Demand for skilled IT and technology graduates in South Africa continues to outpace supply, and that gap has made this one of the more consistently well-funded bursary fields in the country. Banks, telecommunications companies, insurers, and state-owned enterprises all compete for future technology talent, which means students pursuing computer science, software engineering, information systems, or data-related degrees have a genuinely strong range of funding options to work through.
Who Funds IT and Technology Bursaries?
The major funders in this space include the big banks and insurers, all of which run significant internal technology functions and fund bursaries specifically to build a pipeline of software engineers, data analysts, and IT specialists; telecommunications companies, which fund students toward network engineering, IT infrastructure, and related fields; and state-owned enterprises such as SITA, which specifically funds IT students given government’s own significant digital infrastructure needs. A smaller number of private trusts and technology-focused foundations also fund IT students independently. See our guide to types of bursaries in South Africa for how these funder categories compare more broadly.
What These Bursaries Typically Cover
Well-funded IT and technology bursaries generally cover full tuition, registration, prescribed textbooks, and often accommodation and a living allowance. Many also include a laptop allowance, given how central a reliable, capable machine is to succeeding in a computer science or software engineering degree, and some fund additional certifications or short courses alongside the core degree, particularly in specialised areas like cybersecurity or cloud computing.
Typical Requirements
IT and technology bursaries typically require a solid matric average, generally in the region of 60–70%, with a strong emphasis on Mathematics specifically (not Mathematical Literacy), since most computer science and software engineering degrees have a firm Mathematics prerequisite. Some funders also assess logical or analytical reasoning through additional testing during the selection process, beyond your academic transcript alone. See our full guide to bursary requirements in South Africa for the general criteria funders assess across all bursary categories.
Bonding for IT Bursaries
Corporate and state-owned enterprise IT bursaries generally come with a bonding agreement, requiring you to work for the funder for a set period after graduating, commonly matching the years you were funded. Given how fast-moving and competitive the technology job market is, it’s especially worth understanding the specific terms of your bond, including whether a buy-out option exists, before accepting an offer. See our full guide to bursary bonding and work-back obligations for what to check.
Gaining Practical Experience
Many IT bursary holders complete vacation work or structured internships with their funder during their studies, building hands-on technical experience well before graduating. If your bursary doesn’t include this, actively seeking out IT internships independently during your studies is worth considering, both to strengthen your CV and to test whether a specific area of IT genuinely suits you before your bond period begins. Our internships guide is a useful starting point for finding relevant placements.
How to Apply
IT and technology bursary applications, particularly from major banks and telecommunications companies, typically open early in the year before the academic year they’re funding. Our step-by-step guide to applying for a bursary covers the full application process, and our bursary application documents checklist helps ensure nothing is missing before you submit.
You can browse current, actively updated IT and technology bursary opportunities on our bursaries and scholarships listings page.
This page is part of our complete guide to bursaries in South Africa. Read the full pillar guide here.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to have studied Computer Applications Technology (CAT) in matric to qualify for an IT bursary?
No, this generally isn’t a strict requirement. What matters far more to most funders is a strong result in Mathematics, since most computer science and software engineering degrees require it as a prerequisite, regardless of whether you took CAT or Information Technology as a matric subject.
Which tech field has the most bursary funding available in South Africa?
Software engineering and computer science tend to have the broadest range of corporate funders, given how central software development skills are across banking, telecommunications, and insurance, though data science and cybersecurity-specific funding has also grown significantly given rising demand in those areas.
Do IT bursaries fund diplomas as well as degrees?
Many do, particularly for National Diploma or Higher Certificate qualifications in IT at universities of technology, though the most comprehensive funding, including postgraduate pathways, tends to be reserved for full BSc Computer Science or BEng Software Engineering degrees.
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