Where to find Bursaries for the 2024 Academic year in South Africa?

As the 2024 academic year approaches, many South African students are facing the stressful task of gathering enough money to fund their tertiary education.

But with how costly tuition fees and living expenses often are, the better solution would be to look for financial aid elsewhere.

These financial aids, such as bursaries, are offered by many important institutions to make accessing quality education easier for all.

But where do you begin your search for these bursaries? That is exactly what this article is for.

It will guide you through your research to find all the bursaries for the 2024 academic year in South Africa.

Where to find Bursaries for the 2024 Academic year in South Africa?

The large number of bursaries in South Africa are scattered across various platforms, each offering valuable financial packages. Here are some key places to look:

  1. The Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET): The DHET website has a database full of government-funded bursaries, including the Funza Lushaka Bursary Scheme for education students and the Mandela Mandela Rhodes Scholarship for leadership development.
  2. National Research Foundation (NRF): The NRF website lists bursaries for research-focused postgraduate studies in numerous disciplines.
  3. Department of Science and Innovation (DSI): The DSI website has bursaries for postgraduate studies in STEM fields.
  4. University pages: Every university has a bursary page to show students the available funding opportunities for both undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
  5. Many companies and NGOs also offer bursaries in specific fields or for students from certain backgrounds. Research the websites of organizations relevant to your chosen field or personal circumstances to find the right one.

List of bursaries for the 2024 Academic year in South Africa

It is impossible to provide a complete list of every single bursary program in the country, here are some examples of the available bursaries for the 2024 academic year:

  • Sasol Inzalo Foundation Bursary: For postgraduate studies in STEM fields related to the energy sector.
  • Standard Bank Bursary Programme: For undergraduate and postgraduate studies in various fields.
  • ABSA Learnership Programme: For postgraduate studies in business and finance.
  • University of Cape Town Mandela-Rhodes Scholarship: For postgraduate studies at UCT, focusing on leadership development.
  • National School Nutrition Programme (NSNP) Bursary: For primary school students from extremely poor families attending NSNP-designated schools.

The eligibility criteria and application deadlines for each of these programs are very different so always read the bursary information carefully before applying.

Are South African bursaries still open for 2024?

While a good number of the South African bursaries closed their applications in December 2023, the good news is that there are still many bursaries for the 2024 academic year still open for applications.

However, their deadlines vary considerably, so don’t delay, begin your search early and start your application with bursaries that have closer deadlines.