Not all bursaries work the same way, and knowing which category a bursary falls into tells you a lot about what to expect: how competitive it is, what it asks of you afterward, and how it’s actually administered. Before you start applying, it helps to understand the four main categories of bursary funding available to South African students. If you’re still unclear on the basics, start with our guide to what a bursary actually is.
1. NSFAS-Funded Bursaries
The National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) is government-funded and, by volume, the largest source of student funding in South Africa. It’s aimed at academically capable students from households below a set income threshold who are studying at a public university or TVET college. NSFAS covers tuition, registration, accommodation or a transport allowance, and a book and living allowance, and for most qualifying students it now functions as a full bursary rather than a loan.
NSFAS is administered centrally rather than by individual companies, which makes the application process different from a corporate bursary — you apply once through the NSFAS portal rather than to dozens of separate funders. For the full application process, eligibility thresholds, and how NSFAS decisions actually get made, see our dedicated guide: NSFAS Explained.
2. Corporate Bursaries
Corporate bursaries are funded directly by private companies, usually in industries facing skills shortages, such as engineering, accounting, actuarial science, IT, and mining. Companies like Sasol, Anglo American, the big four banks, and major audit firms run some of the largest and most competitive bursary programmes in the country.
Corporate bursaries are typically the most generously funded option, often covering full tuition, accommodation, a living allowance, and sometimes a laptop, and many also include vacation work or in-service training as part of the deal. The trade-off is that almost all corporate bursaries come with a bonding agreement: you commit to working for the company for a set number of years after you graduate, usually matching the number of years you were funded. If you don’t honour that commitment, you may be required to repay some or all of the funding. This is worth understanding properly before you sign anything — see our full guide to bursary bonding and work-back obligations.
Corporate bursaries tend to cluster around specific, high-demand fields. If you’re studying toward one of these, it’s worth checking our sector-specific guides: engineering bursaries, accounting and finance bursaries, and IT and technology bursaries.
3. Government Department Bursaries
Beyond NSFAS, individual national and provincial government departments run their own bursary schemes, usually tied to filling specific public-sector skills shortages. The best known example is Funza Lushaka, which funds teacher training in exchange for a commitment to teach at a public school afterward. Provincial Health Departments run similarly large schemes for medicine, nursing, and allied health professions, since the public healthcare system has an ongoing shortage of qualified clinical staff.
These bursaries function much like corporate bursaries in structure, with academic conditions and a work-back requirement, except the “employer” you’re bonded to is a government department rather than a private company. See our dedicated guides on Funza Lushaka teaching bursaries and medical and health sciences bursaries for the specifics of each.
4. Private and Trust-Funded Bursaries
Private bursaries come from independent trusts, foundations, and non-profit organisations rather than companies or government. These are typically funded through donations, endowments, or corporate social responsibility budgets, and are often smaller in value than corporate or government bursaries. Many are targeted at a specific group of students, such as a particular province, school, community, or demographic, and some are aimed specifically at increasing access for underrepresented groups. See our guide to bursaries for women, disability, and underrepresented groups for this category in more detail.
The major advantage of private bursaries is that they rarely come with a bonding or work-back requirement, since the funder isn’t trying to secure future employees. The trade-off is that they’re often harder to find, since there’s no single central database, and awards can be smaller or partial rather than covering your full cost of study.
Which Type of Bursary Should You Apply For?
Most students shouldn’t limit themselves to one category. A common and sensible strategy is to apply for NSFAS as a baseline if you qualify financially, while also applying to two or three corporate or government bursaries in your intended field, and rounding that out with any relevant private bursaries you can find. Since most funders won’t let you accept more than one full bursary at once, casting a wide net early and deciding once offers come in gives you the most flexibility.
Before you apply anywhere, it’s worth checking exactly what each type of funder expects from applicants — our guide to bursary requirements in South Africa covers this across all four categories.
This page is part of our complete guide to bursaries in South Africa. Read the full pillar guide here, or browse current funding opportunities across all categories on our bursaries and scholarships listings page.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the biggest source of bursary funding in South Africa?
NSFAS is the largest single source by number of students funded, since it’s a centrally administered government scheme. Corporate bursaries individually fund far fewer students each, but collectively cover a significant number across all major industries.
Do all bursaries require me to work for the funder afterward?
No. NSFAS and most private or trust-funded bursaries don’t require work-back. Corporate bursaries and most government department bursaries, such as Funza Lushaka and provincial Health Department bursaries, generally do.
Can I apply for a corporate bursary and NSFAS at the same time?
Yes, you can apply to both, but you’ll generally need to choose one once you receive offers, since most funders require exclusivity once you accept.
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