Absa Fellowship

Offered by Absa

Closed Usually closes around September

The Absa Fellowship is a fully funded scholarship and leadership programme for first-year university students from Absa's African markets. Fellows study commerce, humanities, STEM, creative arts or digital design, and receive tuition, accommodation, a laptop, data, medical cover and a monthly stipend alongside mentoring and leadership training.

Fields of study

Scholarships will be awarded to 50 students, for studies within the following fields

  • Commerce
  • Humanities and Social Sciences
  • STEM fields (Science [including Health science, but excluding Medical or veterinary studies], Technology, Engineering and Mathematics)
  • Creative Arts
  • Digital / Data Design

Who can apply

  • Be a citizen of one of these African countries: South Africa, Mozambique, Zambia, Botswana, Tanzania, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Uganda or Ghana
  • Be between 18 and 25 years old
  • Be currently in Matric or have completed Matric
  • Be entering your 1st year of undergraduate study in 2026
  • Intend on studying towards an undergraduate degree qualification, within one of the fields of study listed above
  • Have achieved a minimum overall average of 65% in Matric latest results
  • Intend on studying at a public university in South Africa
  • Be a leader

What the bursary covers

  • Study related expenses: full tuition fees
  • Textbooks
  • Educational equipment
  • Laptop
  • Accommodation in university residence or private
  • Meal allowance
  • Monthly stipend
  • Monthly data allowance
  • Student medical aid cover

Documents you will need

  • ID document (certified copy)
  • Passport/ ID document if not an SA citizen (certified copy)
  • June 2025 preliminary results or final Matric results
  • Matric certificate (certified copy)
  • Proof of provisional or final acceptance from one of the aforementioned universities
  • Proof of parents or guardians household income (payslips if employed/ affidavit if unemployed/ SASSA slip if applicable/ Pension slip if applicable/ proof of maintenance if parents are divorced/ death certificate if deceased) (certified copies)

Full bursary documents checklist

How to apply

  1. Check the requirements

    Make sure you meet every requirement listed above. Applications that miss one are usually rejected automatically.

  2. Prepare your documents

    Scan clear copies of everything the provider asks for, certified where required.

  3. Apply through the official channel
    Email [email protected]

    Applications must be submitted online at: Absa Fellowship Programme Application 2026

    Students who pass the pre-screening test will receive a voucher code via email to access the psychometric assessment. The email will come from the [email protected] email address.

  4. Submit before the closing date

    Usually closes around September. Late applications are almost never accepted.

Applications for the current cycle have closed. This bursary usually opens again each year, so prepare your documents now and check back.

Genuine bursaries never charge an application fee. How to spot bursary scams

About Absa

Absa Group is a JSE-listed financial services group with banking operations in South Africa and several other African countries, offering retail, business, corporate and investment banking.

StudentBursaries.co.za is an independent directory and is not affiliated with the bursary provider. Logos and trademarks belong to their owners. Always confirm the details on the official website before you apply. Last checked: October 2026.