Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) Health Science Bursary Programme
Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF)
The UYDF Health Science Bursary Programme is a top-up funding and student-support scheme that helps disadvantaged students from rural KwaZulu-Natal (and parts of the Eastern Cape) qualify as health professionals. It is layered on top of NSFAS, covering costs NSFAS does not, paying a monthly allowance, and providing mentoring so students complete their degrees. In return, graduates commit to working in rural public-sector hospitals to ease the shortage of healthcare workers in underserved communities.
- Amount
- NSFAS top-up funding (covers costs not included in NSFAS) plus a monthly allowance reported around R3,800; no fixed total amount is published
- Deadline
- To be announced
- Renewable
- Yes
Eligible Fields of Study
Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) supports students in the following disciplines
Eligibility Requirements
- ✓ South African citizen
- ✓ Originate from the uMkhanyakude, Zululand or King Cetshwayo districts of northern KwaZulu-Natal (or reside near St Patrick's Hospital, Bizana, or Zithulele Hospital in the Eastern Cape)
- ✓ Matriculated (or in Grade 12) at a Quintile 1-3 non-fee-paying rural school
- ✓ Have received or been accepted for NSFAS financial support
- ✓ Accepted to study an approved health science degree at a public South African university (excluding UNISA)
- ✓ Entering first or second year of study and pursuing a first degree
- ✓ Completed at least one week of volunteer hospital work
- ✓ Commit to working in public-sector rural/underserved areas for a minimum of 2 years after graduation
What's Included
- ✓ Top-up funding to supplement the NSFAS bursary, covering costs not covered by NSFAS
- ✓ Monthly living allowance (reported around R3,800)
- ✓ Academic and social mentoring support
- ✓ Life-skills workshops for students
- ✓ Vacation/work-exposure placements at rural hospitals
Work Commitment
Recipients commit to working in public-sector rural or underserved areas — at specified hospitals such as those in the uMkhanyakude, Zululand and King Cetshwayo districts, St Patrick's Hospital (Bizana) or Zithulele Hospital — for a minimum of two years after graduating.
How to Apply
Steps to complete your Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) bursary application
- 1
Confirm you meet the eligibility criteria (rural KZN/Eastern Cape origin, Quintile 1-3 school, NSFAS support and acceptance to an approved health science degree)
- 2
Complete at least one week of volunteer work at a hospital
- 3
Gather your certified supporting documents, including proof of NSFAS acceptance or application
- 4
Apply online via the UYDF application portal at https://in-contact.org/rsvp?site=20&id=1&type=F
- 5
Submit before the annual closing date (the 2026-intake deadline was 31 December 2025, during office hours only)
- 6
Liaise with the UYDF office (contact person Cebile Zungu) if shortlisted and confirm your NSFAS and university registration details
Required Documents
- 📄 Certified copy of South African ID
- 📄 Certified Matric results
- 📄 Full academic record with a departmental letter
- 📄 Proof of university acceptance
- 📄 Latest university fee statement
- 📄 Proof of NSFAS acceptance or application
Frequently Asked Questions
- Is the UYDF bursary a full bursary?
- No. UYDF is a top-up and support scheme that works alongside NSFAS rather than a standalone full bursary. You must have received or been accepted for NSFAS funding; UYDF then covers costs NSFAS does not, pays a monthly allowance (reported around R3,800) and provides mentoring and life-skills support to help you complete your degree.
- Who is eligible for the UYDF Health Science Bursary?
- It targets South African students from rural backgrounds who matriculated at a Quintile 1-3 non-fee-paying rural school and come from the uMkhanyakude, Zululand or King Cetshwayo districts of northern KwaZulu-Natal, or who live near St Patrick's Hospital (Bizana) or Zithulele Hospital in the Eastern Cape. You must have NSFAS support and be accepted into an approved health science degree at a public university (excluding UNISA).
- Do I have to work back the bursary after I qualify?
- Yes. Recipients commit to working in public-sector rural or underserved areas — at the specified hospitals — for a minimum of two years after graduating, which helps address the shortage of healthcare professionals in rural communities.
- When does the UYDF bursary close and how do I apply?
- Applications open annually. For the 2026 academic year the advertised closing date was 31 December 2025 (office hours only). Apply online through the UYDF portal and confirm the current cycle's dates on the official website, umthomboyouth.org.za.
When do 2027 applications open?
Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) has not yet announced dates for the 2027 intake.
The last recorded window closed on 31 December 2025. Treat that as a guide to timing only — confirm the 2027 dates with Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF) before you rely on them.
Check Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF)'s official siteNeed help? Contact Umthombo Youth Development Foundation (UYDF):
Email: Cebile@umthomboyouth.org.za
Phone: 031 765 5774
Information verified 2025-12-31. Always confirm details on the funder's official website before applying.
Other Medical & Health Sciences bursaries
More funding opportunities in this field
Gauteng Department of Health Bursary
Gauteng Department of Health
The Gauteng Department of Health (GDoH) funds health training for Gauteng residents through two current programmes. The Gauteng College of Nursing (GCON) student nurse intake trains Diploma in Nursing students on a learning contract, with a monthly stipend paid by the department. The Nelson Mandela Fidel Castro (NMFC) programme sends students from disadvantaged communities to study medicine in Cuba. Applications for the GCON 2027 Student Nurse Intake close on 30 October 2026. As of 12 October 2026, the department had not published a 2027 bursary call for university health-sciences degrees such as pharmacy or physiotherapy, or a new NMFC intake.
View details →Clicks Foundation Bursary
Clicks Foundation (Clicks Group Limited)
The Clicks Foundation, the corporate social investment arm of JSE-listed retail-pharmacy group Clicks Group Limited, awards merit-based bursaries to South African students pursuing a BPharm (Pharmacy) degree. The fund targets scarce and critical skills in retail and pharmaceutical healthcare, covering registration, tuition, prescribed textbooks and study aids for the year of registration. Preference is given to persons with disabilities and applicants from designated Employment Equity groups.
View details →SASP National Bursary
South African Society of Physiotherapy (SASP) (administered directly by the SASP Bursary Committee / SASP Head Office)
The South African Society of Physiotherapy awards the SASP National Bursary to South African citizens studying towards a Physiotherapy qualification at a South African university. It provides partial tuition funding paid directly to your university, and is reserved for students entering their 3rd and 4th years of study. The bursary is awarded year-to-year and must be re-applied for annually, and recipients commit to remaining SASP members and volunteering at SASP events after graduating.
View details →