Are there Bursaries for Postgraduate Education in South Africa?

Earning a postgraduate degree opens doors to new career opportunities, better expertise, and personal growth.

But there is always the issue of having to pay for tuition. The financial requirements can make pursuing the degree sadly impossible, especially for ambitious South African students that come from poor backgrounds.

Fortunately, there are many bursaries for postgraduate education available to make sure such bright minds don’t lose their chances.

In this article, I will be answering some of your most pressing questions and offering a starting point for your funding search.

What are Bursaries for Postgraduate Education?

Postgraduate bursaries are financial awards provided by various institutions to support students undertaking postgraduate studies, such as Honours degrees, Master’s degrees, and PhDs.

These bursaries can partially or completely cover tuition fees, accommodation, and even living expenses.

Winning a bursary will ease the financial strain of postgraduate study and making it accessible to a larger number of students.

Are there Bursaries for Postgraduate Education in South Africa?

Yes! South Africa boasts of several bursary opportunities for postgraduate students.

These bursaries cater to multiple fields of study and student demographics.

This means that no matter your chosen field, financial background, or academic performance history, there’s a bursary out there waiting for you.

List of Bursaries for Postgraduate Education in South Africa

To get you started, here are a few examples of postgraduate bursaries available in South Africa:

Government-funded bursaries

  1. National Research Foundation (NRF): They offer various bursaries for research-focused postgraduate studies across various disciplines.
  2. Department of Science and Innovation (DSI): DSI provides bursaries for postgraduate studies in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields.
  3. Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET): They fund postgraduate studies through various programs like the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme for education and the Mandela Mandela Rhodes Scholarship for leadership development.

University-specific bursaries

  1. University of Cape Town (UCT): UCT offers numerous bursaries for postgraduate studies in various fields, including the Mandela-Rhodes Scholarship.
  2. University of Stellenbosch: It provides bursaries for postgraduate studies through its Dean’s Bursary Scheme and the Wilcocks Trust Bursary for research in agriculture.
  3. University of Pretoria: It offers postgraduate bursaries through its UP-Trust and various faculty-specific programs.

Private sector and NGO bursaries

  1. Sasol Inzalo Foundation: It provides bursaries for postgraduate studies in engineering, science, and technology related to the energy sector.
  2. Standard Bank: They offer bursaries for postgraduate studies in various fields through their Standard Bank Bursary Programme.
  3. ABSA: Provides bursaries for postgraduate studies in business and finance through its ABSA Learnership Programme.

This list is just a starting point. Many other bursary opportunities exist so be sure to do your research and explore all your options.