The National Treasury Bursary Scheme 2026 for young South African Students

If you’re a promising South African undergraduate student with a passion for fields critical to national development, the National Treasury Bursary Scheme 2026 could be your gateway to higher education without financial burden. Applications are now open and here's everything you need to know.

💰 Bursary Summary

• Location: South Africa

• Sponsor: National Treasury (South African government)

• Level: Full-time undergraduate, from second academic year onward

• Target Group: South African citizens demonstrating academic merit and financial need

• Fields of Study:

  • BCom Accounting

  • BCom Economics

  • Diploma in Logistics

  • Degree or Diploma in Graphic Design

• Value & Coverage: Covers full university fees including:

  • Registration

  • Tuition

  • Accommodation

  • Prescribed textbooks

  • A monthly allowance

• Award Duration: From second year through remainder of undergraduate degree (subject to academic performance and funding availability)

• Application Deadline: 22 August 2025 

• Start Date: Academic year 2026 (usually first semester)

• Eligible To: Full-time undergrad South African students entering their second year or beyond, in the specified fields

🎓 Scholarship Overview

The National Treasury Bursary Scheme is a financial support programme aimed at building critical capacity in areas impacting government’s economic and administrative functions. By supporting students in key disciplines, it seeks to develop future professionals equipped to contribute to the nation’s financial and logistical systems .

While the bursary does not specify curriculum or extracurricular components (like mentoring or workshops), recipients benefit from a comprehensive support package that removes major financial barriers—allowing them to fully focus on their studies.

🎁 Benefits — What’s Covered

• Registration fees, tuition, accommodation, textbooks, and a monthly stipend to help with living expenses .

• Preference is given to top-performing students, encouraging excellence and commitment to academic success .

• It's an equal opportunity initiative: the National Treasury encourages applications from women and persons with disabilities .

✅ Eligibility Criteria

To qualify, applicants must:

1. Be a South African citizen

2. Be enrolled full-time in an undergraduate programme at a recognized university or university of technology

3. Have completed first year, seeking funding from second year onward

4. Achieve a minimum 65% academic average in latest (mid-year/June 2025) exams

5. Demonstrate financial need—combined household income not exceeding R600,000 per annum 

6. Be academically well-rounded, with strong performance in one of the specified fields

📝 Application Procedure

Application Submission

Send your completed application form (downloadable here) with all supporting documents to:

📨 Email: bursaries@treasury.gov.za

Note: Applications submitted by post, hand-delivery, fax, or after the deadline will not be considered .

📂Required Documents

• Completed application form (from official National Treasury website)

• Certified copy of your South African ID

• Grade 12 statement of results and certificate

• Official first-year academic transcript (mid-year/June 2025)

• Certified copies of parent(s)/guardian(s) IDs

• Proof of parent(s)/guardian(s) income (salary slips), or affidavit if unemployed

• Death certificate if parent(s) are deceased, or affidavit if not in your life

🤔 Why You Should Apply

• Comprehensive financial support, covering the majority of costs for full-time undergrad students

• Focused on critical and scarce fields, positioning you for impactful career paths

• Meritocracy with compassion: rewards academic achievers and supports those with financial need

• Empowers diversity: actively seeks women and individuals with disabilities to apply

• Contribution to national development: this bursary is an investment in South Africa’s economic and administrative future

🔍 Tips for Success

• Double-check that your academic average meets the 65% threshold.

• Ensure your household income documentation is accurate and clearly supports your case.

• Submit a neat and complete application, with every document certified and compiled properly.

• Apply before or on 22 August 2025, allowing time to resolve any delays or missing documents.

🔗 Official Link

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