Veterinary Science Bursaries in South Africa 2026

Training to become a vet or animal-health professional is a serious investment — long degrees, demanding science subjects and very limited university places — so the right bursary can be the difference between a dream and a degree. Bursaries in this field usually cover the big costs that stand between you and your qualification: tuition, registration, prescribed textbooks and clinical equipment, and often accommodation, meals and a monthly living allowance. Some go further with mentorship, vacation work on farms or in clinics, and a job placement after you graduate. They tend to support full veterinary science degrees as well as related paths like veterinary nursing, animal health, animal production and broader agricultural sciences at universities and TVET colleges.

Funding here comes from a mix of sources. National and provincial agriculture and rural development departments often back students because the country genuinely needs more vets and animal-health technicians, especially in rural and farming areas. Agricultural SETAs such as AgriSETA, state-owned entities, commercial farming and agri-processing companies, food producers, animal-health and pharmaceutical firms, universities, and various trusts and foundations also offer support. Many of these are work-back bursaries: the funder pays for your studies and you commit to working for them, or in a designated area, for a set period afterwards — so always read those terms before you sign.

Eligibility tends to be fairly consistent. You'll usually need to be a South African citizen with strong matric or NSC results — marks in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences matter most here — plus acceptance, or a pending application, to an accredited programme. Many bursaries also weigh financial need, so household income and supporting documents come into play, and some prioritise students from rural or farming communities. The corporate and government cycle for the next academic year often opens around August to October, while NSFAS handles need-based funding for public universities and TVET colleges separately, so apply early and apply to more than one source.