Private Bursaries in South Africa 2027
Explore private sector bursaries in South Africa for 2027. Funding available for undergraduate and postgraduate students from leading companies, foundations and private institutions.
Schoeman Coetzee Audit • Private Sector
SCAudit Accounting Bursary 2026 for BCom Hons/CTA students. Funding and a training contract are included.
Shoprite Group • Private Sector
Apply for the Shoprite Bursary 2026. Funding for accounting, logistics, retail, agriculture, and IT students in South Africa.
Sasol • Private Sector
Apply for the Sasol Bursary 2027. Funding is available for South African students in STEM fields. Postgraduates are welcome.
The Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics: CING • Private Sector
Cyprus MSc scholarships 2026–2027 offer tuition support and stipend for South African postgraduate students.
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Loughborough University • Private Sector
Study in the UK as a South African student with the Global Impact Scholarship 2026. Funding supports Master’s degrees at Loughborough University. Closes
Loughborough University • Private Sector
Apply for the Loughborough Global Impact Scholarship 2026. A UK master’s funding opportunity for international students studying at Loughborough Universi
ISACA Foundation • Private Sector
Apply for the ISACA Scholarship 2026. Open to IT and cybersecurity students in South Africa with funding and career benefits.
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.
Google • Private Sector
Apply for the Google PhD Fellowship 2026 for computer science. Fully funded with stipend, tuition support, and more.
Allan Gray Orbis Foundation • Private Sector
The Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship Progamme for 2027 is now open for applications. It focuses on leadership & entrepreneurship while also funding your unive
Trans Hex Group • Private Sector
Apply for the Trans Hex Bursary 2026 in South Africa. Find out about eligibility, requirements, documents, closing date, and how to apply.
National Research Foundation with Department of Innovation and Science • Private Sector
Get funding for Masters and PhD studies in South Africa with the DSI-NRF Human Development Bursary 2027.
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What to know about Private Bursaries in South Africa
Private bursaries are funded by companies, foundations, trusts, banks, and other private organisations that invest in education and skills development. These bursaries play a major role in helping South African students access higher education, especially in fields where employers need skilled graduates.
Unlike government bursaries, private sector bursaries are often linked to specific industries or career paths.
For example, mining companies frequently fund engineering students, financial institutions support accounting and finance students, while technology companies invest in IT and computer science graduates.
This creates opportunities for students to receive funding while building relationships with potential future employers.
Many private bursaries support both undergraduate and postgraduate studies. Some organisations offer full funding packages that cover tuition, accommodation, books, and living expenses, while others provide partial financial assistance. In some cases, students may also receive vacation work opportunities, mentorship, internships, or graduate employment opportunities.
Competition for private bursaries can be high, particularly when large companies open applications. Students with strong academic results, leadership experience, community involvement, and clear career goals often have an advantage during the selection process.
If you are looking for funding, it is worth applying for multiple private bursaries rather than relying on a single application. Every bursary provider has different requirements, selection criteria, and deadlines.
Frequently Asked Questions
These are questions South Africans who are students, graduates, undergraduates and scholars are asking everyday.
A private bursary is financial assistance provided by a company, foundation, trust, bank, or private organisation to help students pay for their studies.
Yes. Many private organisations fund undergraduate degrees, postgraduate diplomas, Honours degrees, Master's degrees, and PhD studies.
Many large employers offer bursaries, including companies in mining like Sibanye Stillwater, engineering, finance, banking such as ABSA, FNB, Nedbank etc. even on technology, telecommunications, healthcare, and energy sectors.
Not necessarily. Some private bursaries receive thousands of applications each year. Selection usually depends on academic performance, field of study, and the organisation's requirements.
Some private bursaries include graduate programmes, internships, or work-back agreements, but this differs from one bursary provider to another.
Yes. In fact, students are encouraged to apply for multiple bursaries to improve their chances of securing funding.
Most providers consider academic results, leadership potential, financial need, community involvement, and alignment with the organisation's goals and industry needs.