Government Bursaries
South African government bursaries for students pursuing studies in scarce-skill, public service and development-focused fields - including National Treasury, GCRA and provincial department programmes.
11 government bursaries
- Government Closed (10 Oct 2025)
City of Cape Town External Bursary Programme
City of Cape Town (Metropolitan Municipality, administered in-house by the City's Human Resources / Skills Development department via the HR Service Desk)
The City of Cape Town runs an annual external bursary programme for Cape Town residents studying full-time towards qualifications in advertised scarce-skills fields such as engineering, accounting, IT, data science, environmental management and the built environment. The bursary covers registration, tuition and examination fees plus capped allowances for study aid, transport and meals, and can lead to year-for-a-year work experience with the City after graduation. Funding spans undergraduate through postgraduate study at accredited South African institutions, including TVET colleges.
Covers registration, tuition/class fees and examination fees, plus capped allowances for study aid (books/equipment), transport and meals. Exact rand value is not publicly fixed and depends on the field and institution.View details → - Government Closed (31 Oct 2025)
City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Bursary Programme
City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality (administered in-house via the CoJ Human Resources / Skills Development office)
The City of Johannesburg (CoJ) Bursary Programme is a metropolitan government bursary that funds undergraduate study for academically capable students who permanently reside within the City of Johannesburg in Gauteng. Approximately 200 bursaries are awarded each cycle, covering registration, tuition and prescribed study material up to R40,000 per year across scarce-skills fields relevant to the City. It is distinct from the Gauteng Provincial Government GCRA bursary.
Up to R40,000 per academic yearView details → - Government Closes 31 Mar 2027
Compensation Fund Bursary
Compensation Fund (Department of Employment and Labour)
The Compensation Fund Bursary is a government bursary administered by the Compensation Fund under the Department of Employment and Labour. It funds unemployed COID (Compensation for Occupational Injuries and Diseases) beneficiaries with permanent disabilities, plus dependants of COID beneficiaries who were fatally injured or permanently disabled at work.
Full-cost bursary (tuition, study materials, accommodation, monthly stipend)View details → - Government Closes 20 Mar 2027
Department of Tourism External Bursary
National Department of Tourism (South Africa)
The National Department of Tourism runs an annual external bursary programme for South African students in fields aligned to the department's strategic priorities - tourism, digital transformation, data sciences, law, economics and the broader skills the public sector needs to drive sector transformation.
Tuition, accommodation and related study costs (renewed annually)View details → - Government Closed (30 Sept 2025)
Department of Water and Sanitation External Bursary Programme
Department of Water and Sanitation (administered by the DWS Water Learning Academy)
The Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS) External Bursary Programme is a full-cost government bursary for South African students in engineering and water-related sciences, aligned to the department's mandate to manage the country's water resources. Priority is given to financially needy applicants from poverty-stricken and rural communities, and students with disabilities are strongly encouraged to apply. Successful candidates join the DWS Water Learning Academy as graduate trainees after qualifying.
Full-cost bursary (no fixed figure published; covers all study-related costs plus a monthly stipend)View details → - Government Closed (30 Apr 2026)
eThekwini Municipality Student Bursary
eThekwini Municipality (administered by the eThekwini Municipal Academy via the durban.gov.za e-Careers / e-Recruitment portal)
The eThekwini Municipality Student Bursary is a government bursary that funds full-time undergraduate study for financially needy, academically capable students who live within the eThekwini Municipal area in KwaZulu-Natal. Administered by the eThekwini Municipal Academy, it prioritises scarce-skills fields such as engineering, the built environment and computer science, and provides comprehensive support covering tuition, accommodation, examination fees, a book allowance and a once-off computer allowance. Students with disabilities and underrepresented candidates are encouraged to apply.
Comprehensive bursary covering tuition fees, accommodation, examination fees, a book allowance and a once-off computer allowance in the second year of study (subject to compliance with the Municipal Bursary agreement). A specific rand value is not published.View details → - Government Closes 30 Sept 2026
Gauteng Department of Health Bursary
Gauteng Department of Health
The Gauteng Department of Health runs one of the largest provincial bursary programmes in the country, funding South African citizens from Gauteng studying towards in-demand health professions including medicine, nursing, dentistry, pharmacy and the allied health sciences. Recipients enter a service-binding agreement to work in Gauteng's public health system after qualifying.
Full cost of study (tuition, accommodation, books, allowance)View details → - Government Closed (28 Feb 2026)
GCRA Bursary - Gauteng City-Region Academy
Gauteng Provincial Government
Provincial government bursary programme developing future public servants and leaders to drive sustainable development in Gauteng province.
Up to R100,000 per yearView details → - Government Closes 22 Aug 2026
National Treasury External Bursary
National Treasury of South Africa
The National Treasury External Bursary funds South African students studying economics, accounting, taxation and internal audit - fields aligned with the Treasury's mandate to manage the country's fiscal policy and public finances.
Full tuition + registration + prescribed books + residence + mealsView details → - Government Closed (29 May 2026)
Nkangala District Municipality Bursary Programme
Nkangala District Municipality (administered in-house)
The Nkangala District Municipality Bursary Programme (sometimes branded the NDM Mayoral Bursary) is a government bursary that funds full-time undergraduate study for financially needy students from the Nkangala district in Mpumalanga. It targets young people aged 17-35 who reside within the six local municipalities of the district and who wish to study scarce-skills fields relevant to the region.
Full bursary covering tuition fees for undergraduate study (specific monetary amount not published). The bursary does not cover any outstanding student debt.View details → - Government Closes 30 May 2027
SARS Bursary
South African Revenue Service (SARS) (administered by CareerWise (Pty) Ltd)
The SARS Bursary is a full-cost government bursary funded by the South African Revenue Service and administered by CareerWise (Pty) Ltd, supporting academically strong South African students with demonstrated financial need. It covers tuition, accommodation, meals, prescribed textbooks and a monthly allowance for studies in scarce-skills fields such as Chartered Accountancy, taxation, law, IT, actuarial science, science and engineering. Recipients may also gain valuable vacation work experience at SARS during their studies.
Full-cost bursary (specific rand value not officially published)View details →