"Full bursary" gets used loosely. Some only cover tuition and leave you to fund residence and books yourself. These are the funders that genuinely cover the whole cost of studying — tuition, accommodation, books, and usually meals and a monthly stipend too.
Coverage details are pulled from each funder's own published benefits. Confirm current-year specifics before applying — benefit packages are reviewed annually.
| Funder | Tuition | Accommodation | Books | Meals | Stipend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NSFASGovernment | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| SasolCorporate — Engineering & Science | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| EskomSOE — Engineering & Technical | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| MQASETA — Mining Qualifications | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Funza LushakaGovernment — Teaching | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| ShellCorporate — STEM | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | — | — |
| ShopriteCorporate — Retail & Commerce | ✓ | ✓ | — | ✓ | — |
Grouped by sector. Most require a matching field of study, so check the fine print before committing an application to any one funder.
South Africa's primary funding mechanism for students from low-income households at public universities and TVET colleges. Household income must sit under R350,000/year (R600,000 for students with disabilities).
Funds the full cost of a teaching qualification at any public university, prioritising Maths, Physical Sciences, Technology, Computer Science and African languages. Requires teaching at a public school after graduation, matched to years funded.
One of the most generous packages available, for engineering, IT, finance and science studies. Applications typically open in August and close in October.
Covers full tuition and registration, residence fees or a private accommodation allowance, books, meals, and a per-semester allowance for mining-related qualifications.
Requires at least 70% in Mathematics and 60% in Physical Sciences. Includes vacation work at Sasol facilities alongside the full study cost package.
Aimed at South African students from previously disadvantaged backgrounds pursuing STEM careers. Covers tuition, accommodation and equipment such as books.
Funds mining engineering, metallurgy, geology and environmental science, with vacation work and graduate placement built into the pipeline.
Covers tuition fees, on-campus accommodation, and a monthly grocery allowance for students in retail management, logistics, accounting and marketing.
A comprehensive financial package for undergraduate study at partner institutions including Wits, UJ, UCT, NMU, Stellenbosch, UP, UFS and UKZN, paired with entrepreneurial mentorship.
Funds BCom Accounting studies on the Chartered Accountant pathway, targeted at Black African and Coloured students. Applications typically close 31 August.
Supports students in Accounting, Economics and Logistics. Provincial Treasuries (e.g. Eastern Cape) run parallel schemes worth checking too.
Two bursaries both labelled "full" can still leave you paying out of pocket. Know what to check before you count on the number.
You won't see this money — it goes straight to your university's finance office, which is why registration can still stall if paperwork isn't sorted early.
Some funders pay a residence fee directly; others give you a fixed accommodation allowance and expect you to secure your own housing within that budget.
This is the portion paid to you directly for food, transport and daily living — it's the part most vulnerable to payment delays, so keep a buffer where you can.
Many require you to work for the funding company after graduation for a period matching the years you were funded — read this commitment before accepting.
Most successful applicants apply to 10–20 bursaries in a single cycle, since rejection rates run high even for strong candidates. You can only accept one offer if several come through, so cast a wide net rather than betting everything on a single funder.