to apply for. Never pay an application fee.