These top South African companies are offering bursaries for 2026

South Africa’s top companies, including Shoprite, Sasol, Allan Gray, and FirstRand, are offering massive bursaries for the 2026 academic year.

Tertiary education is seen as essential for getting a job in South Africa, where youth unemployment is over 45%.

On the other hand, the most recent unemployment rate for graduates in Q4 2024 was 8.7%, improving from 9.8% in Q3 2024.

Although attending university does not guarantee a job, it definitely improves one’s chances of getting one.

However, attending university does come at a hefty cost for South Africans. BusinessTech’s analysis for 2025 shows that fees for first-year students start at roughly R50,000 per year.

In addition to the fees charged by the universities, students also have to deal with accommodation expenses, food expenses, and costly equipment, such as textbooks.

In response, several companies across South Africa offer bursaries to help students cover costs, which can very often extend beyond university fees.

These bursaries lower the costs for the recipient students and can also open the door to future employment.

Companies often offer bursary recipients jobs after their studies, ensuring they get a foot on the corporate ladder.

Some may also offer mentoring to students during their studies to help them achieve their academic and professional goals. 

With this in mind, BusinessTech used Bursaries South Africa to find bursaries open for application from some of South Africa’s largest private companies.

Shoprite (Deadline: 30 April 2025)

South Africa’s largest retailer and private employer, Shoprite, opened its bursary programme on 1 February 2025.

The company is offering full financial support to high-achieving students pursuing degrees in the following subjects:

• Accounting (CA Stream – SAICA)
• Retail Business Management
• Supply Chain & Logistics
• Biological and Agricultural Sciences
• Food Science

The programme provides a comprehensive financial package covering tuition fees, on-campus accommodation, and a monthly grocery allowance. 

Allan Gray (Closing: 30 April 2025)

The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation has invited students to apply for its Fellowship Programme for the 2026 academic year.

The asset manager said that the bursary will be awarded for undergraduate degree studies within these fields at selected institutions (WITS, UJ, UCT, NMU, RU, UWC, SU, UP, UFS, UKZN or TSiBA):

• Arts
• Commerce
• Engineering
• Health Science (excluding Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science)
• Humanities
• Law
• Science

Sasol (Deadline: 18 May 2025)

South African chemical giant Sasol offers bursaries for multiple levels of study and disciplines.

The group’s undergraduate university bursary providers cover registration fees, tuition fees, books and pocket money, a meal allowance, an accommodation allowance and a once-off computer and calculator allowance.

Students will also receive development opportunities, including possible vacation work after completing the second and third year of study.

The following BEng / BSc Undergraduate studies at the University are eligible for the bursary:

• Chemical Engineering
• Chemistry (studies to Hons. level is a criteria)
• Civil Engineering
• Data Science (Computer Science / Mathematics / Operations Research / Statistics)
• Electrical Engineering
• Electronic Engineering
• Geology (studies to Hons. level is a criteria)
• Industrial Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Metallurgy (studies to Hons. level is a criteria)
• Mining Engineering

The group’s undergraduate university of technology bursary covers tuition fees, registration fees, exam fees, books and pocket money, an accommodation allowance, and a meal allowance.

The students can complete their academic requirements (S1–S6) at a University of Technology and practical training aspects (P1 and P2 if applicable) at Sasol.

The following BEng Tech Undergraduate studies are eligible:

• Chemical Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Electrical Engineering (Heavy Current)
• Instrumentation and Control Engineering (Electrical Light Current)
• Mechanical Engineering
• Mine Surveying

Finally, the group’s postgraduate bursary provides a monthly stipend for the duration of the studies, and it pays registration fees, tuition fees, research costs, accommodation, and all other expenses related to the studies.

Sasol noted that the bursary will not cover any additional expenses. Postgraduate students with the bursary will also have access to Sasol technical mentors for support during studies.

The bursary covers the following MSc / MEng / PhD Postgraduate studies:

• Chemical Engineering (Fluid Dynamics/Mathematical and Statistical Modelling/Process Modelling/Reactor Technology/Separation Technology/Thermodynamics)
• Chemistry (Advanced analytical Chemistry in the areas of Vibrational Spectroscopy, Gas Chromatography/Catalysis, Polymer Science/Environmental Science in the areas of Water, Waste or Air, or Air with focus on dispersion modelling)
• Cyber Security
• Data Science (Applied Mathematics/Statistics)

Sanlam (Deadline: 30 June 2025)

Sanlam’s bursary programme will award undergraduate students seeking an Actuarial Science qualification.

The bursary will cover the following expenses: tuition fees, accommodation, book allowance and pocket money.

The recipients will also receive continuous support and payments towards actuarial board exams, vacation work and networking opportunities with Sanlam staff.

The graduates also receive guaranteed employment after graduation, with various rotation opportunities across multiple disciplines. 

FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (Deadline: Extended)

FirstRand, the owner of FNB, RMB and Wesbank, is offering a postgraduate bursary via its Empowerment Foundation.

Applicants must be enrolled in a full-time one-year honours degree programme and have a combined household income that does not exceed R600,000 per annum.

Applicants must be between 21 and 35, and have completed their undergraduate degree between 2022 and 2024.

With the deadline originally ending in early April, FirstRand extended the deadline. The bursary covers the following fields of study:

• Accounting
• Actuarial Science
• Agricultural Sciences
• BA Honours Arts (Psychology)
• Biosciences
• Business Information
• Climate Sciences
• Computer Science
• Data Science
• Economics
• Electronics
• Engineering
• Environmental Sciences
• Financial Management
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems
• Information Management
• Information Science
• Information Systems
• Information Technology
• Law
• Mathematical Sciences
• Mathematics
• Physics
• Renewable Energy
• Risk
• Sciences
• Society and Sustainability
• Statistics

Shell (No Deadline provided)

Shell is also offering bursaries to South Africans from previously disadvantaged backgrounds. The bursary will cover tuition fees, accommodation and equipment, such as books.

The British-based oil giant will offer bursary opportunities to South African students pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).