Government Bursaries in South Africa 2026
Government bursaries are funded by national departments, SOEs (state-owned enterprises), and parastatals like Eskom, Transnet, and national departments. They typically require workback service.
Eskom Bursary Programme
Eskom
Eskom bursaries fund engineering, IT, and finance students across South Africa — covering the full cost of study plus 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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are government bursaries in South Africa?
Government bursaries are funded by national departments, SOEs (state-owned enterprises), and parastatals like Eskom, Transnet, and national departments. They typically require workback service.
How do I apply for a government bursary?
Each bursary has its own application process. Click on any bursary below to view full requirements, deadlines, and a link to the official application portal.