BANKSETA Higher Education Funding Window (Bursary Programme)

1. 1

   Approach your public university or university of technology financial aid or bursary office to confirm your eligibility for the BANKSETA Higher Education Funding Window

2. 2

   Ask to be included in your institution's submission to BANKSETA - students cannot apply directly to BANKSETA

3. 3

   Attend or have your institution attend the compulsory online briefing session held when the funding window opens (held on 15 January 2026 for the 2026 window)

4. 4

   Provide your institution with proof of registration, academic records and financial need documentation for the relevant academic year

5. 5

   The institution captures and submits qualifying applications via the BANKSETA Management Information System (MIS/SIMS) portal at sims.bankseta.org.za before the closing date

6. 6

   Await selection and confirmation, which BANKSETA communicates through the participating institution

Frequently Asked Questions

When do BANKSETA bursary applications open for 2027?

As of 12 October 2026, BANKSETA had not yet published a Higher Education Funding Window for the 2027 academic year. The window for 2026 was advertised in November 2025, re-issued on 18 December 2025 and closed on 29 January 2026, so the 2027 window may appear from around November 2026. Applications are submitted by your institution through the BANKSETA system, not by you directly, so speak to your university financial aid office to be included.

Can I apply directly to BANKSETA for the funding window bursary?

No. BANKSETA channels funding through public universities and universities of technology, which submit applications on behalf of students via the BANKSETA Management Information System (MIS/SIMS) portal. You must approach your institution's financial aid or bursary office to be included in its submission rather than applying as an individual.

How much does the BANKSETA bursary cover?

Under the 2026 funding window guidelines, funding is capped at R120,000 per learner per year: up to R50,000 for tuition, R10,000 for study material, R45,000 for accommodation and R15,000 for living or meal allowances. The funding is aligned to qualifications in the BANKSETA Sector Skills Plan such as banking, finance, economics, accounting, IT and business, and the available budget is shared equitably among qualifying applications.

Who is eligible for the BANKSETA Higher Education Funding Window?

Funding goes to unemployed South African students, both new first-years and continuing students (diplomas, degrees and postgraduate studies including Master's), at public universities and universities of technology, studying a qualification aligned to the BANKSETA Sector Skills Plan (banking, finance, economics, accounting, IT or business). It targets learners in the NSFAS income bracket and the 'missing middle' (household income of R350,000 to R600,000 a year) who are not funded by NSFAS or another SETA. Applications must be made through your institution.

When does the funding window close?

The Higher Education Funding Window for the 2026 academic year closed on Thursday, 29 January 2026 at 16h00 (extended from 24 December 2025), with a compulsory online briefing session for institutions on 15 January 2026. As of 12 October 2026 no 2027 window had been published; check BANKSETA's open funding windows and ask your institution's financial aid or bursary office about the next cycle.