FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Undergraduate Bursary

Fields of study

• Agricultural Sciences: All specialisations
• Arts: Psychology, Digital Arts, Fine Arts, Multimedia, Architecture, Art and Design
• Commercial Sciences: Accounting, Actuarial Science, Economics, Financial Management
• Engineering: All specialisations
• Environmental Sciences: Climate Sciences, Renewable Energy
• Health Sciences: Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Public Health, Pharmacy
• Information Sciences: Business Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Information Management, Information Technology
• Mathematical Sciences: Mathematics, Risk, Statistics
• Natural Sciences: Biosciences, Electronics, Physics
• Social Sciences and Law: Society and Sustainability, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Law

Who can apply

• Be a South African citizen
• Be Black, as defined by the BBBEE Act
• Not be older than 21 years in your first year of study
• Be currently in Matric or have completed Matric within the last 3 years (applicants who completed Matric more than 3 years ago may NOT apply)
• Have achieved a minimum of level 5 for Mathematics in Matric
• Have a strong academic record
• Intend on studying full time, towards a first undergraduate degree in one of the fields listed above
• Be entering your 1st year of study in 2027 (postgraduate funding will be considered in special circumstances where a postgraduate qualification (PGD or Honours degree) is essential to give access to employment opportunities)
• Have applied for and been provisionally admitted to study at a public university in South Africa, in 2027
• Have a combined gross family income NOT more than R700 000 per annum

What the bursary covers

• Tuition fees
• Learning resources
• Computer (for 1st year students)
• Accommodation
• Meals
• A monthly stipend

Documents you will need

• Clear photograph (head and shoulders)
• South African ID document (certified copy)
• Grade 11 final results and Matric June results, if currently in Matric
• Matric certificate, if completed Matric
• Proof of university acceptance/ provisional acceptance for 2027
• Proof of parents or guardians household income (latest payslips if employed/ affidavit if unemployed/ affidavit stating annual income if self-employed/ most recent audited financial statement or 3 months’ most recent bank statements if they own a business/ SASSA letter stating the grants received if applicable)
• Parents death certificates if deceased
• Letter from the court stating child support amounts if parents are divorced or affidavit from the parent stating the child support amount received if parents are separated

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
   • FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary Application 2027
   • Study Trust Bursary Applications Page

   Applications must be submitted online at: FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary Application 2027

   Applicants must read the Study Trust Bursary Applications Page before applying.

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

Contact the bursary provider

• Email [email protected]
• Phone 011 403 1632

Contact the provider only with questions about this bursary. StudentBursaries.co.za does not process applications.

About FirstRand Empowerment Foundation

The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation was founded in 2005 as part of FirstRand's B-BBEE commitments.