Bursaries in Eastern Cape 2026
60 bursaries available to students in Eastern Cape. Includes both nationwide bursaries and Eastern Cape-specific opportunities. Updated May 2026.
If you're from the Eastern Cape or studying at a university or TVET college here, the good news is that funding is far more open than it might feel. The vast majority of South African bursaries are nationwide, so your home province almost never counts against you. Big corporates, government departments and state-owned entities, SETAs, universities and private trusts all run schemes that any qualifying South African can apply for. Whether you're a school-leaver in Mthatha, an undergrad in Gqeberha or East London, or a postgrad further afield, cast your net wide and apply for every bursary you reasonably qualify for, not just the ones that mention the province by name.
These bursaries typically cover the costs that make or break a year of study: tuition, registration, accommodation, meals, books and often a learning-device or data allowance. Many also add mentorship and vac-work, or a job after you graduate, usually tied to a work-back agreement where you work for the sponsor for a set period afterwards. Eligibility usually comes down to a few things: solid matric or NSC results (especially Maths and Physical Sciences for engineering, science and tech bursaries), South African citizenship, and demonstrating genuine financial need. Some funders are field-specific, backing students heading into scarce-skill areas like engineering, accounting, healthcare, IT or teaching. Funza Lushaka supports future educators, and NSFAS remains the first stop for many.
On province-linked options: a handful of bursaries do favour Eastern Cape learners, such as those run by provincial departments, municipalities, local development trusts, or companies with operations in the region (think the automotive sector around Gqeberha and East London, agriculture, and renewable-energy projects). It's worth checking with your school, your nearest university or TVET college bursary office, and your municipality, because these smaller, local pots often attract fewer applicants and can give you better odds. Don't overlook them while you chase the big national names.
Quick tips
- →Apply early and apply widely. Many corporate bursaries open around August to October for the following academic year, so start preparing your documents now.
- →Get your paperwork ready in advance: certified ID, latest results, proof of household income, and a short motivation letter you can tailor for each application.
- →Match your strengths to the funder. Strong Maths and Science marks open doors to engineering, tech and health bursaries.
- →Ask locally too. Your school, university or TVET bursary office and municipality often know about Eastern Cape-linked funding that isn't widely advertised.
- →Read the work-back terms before you accept, so you know exactly what you're committing to after you graduate.
Sasol Bursary Programme
Sasol
Sasol's flagship bursary programme funds South African students in engineering, IT, and commerce — covering tuition, accommodation, and vacation employment.
Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship
Allan Gray Orbis Foundation
The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Fellowship is South Africa's most prestigious entrepreneurship-focused bursary, open to any field of study. No workback obligation.
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.
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.
Anglo American Bursary
Anglo American
Anglo American funds mining engineering, geology, and related engineering students with a full bursary including vacation employment at their operations.
Eskom Bursary Programme
Eskom
Eskom bursaries fund engineering, IT, and finance students across South Africa — covering the full cost of study plus vacation employment.
Nexa: From Climate Risk to Health Resilience - Global Climate and Health Innovation Funding Opportunity
South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
The SAMRC invites South African researchers and innovators to apply for a funding opportunity focused on climate risk and health resilience.
The Funza Lushaka Bursary
Department of Basic Education
The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a national government initiative designed to promote teaching as a profession and increase the supply of qualified educators in South African public schools.
Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme 2027/2028 for Postgraduate Study in Ireland
Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme
A fully-funded fellowship for South African postgraduate students to study in Ireland, aiming to nurture future leaders and develop in-country capacity.
NSFAS Bursary
National Student Financial Aid Scheme
The NSFAS bursary provides financial assistance to eligible South African citizens and permanent residents pursuing higher education, covering a range of study costs.
Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program
Mastercard Foundation
The Mastercard Foundation Scholars Program is a global initiative enabling talented, service-oriented young people to pursue higher education and cultivate leadership potential for a better Africa.
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Commonwealth Master’s Scholarships are for candidates from eligible lower and upper middle-income Commonwealth countries, to undertake full-time taught Master’s study at a UK university.
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Commonwealth Shared Scholarships are for candidates from least developed and lower middle-income Commonwealth countries, to undertake Master’s study at a UK university.
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Commonwealth PhD Scholarships enable doctoral candidates from eligible Commonwealth countries to pursue full-time PhD studies at a UK university.
Entrepreneurial Skills Development Programme
BANKSETA
This programme assists Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs), including Cooperative Financial Institutions (CFIs), in the banking and alternative sector to gain entrepreneurial skills and knowledge over a 3-month period.
Sanlam Actuarial Bursary
Sanlam
Sanlam offers funding and support for students who are enrolled to study or are currently completing their actuarial science degrees.
MQA Bursary Scheme - Continuation Application 2026
Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA)
The MQA Bursary Scheme offers existing beneficiaries an opportunity to renew their funding for the 2026 academic year, supporting careers in the mining and minerals sector across South African HEIs and TVETs.
NIHSS Postgraduate Bursary (Humanities & Social Sciences)
National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS)
NIHSS funds postgraduate research in humanities, social sciences, law, and education. One of the few dedicated postgraduate bursaries for humanities students in South Africa.
CHIETA Industrial Futures Bursary Discretionary Grant 2026/2027
Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority
The CHIETA Industrial Futures Bursary supports unemployed South African youth accepted into accredited public tertiary institutions, covering studies in the chemical sector for those with academic potential and financial need.
Netcare Clinical Scholarship
Netcare
The Netcare Clinical Scholarship provides bursaries to South African medical specialists for doctoral or post-doctoral training and research in academic medicine.
Commonwealth Startup Fellowship
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship is a six-month programme designed to ignite and elevate promising startup ventures from eligible Commonwealth countries.
Commonwealth Distance Learning Master's Scholarships
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
The Commonwealth Distance Learning Master’s Scholarships support candidates from eligible Commonwealth countries to undertake part-time Master’s study in the UK via distance learning.
Commonwealth Split-site PhD Scholarships
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Commonwealth Split-site PhD Scholarships enable PhD candidates from eligible Commonwealth countries to undertake part of their doctoral study at a UK university.
Commonwealth Professional Fellowships
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are for mid-career professionals from eligible Commonwealth countries to undertake short programmes of professional development in the UK.
TETA Unemployed Bursaries
Transport Education Training Authority (TETA)
TETA offers bursaries to unemployed South African individuals to facilitate skills development and training within the country's vital transport sector.
PwC Chartered Accountant Bursary
PwC South Africa
PwC offers comprehensive bursaries for South African students pursuing a Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification, providing financial support and a structured path to professional development.
South African National Space Agency (SANSA) 2027 Postgraduate Bursaries
South African National Space Agency (SANSA)
SANSA provides postgraduate degree bursaries to contribute to the development of skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Old Mutual Chartered Accounting Bursary Programme 2026/2027
Old Mutual
Old Mutual invites exceptional South African learners pursuing or interested in Chartered Accounting studies to apply for their bursary programme.
South African Reserve Bank External Bursary Scheme 2026 (Economics)
South African Reserve Bank (SARB)
The SARB invites aspiring economists to apply for its 2026 External Bursary Scheme, specifically supporting undergraduate studies in Economics.
Rhodes Southern Africa Scholarships Programme 2027
Rhodes Trust
A fully-funded postgraduate award for talented Southern African students to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
Vodacom External Bursary Programme 2026
Vodacom Foundation
This academic merit bursary from Vodacom Foundation supports ambitious, driven South African students in their first, second, or third year of study.
South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL) Scholarship Programme 2026
South African National Roads Agency SOC Limited (SANRAL)
SANRAL offers a scholarship programme for young South Africans, supporting studies in fields related to civil infrastructure and roads.
CECIL Renaud Overseas Scholarships 2027
The Cecil Renaud Educational and Charitable Trust
Dr Cecil Renaud's Trust offers scholarships for young South Africans to pursue postgraduate study in the United Kingdom.
University of Pretoria MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program (MCFSP) 2027
University of Pretoria
A fully-funded scholarship for undergraduate and postgraduate study at the University of Pretoria, supported by the Mastercard Foundation.
German Bundestag International Parliamentary Scholarships (IPS) 2027
German Bundestag
A fully-funded scholarship for young African graduates to gain parliamentary experience in Berlin, Germany, with a monthly stipend.
Sasol Foundation Mainstream Bursary Programme 2027
Sasol Foundation
The Sasol Foundation offers a comprehensive, fully funded bursary programme for young South Africans pursuing studies in various fields critical to industry.
SAICA’s Thuthuka Bursary Fund 2027
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
Thuthuka Bursary Fund by SAICA supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds aspiring to become Chartered Accountants in South Africa.
South African Reserve Bank External Bursary Scheme 2026 for Economics Students
South African Reserve Bank (SARB)
The SARB invites aspiring economists to apply for its 2026 External Bursary Scheme, supporting undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
SAICA’s Thuthuka Bursary Fund 2027 for aspiring Chartered Accountants
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Thuthuka Bursary Fund
Thuthuka bursary is open to financially needy African, Coloured, and Indian students aspiring to become Chartered Accountants (CAs).
PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers) Bursary
PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC)
PwC offers bursaries for accounting and finance students pursuing a CA(SA) qualification. One of the most prestigious routes into the Big Four accounting firms.
Glencore / Merafe Resources Engineering Bursary
Glencore / Merafe Resources
Glencore and Merafe Resources fund mining engineering, geology, and related engineering students with a full bursary and vacation employment at South African mining operations.
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.
Shoprite/Checkers Foundation Bursary
Shoprite Checkers (Pty) Ltd Foundation
The Shoprite Foundation funds commerce, IT, and food science students. NSFAS-compatible and requires no workback obligation.
Women in Engineering Bursary (WISA/ECSA)
Various Engineering Companies (WISA Programme)
Multiple engineering companies offer bursaries exclusively for women in engineering. Targeted at addressing gender equity in South Africa's engineering sector.
Old Mutual Bursary Programme
Old Mutual Limited
Old Mutual funds actuarial science, finance, statistics, and IT students. Financial need is not required, making this accessible to middle-income families.
Deloitte South Africa Bursary
Deloitte South Africa
Deloitte SA offers accounting bursaries for students pursuing the CA(SA) qualification — one of the top routes to completing your articles at a Big Four firm.
Provincial Health Department Bursary (Medicine, Nursing & Allied Health)
Department of Health (Provincial)
Provincial health departments fund medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health students who commit to working in public healthcare after graduation.
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.
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.
Nedbank Bursary Programme
Nedbank Group
Nedbank funds accounting, finance, actuarial science, and IT students. Full bursary with vacation employment and a structured graduate pipeline.
MERSETA Bursary & Learnership Programme
Manufacturing, Engineering and Related Services SETA (MERSETA)
MERSETA funds engineering and manufacturing students at both university and TVET level. A key funding option for students in technical disciplines who need support alongside NSFAS.
MICT SETA Bursary & Learnership
Media, Information and Communication Technologies SETA (MICT SETA)
MICT SETA offers bursaries and learnerships for ICT and media students at both university and TVET level. NSFAS-compatible with no workback.
Transnet Engineering Bursary
Transnet SOC Ltd
Transnet offers engineering bursaries to South African students studying mechanical, electrical, civil, and industrial engineering — with vacation employment at their logistics operations.
Harmony Gold Mining Bursary
Harmony Gold Mining
Harmony Gold funds mining engineering, geology, and engineering students in South Africa with a full bursary including vacation employment at their gold mines.
NRF Postgraduate Funding (Honours, Masters & PhD)
National Research Foundation (NRF)
The NRF funds postgraduate research students (Honours through PhD) across science, engineering, humanities, and social science fields. No workback, no financial need requirement.
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.
MTN South Africa Bursary
MTN South Africa
MTN funds engineering, ICT, and data science students with a full bursary including vacation employment at South Africa's largest mobile network.
Discovery Bursary Programme
Discovery Limited
Discovery offers a high-value bursary for actuarial science, statistics, data science, and finance students. Merit-based with no financial need requirement.
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.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Are there bursaries specifically for students in Eastern Cape?
Yes. There are 60 bursaries available to students in Eastern Cape. Many are nationwide (open to all South African students), while some are specifically for students from Eastern Cape.
Do I need to study in the same province to get a provincial bursary?
Not always. Many nationwide bursaries accept students from all provinces regardless of where they study. Provincial government bursaries may require you to study at an institution in that province.