Who can apply for the CETA Thapelo Madibeng Bursary?

The bursary is open to unemployed South African citizens who have completed Matric with at least a 50% overall academic average, who come from low- to middle-income households (annual household income below R600,000), and who are studying or accepted to study a built-environment qualification at a public university, university of technology or TVET college. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students, including Masters and PhD candidates, may apply.

What does the bursary cover?

It is a full-cost bursary covering tuition fees, prescribed textbooks, accommodation and meals, and transport fees (with conditions). Masters and PhD students also receive a research allowance. The total value is not published as a fixed figure.

Applications are submitted online only through the CETA INDICIUM SETA Management System at https://indicium.ceta.org.za/Pages/OnlineRegistration/OnlineBursaryRegistration.aspx. Emailed or hand-delivered applications are not accepted. You will need to register, complete the application form and upload your supporting documents before the closing date.

When is the application deadline?

For the 2026 cycle, applications opened on 05 January 2026 at 08:00 and closed on 30 January 2026 at 00:00. As of 12 October 2026 the INDICIUM portal showed the online application as closed and CETA had not announced 2027 dates. The window has typically opened in January, so monitor the CETA website and the INDICIUM portal.

Engineering

CETA Thapelo Madibeng Bursary Scheme

CETA (Construction Education and Training Authority) (administered in-house by CETA via the INDICIUM SETA Management System)

The CETA Thapelo Madibeng Bursary Scheme is a full-cost bursary from the Construction Education and Training Authority for unemployed South African students from low- to middle-income households who are studying or accepted to study a built-environment qualification. It supports undergraduate and postgraduate students (including Masters and PhD) in fields such as Civil Engineering, Construction Management, Quantity Surveying and Architecture at public universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges. The bursary was renamed in memory of the late Mr Thapelo Madibeng, a CETA core business executive who passed away in August 2018.

Amount: Full-cost bursary (value not published as a fixed figure) covering tuition, prescribed textbooks, accommodation, meals and transport, plus a research allowance for Masters and PhD students.
Deadline: To be announced
Renewable: Yes

2027 applications not yet open

Visit official site

Eligible Fields of Study

CETA (Construction Education and Training Authority) (administered in-house by CETA via the INDICIUM SETA Management System) supports students in the following disciplines

Architecture

Building Arts

Civil Engineering

Climate Change Science

Construction BIM

Construction Economics

Construction Management

Quantity Surveying

Urban and Regional Planning

Other construction / built-environment related qualifications up to PhD level

Eligibility Requirements

✓ South African citizen
✓ Currently unemployed
✓ Completed Matric
✓ Minimum 50% overall academic average
✓ Studying or accepted to study a built-environment qualification at a public university, university of technology or TVET college
✓ From a low- to middle-income household with annual household income less than R600,000 per annum (financial need)
✓ Open to undergraduate and postgraduate students (including Masters and PhD level)

What's Included

✓ Tuition fees
✓ Prescribed textbooks
✓ Accommodation and meals
✓ Transport fees (with conditions)
✓ Research allowance for Masters and PhD students

How to Apply

Steps to complete your CETA (Construction Education and Training Authority) (administered in-house by CETA via the INDICIUM SETA Management System) bursary application

1
Visit the CETA INDICIUM online bursary registration portal at https://indicium.ceta.org.za/Pages/OnlineRegistration/OnlineBursaryRegistration.aspx during the open application window (for the 2026 cycle, applications opened 05 January 2026 at 08:00 and closed 30 January 2026 at 00:00)
2
Register and create a profile on the INDICIUM SETA Management System
3
Complete the online bursary application form in full (online applications only - no emailed or hand-delivered applications are accepted)
4
Upload your certified ID copy, latest academic results on institution letterhead, proof of admission or registration for the year being funded, proof of household income and proof of residence
5
Submit your completed application before the closing date and time
6
Wait for feedback from CETA on the outcome of your application; successful candidates sign a bursary contract

Required Documents

📄 Certified copy of South African ID
📄 Latest academic results on the institution's letterhead
📄 Proof of admission or registration for the year being funded at a public university, university of technology or TVET college
📄 Proof of household income
📄 Proof of residence

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can apply for the CETA Thapelo Madibeng Bursary?: The bursary is open to unemployed South African citizens who have completed Matric with at least a 50% overall academic average, who come from low- to middle-income households (annual household income below R600,000), and who are studying or accepted to study a built-environment qualification at a public university, university of technology or TVET college. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students, including Masters and PhD candidates, may apply.
What does the bursary cover?: It is a full-cost bursary covering tuition fees, prescribed textbooks, accommodation and meals, and transport fees (with conditions). Masters and PhD students also receive a research allowance. The total value is not published as a fixed figure.
How do I apply?: Applications are submitted online only through the CETA INDICIUM SETA Management System at https://indicium.ceta.org.za/Pages/OnlineRegistration/OnlineBursaryRegistration.aspx. Emailed or hand-delivered applications are not accepted. You will need to register, complete the application form and upload your supporting documents before the closing date.
When is the application deadline?: For the 2026 cycle, applications opened on 05 January 2026 at 08:00 and closed on 30 January 2026 at 00:00. As of 12 October 2026 the INDICIUM portal showed the online application as closed and CETA had not announced 2027 dates. The window has typically opened in January, so monitor the CETA website and the INDICIUM portal.

When do 2027 applications open?

CETA (Construction Education and Training Authority) (administered in-house by CETA via the INDICIUM SETA Management System) has not yet announced dates for the 2027 intake.

CETA has opened the Thapelo Madibeng bursary in early January and closed it at the end of January. The 2026 window ran from 5 to 30 January 2026; as of 12 October 2026 the INDICIUM online application showed as closed and no 2027 dates had been announced.

Check CETA (Construction Education and Training Authority) (administered in-house by CETA via the INDICIUM SETA Management System)'s official site

Need help? Contact CETA (Construction Education and Training Authority) (administered in-house by CETA via the INDICIUM SETA Management System):

Email: unemployedbursary@ceta.co.za

Information verified 2026-10-12. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.

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