Medicine and Health Bursaries in South Africa for 2027
Browse medicine and health bursaries in South Africa for 2027. Find funding for nursing, pharmacy, medicine, physiotherapy and other healthcare qualifications.
The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics: CING • Private Sector
Cyprus MSc scholarships 2026–2027 offer tuition support and stipend for South African postgraduate students.
Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa (PSSA) – Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (FPE) • Private Sector
Pharmacy bursary for postgraudate students in South Africa. The bursary covers Masters and PhD studies. Apply today.
South African Medical Research Council • Government
Apply for the SAMRC Medical Research Bursary 2026. Funding for postgraduate medical and health science studies in South Africa. Closing date: 30 April 20
University of the Western Cape (UWC) • Government
Apply for the Levenstein Masters Bursary 2026 at UWC. Funding for Science, IT and Health postgraduate students. Closing date: 31 March 2026.
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The demand is high because qualifications such as Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Radiography, Dentistry, and other health sciences programmes can be expensive and often take several years to complete.
One thing that makes health bursaries different from many other funding categories is that a large portion of the funding comes from government health departments and public healthcare institutions.
Provincial Departments of Health regularly fund students studying scarce and critical healthcare professions because South Africa continues to need more qualified healthcare workers in hospitals, clinics, and community health facilities.
Many students assume medical bursaries are only available for MBChB (Medicine) students. In reality, there are funding opportunities across a wide range of health-related qualifications, including Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Audiology, Speech Therapy, Environmental Health, Emergency Medical Care, and Occupational Therapy. This means students do not have to study medicine specifically to access funding in the healthcare sector.
Another important point is that many health bursaries include a work-back obligation. In simple terms, students receive funding for their studies and then work for the sponsoring department or institution after graduation.
While some students see this as a commitment, it can actually be a major advantage because it helps graduates gain valuable work experience and enter the healthcare profession more easily.
For students considering a career in healthcare, it is worth applying for multiple bursaries every year. Competition is strong, and many successful applicants secure funding only after submitting several applications across different organisations and government departments.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are questions South Africans who are students, graduates, undergraduates and scholars are asking everyday.
Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Radiography, Emergency Medical Care and Dentistry are among the most commonly funded healthcare qualifications in South Africa. These professions are regularly identified as critical skills within the healthcare sector.
Yes. Many provincial Departments of Health offer bursaries to students studying health sciences. These bursaries are often linked to a work-back agreement where graduates work in public healthcare facilities after completing their studies.
Absolutely. Nursing remains one of the most funded healthcare fields in South Africa. Provincial health departments, hospitals, and healthcare organisations regularly offer bursaries for nursing qualifications.
Yes. Pharmacy students can apply for government bursaries, private healthcare bursaries, pharmaceutical company bursaries, and university-linked funding opportunities. Pharmacy is considered a high-demand healthcare profession in South Africa.
Many health bursaries cover tuition fees, accommodation, prescribed textbooks, meals and other study-related expenses. Coverage depends on the bursary provider and funding package offered.
Yes. Postgraduate bursaries are available for Honours, Master's and PhD studies in various healthcare and medical research fields. Funding is particularly common in public health, clinical research, biomedical sciences and specialised healthcare disciplines.
Generally, yes. Health science programmes attract large numbers of applicants, and many bursaries have strict academic requirements because of the competitive nature of healthcare qualifications.
Most medicine and health bursaries require strong results in Mathematics, Physical Sciences and Life Sciences. These subjects are commonly required for admission into health science programmes and are often considered during bursary selection.