List Of South African Universities

University bursaries 2027

List Of South African Universities | Are you looking for the contact details of a specific university within your province? Or maybe you would like a quick reference as to the faculties offered by various universities across the country.

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SA Bursaries have compiled a list of universities within each province and a few essential details.

University Bursaries South Africa 2027 – Apply for University Funding

Finding money to pay for university can be challenging, especially when tuition, accommodation, textbooks, transport and other study expenses continue to increase. Fortunately, there are many university bursaries in South Africa available to students who meet the academic and financial requirements.

University bursaries 2027 may be offered directly by universities, government departments, companies, foundations and other organisations. Depending on the bursary, funding may cover tuition fees, accommodation, books, meals, travel and other study-related costs.

Some universities also maintain dedicated bursary and funding databases where students can find available opportunities.

What Are University Bursaries?

University bursaries are financial awards provided to eligible students to help them pay for higher education.

Unlike a student loan, a bursary generally does not have to be repaid, provided that the student complies with the applicable conditions.

University bursaries may be awarded based on:

Academic merit
Financial need
Field of study
Leadership potential
Sporting achievement
Community involvement
Family or personal circumstances
Specific demographic or geographic criteria

The requirements differ from one bursary to another.

University Bursaries 2027

There are several types of bursaries available to students planning to study at a South African university in 2027.

1. University-Specific Bursaries

Many universities offer their own bursaries, scholarships, merit awards and financial assistance programmes.

For example, Stellenbosch University has opened its 2027 Stellenbosch University Funding Opportunities (SUFO) for undergraduate students. Current undergraduate students can apply between 1 July and 30 September 2026, while prospective undergraduate students have a separate application period from 1 October to 30 November 2026.

Students should therefore check the financial aid or student funding section of their chosen university.

2. External University Bursaries

External bursaries are provided by companies, government institutions, trusts and foundations.

These bursaries can often be used at more than one recognised South African university, depending on the sponsor’s requirements.

Current 2027 opportunities listed by the University of Cape Town include bursaries from organisations such as Coronation, Ninety One, FirstRand, CSIR, Amazon and the South African Reserve Bank.

3. Merit Bursaries

Merit bursaries are aimed at students with excellent academic results.

Some universities automatically consider students for merit awards based on their school or university results, while others require a separate application.

4. Financial Need Bursaries

Financial-need bursaries are designed for students who cannot afford university without financial assistance.

Universities may assess household income, academic performance and other financial circumstances before awarding funding.

Stellenbosch University’s 2027 funding information confirms that its financial support is allocated using factors including academic merit and financial need.

Popular University Bursaries for 2027

Students searching for bursaries for university 2027 can consider opportunities such as:

Coronation Exceptional Student Bursary
FirstRand Bursary
CSIR Bursary Programme
SARAO Undergraduate Scholarship
South African Reserve Bank Bursary
Nedbank External Bursary
Amazon Recruitment Bursary
Tomorrow Trust Bursary
SANParks Bursary
Department of Agriculture Bursary
Momentum Group Actuarial Bursary
Ninety One Bursary
VKB Group Bursary
Implats Tertiary Bursary
Old Mutual Education Trust

Availability, closing dates and eligibility requirements vary between programmes.

For example, the current 2027 funding listings show the CSIR Bursary Programme closing on 15 September 2026, while the South African Reserve Bank External Bursary Scheme for undergraduate students closes on 30 September 2026.

University Bursaries by Field of Study

Students can also search for funding according to their chosen career.

Bursaries for Engineering

Engineering students may qualify for bursaries from organisations such as CSIR, SARAO, government departments and engineering companies.

The 2027 SARAO undergraduate scholarship, for example, includes fields such as electronic, electrical, mechanical, mechatronic and computer engineering.

Bursaries for Computer Science and IT

Students studying Computer Science, Information Technology, Data Science and related subjects can find funding through several organisations.

The 2027 CSIR Bursary Programme includes areas such as Information Technology, Computer Science and Data Science among its undergraduate and postgraduate fields.

Bursaries for Commerce

Commerce students can apply for bursaries covering fields such as:

Accounting
Economics
Finance
Business Management
Investment
Actuarial Science

The current 2027 UCT bursary noticeboard, for example, lists opportunities specifically for Commerce students.

Bursaries for Science

Science students may find opportunities in:

Physics
Mathematics
Chemistry
Biology
Geology
Environmental Science
Computer Science

Several 2027 science-related funding opportunities are currently available through organisations and universities.

University Bursaries for Matriculants

If you are currently in Grade 12 and intend to study at university in 2027, you should start searching for bursaries before receiving your final Matric results.

Many bursaries require:

Strong Grade 11 results
A minimum Grade 12 average
Specific Mathematics or Science marks
Proof of university application
Proof of financial need

Some programmes allow Matriculants to apply before they have received their final Matric certificate.

University Bursaries for Current Students

You do not necessarily need to be a first-year student to receive a bursary.

Many funding opportunities are available to students already studying at university.

For example, Stellenbosch University’s 2027 funding programme accepts applications from current undergraduate students and prospective students.

Current students should maintain good academic results because some bursaries require students to pass a specified percentage of their courses or maintain a minimum average.

NSFAS and University Bursaries

Students who cannot afford university should also investigate the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS).

NSFAS provides government-funded financial assistance to qualifying South African students at approved public universities and TVET colleges.

However, students should not assume that receiving NSFAS automatically makes them eligible for every university bursary.

Some university bursaries may have their own requirements, while others may specifically accommodate students who already receive NSFAS funding.

For example, Stellenbosch University encourages NSFAS-funded students to apply for its university funding opportunities.

What Do University Bursaries Cover?

The amount and benefits depend on the specific bursary.

A bursary may cover:

Tuition fees
Registration fees
Accommodation
Meals
Textbooks
Study materials
Laptop or equipment
Transport
Monthly allowances
Other approved educational expenses

Not every bursary covers all these expenses, so students should carefully read the funding conditions before accepting an award.

Requirements for University Bursaries

Although requirements differ, common eligibility criteria include:

South African citizenship
Acceptance or registration at a recognised university
Strong academic performance
Financial need
Studying full-time
Studying an approved field
Meeting the sponsor’s household income requirements
Meeting the minimum age requirement, where applicable

Some bursaries are specifically targeted at students from particular communities, provinces or backgrounds.

Documents Needed to Apply for a University Bursary

Students should prepare their documents before applying.

Commonly requested documents include:

Certified copy of South African ID
Matric certificate or latest school results
University acceptance letter
Proof of registration
Academic transcript
Proof of household income
Parent or guardian ID documents
Proof of residence
Motivational letter
Curriculum Vitae
Proof of university application

The exact documents depend on the bursary.

How to Apply for University Bursaries 2027

The application process usually involves the following steps:

Step 1: Find a Suitable Bursary

Search for bursaries that match your university, qualification, academic results and financial circumstances.

Step 2: Check the Requirements

Read the eligibility criteria carefully before starting the application.

Step 3: Prepare Your Documents

Make sure your certificates, results, identification documents and proof of income are available.

Step 4: Complete the Application

Apply through the official website or application portal specified by the bursary provider.

Step 5: Submit Before the Closing Date

Do not wait until the last day. Some bursaries close applications at specific times and do not accept late submissions.

Step 6: Monitor Your Email

Shortlisted applicants may be contacted for interviews, additional documents, assessments or further information.

Where to Find University Bursaries

Students should search both university websites and external bursary databases.

For example, the University of Cape Town maintains a bursary and loan noticeboard containing undergraduate and postgraduate opportunities.

The University of Pretoria also maintains an online funding database where students can filter opportunities according to study level, faculty, nationality and sponsor.

This makes university funding pages useful places to check regularly.

University Bursaries Closing Soon

Students looking for university bursaries closing in August 2026 should apply as soon as possible.

Current university funding listings include several 2027 opportunities with August deadlines, including:

Coronation Exceptional Student Bursary – 31 August 2026
Ninety One Bursary – 31 August 2026
VKB Group Bursary – 31 August 2026
Implats Refineries Tertiary Bursary – 31 August 2026
Old Mutual Education Trust – 31 August 2026
Nedbank External Bursary – 31 August 2026

The UCT bursary noticeboard lists these and other 2027 opportunities.

EASTERN CAPE

University of Fort Hare (UFH)
Tel Number: 040 602 2011 / 040 602 2589
Email address: mxoseka@ufh.ac.za
Website: www.ufh.ac.za
Faculties: Education, Law, Management | Commerce, Science | Agriculture, Social Sciences | Humanities.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Rhodes University (RU/ Rhodes)
Tel Number: 046 603 8111
Email address: registrar@ru.ac.za
Website: www.ru.ac.za
Faculties: Commerce, Education, Humanities, Law, Pharmacy, Science.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University (NMMU/ Madibaz)
Tel Number: 041 504 3364/ 041 504 1111
Email address: info@nmmu.ac.za
Website: www.nmmu.ac.za
Faculties: Arts, Business and Economic Sciences, Education, Engineering, the Built Environment and Information Technology, Health Sciences, Law, Science.
Bursaries and Scholarships

Walter Sisulu University (WSU)
Tel Number: 047 502 2111
Email address: nsolilo@wsu.ac.za
Website: www.wsu.ac.za
Faculties: Business and Management Sciences, Education, Health Sciences, Law, Science, Engineering, and Technology
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

FREE STATE

University of the Free State (UFS/ Kovsies)
Tel Number: 051 401 9111 / 058 718 5000
Email address: info@ufs.ac.za
Website: https://zabusaries.com
Faculties: Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, Natural and Agricultural Sciences, Theology
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Central University of Technology (CUT)
Tel Number: 051 507 3911 / 057 910 3500 / 053 836 5960
Email address: cdire@cut.ac.za
Website: www.cut.ac.za
Faculties: Engineering and Information Technology, Health and Environmental Sciences, Humanities, Management Sciences.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

GAUTENG

University of Johannesburg (UJ)
Tel Number: 011 559 4555
Email address: myfuture@uj.ac.za
Website: www.uj.ac.za
Faculties: Art, Design and Architecture, Economic and Financial Sciences, Education, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, Management, and Science.
Bursaries and Scholarships

University of Pretoria (UP/ Tuks/ Tukkies)
Tel Number: 012 420 4111
Email address: cathy.sandis@up.ac.za / csc@up.ac.za
Website: https://zabusaries.com
Faculties: Built Environment | IT, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, Natural | Agricultural Sciences, Theology, Veterinary Science
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

University of the Witwatersrand (Wits/ Witsies)
Tel Number: 011 717 1000 / 011 717 1099
Email address: alumni@wits.ac.za
Website: www.wits.ac.za
Faculties: Commerce, Law and Management, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) (Tshwane campus)
Tel Number: 012 382 5911
Email address: general@tut.ac.za
Website: https://zabusaries.com
Faculties: Arts, Economics and Finance, Engineering and the Built Environment, Humanities, Information and Communication Technology, Management Sciences, Science.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Vaal University of Technology (VUT)
Tel Number: 016 950 9000
Email address: none
Website: www.vut.ac.za
Faculties: Applied | Computer Sciences, Engineering and Technology, Human Sciences, Management Sciences.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

KWAZULU-NATAL

University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN/ Natal)
Tel Number: 031 260 1111
Email address: enquiries@ukzn.ac.za
Website: www.ukzn.ac.za
Faculties: Agriculture, Engineering and Science, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law and Management.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Durban University of Technology (DUT)
Tel Number: 031 373 2000
Email address: info@dut.ac.za
Website: www.dut.ac.za
Faculties: Accounting | Informatics, Applied Sciences, Arts and Design, Engineering and the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Management Sciences.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

University of Zululand (UniZulu)
Tel Number: 035 902 6000
Email address: makhungaS@unizulu.ac.za
Website: www.unizulu.ac.za
Faculties: Arts, Commerce, Admin | Law, Education, Science | Agriculture.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)
Tel Number: 031 819 9280 / 031 907 7510
Email address: alumni@mut.ac.za
Website: www.mut.ac.za
Faculties: Engineering, Management Sciences, Natural Sciences.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

LIMPOPO

University of Limpopo (Turfloop)
Tel Number: 012 521 4058 / 015 268 2808
Email address: emeldak@ul.ac.za
Website: https://zabusaries.com
Faculties: Health Sciences, Humanities, Management and Law, Science And Agriculture.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

University of Venda (Univen)
Tel Number: 015 962 8000
Email address: registrar@univen.ac.za
Website: www.univen.ac.za
Faculties: Agriculture, Education, Environmental Sciences, Health Sciences, Human and Social Sciences, Law, Management Sciences, Mathematical and Natural Sciences.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) (Polokwane campus)
Tel Number: 015 287 0700 / 015 287 0770
Email address: tshamanoWN@tut.ac.za
Website: https://zabusaries.com
Faculties: Economics and Finance, Humanities, Information and Communication Technology, Management Sciences.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

MPUMALANGA

University of Mpumalanga
Tel Number: 013 002 0001
Email address: info@ump.ac.za
Website: www.ump.ac.za
Faculties: information not available.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) (Mbombela campus)
Tel Number: 013 745 3502
Email address: breytenbacha@tut.ac.za
Website: https://zabusaries.com
Faculties: Economics and Finance, Humanities, Management Sciences.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Tshwane University of Technology (TUT) (eMalahleni campus)
Tel Number: 013 653 3100 / 013 653 3104
Email address: molemanem@tut.ac.za
Website: https://zabusaries.com
Faculties: Economics and Finance, Engineering and the Built Environment: Department of Electrical Engineering, Humanities, Information and Communication Technology, Management Sciences.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

NORTHERN CAPE

Sol Plaatje University
Tel Number: 053 491 0000
Email address: information@spu.ac.za
Website: www.spu.ac.za
Faculties: information not available.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

NORTH WEST

North-West University (NWU/ Potch/ Pukke)
Tel Number: 018 299 4897
Email address: jacoline.jansenvanvuuren@nwu.ac.za
Website: www.nwu.ac.za
Faculties:
*Agriculture, Science and Technology, Commerce and Administration, Education and Training, Human and Social Sciences, Law (Mafikeng Campus)
*Arts, Economic and Management Sciences, Education Sciences, Engineering, Health Sciences, Law, Natural Sciences, Theology (Potchefstroom Campus)
*Economic Sciences and Information Technology, Humanities (Vaal Triangle Campus)
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

WESTERN CAPE

University of the Western Cape (UWC/ U Dubs/ Bush)
Tel Number: 021 959 2911
Email address: info@uwc.ac.za
Website: www.uwc.ac.za
Faculties: Arts, Community and Health Sciences, Dentistry, Economic and Management Sciences, Education, Law, Natural Sciences.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

University of Cape Town (UCT/ Ikeys)
Tel Number: 021 650 9111
Email address: none.
Website: www.uct.ac.za
Faculties: Commerce, Engineering | the Built Environment, Health Sciences, Humanities, Law, Science.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

University of Stellenbosch (Stellies/ Maties)
Tel Number: http://www.sun.ac.za/english/Pages/contactus.aspx
Email address: info@sun.ac.za
Website: www.sun.ac.za
Faculties: http://www.sun.ac.za/english/faculty
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT)
Tel Number: 021 21 959 6256 (Bellville), 021 460 3393 (Cape Town)
Email address: info@cput.ac.za
Website: www.cput.ac.za
Faculties: Applied Sciences, Business and Management Sciences, Education, Engineering, Health and Wellness Sciences, Informatics and Design.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

ALL PROVINCES

University of South Africa (Unisa)
Tel Number: 012 441 5888
Email address: study-info@unisa.ac.za
Website: https://zabusaries.com
Faculties: Accounting Sciences, Agriculture | Environmental Sciences, Economic | Management Sciences, Education, Human Sciences, Law, Science, Engineering | Technology.
Bursaries and Scholarships: COMING SOON

Frequently Asked Questions

What are university bursaries?

University bursaries are financial awards that help eligible students pay for higher education. Depending on the programme, they may cover tuition, accommodation, books and other study costs.

Can I get a bursary for university in 2027?

Yes. There are numerous bursaries and scholarships available for students planning to study at South African universities in 2027.

Which universities offer bursaries?

Most major South African universities have some form of financial assistance, bursaries, scholarships or merit awards. Students should check their university’s official funding or financial aid department.

Do bursaries pay university fees?

Many do, but the amount of funding varies. Some bursaries cover full tuition and additional costs, while others provide partial financial assistance.

Can I apply for more than one bursary?

Yes, you can generally apply for multiple bursaries, provided you meet each programme’s requirements. However, check the rules concerning receiving multiple sources of funding.

Can NSFAS students apply for university bursaries?

In some cases, yes. Some university funding programmes allow or encourage NSFAS-funded students to apply, while others have different rules. Always check the specific bursary conditions.

When should I apply for a 2027 university bursary?

Apply as early as possible. Many bursaries open months before the 2027 academic year and have deadlines between mid-2026 and the beginning of 2027.

Final Thoughts

Finding the right university bursary for 2027 can significantly reduce the financial pressure of studying at university.

Students should not rely on one funding opportunity. Search for university-specific bursaries, corporate bursaries, government funding, scholarships and field-specific opportunities.

Most importantly, check the requirements and closing date before applying, and submit your application through the official bursary provider.

For the latest opportunities, students can regularly check university funding pages and trusted South African bursary listings.

South African Bursaries are Open All Year Round

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MBA | POSTGRADUATE

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NSFAS National Student Financial Aid Schemes

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.