FirstRand International Postgraduate Scholarships 2025

FirstRand International Postgraduate Scholarships 2025 – 2026

What is Bursary

A Bursary is A grant, especially one awarded to someone to enable them to study at university or college.

How does it work?

Bursaries vary in amounts and professions and are given to students in order to further their studies. In return for funding your studies, the company may require you to repay them by signing a work contract with them. Another type of bursary is a donor bursary (a bursary awarded to a deserving candidate in a specific field of study or in recognition for his/her work in a specific field of study).

Things To Note Before Applying For A Bursary

SOUTH AFRICAN BURSARIES OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND

****SOUTH AFRICAN BURSARIES BY MONTH

ABOUT THE COMPANY – FIRSTRAND

FirstRand Limited was formed in 1998 as a South African financial services provider, whose products include lending, investments, asset management, insurance and transactional services. Licensed by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), and headquartered in Johannesburg, FirstRand currently employs over 40 000 staff members.

The FirstRand group was established by a merger between Anglo American Corporation of South Africa Limited (Anglo American plc) and RMB Holdings.

ABOUT THE FIRSTRAND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES – FIELDS COVERED

FirstRand is inviting students to apply for their international postgraduate scholarship programmes, for the 2023 academic year..

FirstRand is offering 5 different scholarship awards:
1) FirstRand Laurie Dippenaar Scholarship: is for postgraduate studies in ANY field of study, at ANY international university.
2) FirstRand Foundation Scholarship: is for previously disadvantaged students, for postgraduate studies in ANY field of study, at ANY international university.
3) FirstRand Oxford African Studies scholarship at the University of Oxford: is for a postgraduate MSc in African Studies, at the University of Oxford.
4) FirstRand FNB Fund Scholarship for international Masters study in Education at the University of Oxford: is for a postgraduate masters degree in education, at the University of Oxford.
5) FirstRand FNB Fund Postgraduate Education Scholarship: is for a postgraduate qualification in education, at ANY international university.

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MORE ABOUT THE FIRSTRAND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES – COVERAGE VALUE

Scholarships will be awarded to the following values:

FirstRand Laurie Dippenaar Scholarship: R925 000.
FirstRand Foundation Scholarship: R925 000.
FirstRand Oxford African Studies scholarship at the University of Oxford: full funding for 1 year of study and housing at Wadham College.
FirstRand FNB Fund Scholarship for international Masters study in Education at the University of Oxford: full funding for 1 year of study and housing at Wadham College.
FirstRand FNB Fund Postgraduate Education Scholarship: R925 000.

We are committed to keeping you up to date with the latest bursary opportunities, and this article covers all details about the FirstRand Scholarships.

MORE ABOUT THE FIRSTRAND SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMMES – SELECTION

The selection process will include the following steps:

All applicants will receive confirmation of receipt of their application (via email).
All applications will be assessed by a minimum of 3 preliminary evaluators from FirstRand, FNB, RMB, as well as previous scholarship recipients.
Approximately 40 candidates are shortlisted and will be invited to attend an interview – in Cape Town, Sandton or online via Microsoft Teams.
10 further shortlisted candidates will be selected for the FirstRand Laurie Dippenaar Scholarship, FirstRand Foundation Scholarship and FirstRand Oxford African Studies scholarship – final interviews for these scholarships will take place on 10 May 2022 in Sandton.
4 shortlisted candidates will be selected for the 2 Education scholarships and will be interviewed on 17 May 2022 in Sandton.
Final announcements will be made no later than 31 May 2022.

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ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR FIRSTRAND SCHOLARSHIPS

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

1) FirstRand Laurie Dippenaar Scholarship:

You must be a South African citizen
You must intend on studying towards a postgraduate qualification, in ANY field of study
You must intend on studying outside of South Africa, at any international university
You must NOT currently or previously studied overseas
You must be willing to return to South Africa for a minimum of 5 years after completing your qualification
You must have an excellent academic record
Must demonstrate the following qualities: leadership skills; strong character; community involvement; and potential to be a destiny changer your chosen field
Preference will be given to students under 35 years old

2) FirstRand Foundation Scholarship:

You must be a South African citizen
You must be from a previously disadvantaged background
You must intend on studying towards a postgraduate qualification, in ANY field of study
You must intend on studying outside of South Africa, at any international university
You must NOT currently or previously studied overseas
You must be willing to return to South Africa for a minimum of 5 years after completing your qualification
You must demonstrate the following qualities: leadership skills; strong character; community involvement; and potential to be a destiny changer your chosen field
Preference will be given to students under 35 years old

3) FirstRand Oxford African Studies scholarship at the University of Oxford:

You must be a South African citizen
You must have been accepted to study towards a MSc in African Studies at the University of Oxford (see more here: http://www.africanstudies.ox.ac.uk/msc-african-studies)
You must have an excellent academic record
You must demonstrate the following qualities: leadership skills; community involvement; and potential to be a destiny changer your chosen field
You must contribute to South Africa after completing studies and returning to the country

4) FirstRand FNB Fund Scholarship for international Masters study in Education at the University of Oxford:

You must be a South African citizen
You must have been accepted to study towards a full-time Masters degree in Education at the University of Oxford (see more here: https://www.education.ox.ac.uk/programmes/msc-education/)
You must have an excellent academic record
You must demonstrate the following qualities: leadership skills; community involvement; and potential to be a destiny changer your chosen field
You must contribute to South Africa after completing studies and returning to the country

5) FirstRand FNB Fund Postgraduate Education Scholarship:

You must be a South African citizen
You must intend on studying towards a postgraduate qualification in Education
You must intend on studying outside of South Africa, at any international university
You must NOT currently or previously studied overseas
You must be willing to return to South Africa for a minimum of 5 years after completing your qualification
You must demonstrate the following qualities: leadership skills; strong character; community involvement; and potential to be a destiny changer your chosen field
Preference will be given to students under 35 years old

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HOW TO APPLY FOR THE FIRSTRAND SCHOLARSHIP

Applications must be submitted online at: FirstRand Scholarship Application 2022

Candidates will need to Register an Account before they can Login and submit their application.

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your completed application form (the submission of these documents is compulsory – if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

Copy of your ID document
Photo of face
Copy of your Matric results
Minimum of 2 references (people whom you have worked under in an academic setting or in another area of interest). Confidential references can be emailed from the referee to: firstrandpgscholarship@firstrand.co.za and clearly marked with your name (or can accompany your application form).
A personal statement explaining why you deserve to be awarded this scholarship (maximum 1 000 words)

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CLOSING DATE FOR THE FIRSTRAND SCHOLARSHIP

3 March 2022.
(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted – please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)

CONTACT THE SCHOLARSHIP PROVIDER

For any queries related to these scholarship programmes, please contact FirstRand directly:
Contact Person: Beth van Heerden
Email: firstrandpgscholarship@firstrand.co.za

Students who will be studying at the University of Oxford, can email their queries to: admissions@area.ox.ac.uk / msc.education@education.ox.ac.uk

Students should also read the following frequently asked questions and answers before submitting any queries.

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NSFAS: What is NSFAS?

NSFAS, or National Student Financial Aid Scheme, was established according to the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Act of 1999 and incorporated the Tertiary Education Fund of South Africa (TEFSA), which stopped operating in 2000.