Bursaries closing soon - updated daily
The calendar months below are the typical pattern. These are the 220 bursaries and opportunities in our database with a confirmed closing date still ahead - the ones to act on right now.
- Momentum Group YES Learning16 Jun 2026
- Lowveld Packaging & Graduate16 Jun 2026
- Lowveld Packaging And Graduate16 Jun 2026
- Motus Mercedes-Benz CJD Bedfordview16 Jun 2026
- St Stithians College1 Jul 2026
- Pick N Pay Graduate15 Jul 2026
- Absa Industrial And Organisational15 Jul 2026
- Power Construction Administrative Cape20 Jul 2026
- UFS Matriculant Year Competition1 Aug 2026
- Rhodes Southern Africa3 Aug 2026
- Rayal Industrial Technical5 Aug 2026
- Rayal Industrial Technical With5 Aug 2026
- MMEG14 Sep 2026
- MMEG14 Sep 2026
- MMEG Margaret McNamara Education14 Sep 2026
- Poliomyelitis Research Foundation PRF15 Sep 2026
Bursary calendar at a glance
| Purpose | Track bursary opening and closing dates so you never miss a deadline |
|---|---|
| Best time to start | Grade 11 or the start of Grade 12 (or your final undergraduate year) |
| Main application window | January to September each year |
| Peak closing season | June to September |
| Core documents | Certified ID, latest results, proof of income, motivation letter, CV |
| Where to apply | Always on the official funder website - never pay a fee |
Why a bursary calendar matters
Bursary funding is competitive and time-bound. Every year, strong students miss out not because they were not good enough, but because they found a bursary after it closed, or submitted an incomplete application in a last-minute rush. A calendar turns a scattered scramble into a simple routine: know what opens when, prepare documents before you need them, and submit early. The months below map the typical South African cycle so you always know what to do next.
Month-by-month bursary calendar
| Month | What’s happening | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| January | A quiet month while results are released and the new academic year settles. | Make a shortlist of bursaries that fit your field, province and study level. Bookmark each funder’s official page and note last year’s closing dates as a guide. |
| February | Early corporate and SETA bursaries begin to open for the next academic year. | Get certified copies of your ID, results and proof of income made now - certification is valid for three months. Draft a reusable motivation letter and update your CV. |
| March | A wave of bursaries opens, especially engineering, mining, IT, finance and accounting. | Start submitting. Apply to every bursary you genuinely qualify for - applying broadly is the single biggest lever on your odds. |
| April | Application volume builds; many science, agriculture and health-science bursaries open. | Apply broadly and keep a simple tracker (funder, closing date, documents, status). Tailor each motivation letter to the funder. |
| May | Peak season begins - the largest number of bursaries are open at once. | Prioritise the ones closing first. Double-check each application is complete before you submit; incomplete applications are quietly rejected. |
| June | Peak closing season starts. Many large corporate and government bursaries close. | Submit early in the month, not on deadline day. Portals slow down and load-shedding near a deadline costs people their application every year. |
| July | Mid-year intake opens new opportunities; some bursaries open a second round. | Watch for newly added bursaries and university-specific awards. Keep submitting and follow up on applications you sent in March - May. |
| August | A heavy closing month - a large share of deadlines fall here. | Verify every application was received, save reference numbers, and check email (and spam) daily for requests for extra information. |
| September | The final major application window before most cycles close for the year. | Submit your last applications. After this, most opportunities are for the year after, so finish strong. |
| October | Shortlisting and interviews begin for many funders. | Prepare for bursary interviews. Have your documents, your story and your study plan ready to discuss confidently. |
| November | Verification and final checks as funders confirm awards. | Respond quickly to any verification request. Keep copies of everything you submitted in case a funder asks again. |
| December | Funding decisions and offer letters go out for the next academic year. | Accept offers promptly and read the conditions. Begin planning next year’s applications if you are continuing your studies. |
These months are the usual pattern - individual funders set their own dates. Always confirm the closing date on the official application page before you rely on it.
Documents to prepare (do this in February)
Almost every bursary asks for the same core set of documents. Prepare these once, early, and most applications become quick to complete:
- Certified copy of your South African ID
- Your latest academic results or matric certificate
- Proof of registration or an acceptance letter from your institution
- Proof of household income (payslips, a SASSA letter, or an affidavit)
- A motivation letter you can tailor to each funder
- An up-to-date curriculum vitae (CV)
- Certified copies of a parent or guardian’s ID, where required
See the full walkthrough in our how to apply for a bursary guide.
Common mistakes that cost students funding
- Starting too late. The students who win bursaries begin shortlisting and gathering documents months before deadlines, not the week of.
- Applying to only one or two bursaries. Bursaries are competitive - apply to every one you qualify for.
- Submitting incomplete applications. A missing document or unanswered question means an automatic rejection, no matter how strong you are.
- Generic motivation letters. Panels read thousands; a letter that names your goals, field and community stands out.
- Leaving it to deadline day. Slow portals and load-shedding cause avoidable failures - submit days early.
- Paying a "fee". No legitimate bursary charges you to apply or to release funds. Any payment request is a scam.
Tips for managing bursary deadlines
- Keep one tracker (a spreadsheet or notebook) with every funder, its closing date, the documents required, and the status.
- Set a reminder 30 days and 7 days before each closing date.
- Make several certified copies of your documents at once - certification is free at police stations.
- Save scanned documents as clearly named PDFs (for example Surname-ID.pdf) so portals accept them.
- Treat applications like a part-time job: a couple of focused hours each week through the season beats a last-minute rush.
- Always confirm the closing date on the official application page, because dates can change.
Frequently asked questions
When should I start applying for bursaries in South Africa?
Start shortlisting bursaries and gathering your documents in Grade 11 or at the very start of Grade 12 (or your final undergraduate year). Most bursaries for the next academic year open between February and September. Getting your certified documents and motivation letter ready early means you can submit the moment applications open, which matters because some funders close as soon as they hit their target number of applicants.
What months do most bursaries open and close?
Most South African bursaries open between March and July, with a peak in May when the largest number are accepting applications at once. Closing dates cluster between June and September, and August is one of the heaviest closing months of the year. Because the open and close windows overlap, the safest approach is to apply as soon as a bursary you qualify for opens rather than waiting.
How many bursaries should I apply for?
Apply to every bursary you genuinely qualify for - there is no penalty for applying to many, and it is the single biggest thing you can do to improve your chances. Focus on bursaries that match your field of study, province and education level so each application is a real fit. Keep a simple tracker so you can manage several deadlines at once without missing any.
Do bursaries accept Grade 11 results?
Yes, many bursaries that open while you are in Grade 12 will accept your Grade 11 final results or your most recent report as your latest academic record. This is exactly why starting early is useful - you can apply before your matric results are out. Always read each funder’s requirements, because some merit awards wait for matric results before making a final decision.
What happens if I miss a bursary deadline?
If you miss a closing date, that specific bursary is closed for the cycle and late applications are almost never accepted. The good news is that bursaries run on an annual cycle, so the same funder usually opens again the following year. Note the date you missed, set a reminder for the next cycle, and in the meantime keep applying to bursaries that are still open.
Do I have to pay to apply for a bursary?
No. A legitimate bursary never charges an application fee, a registration fee, or asks you to pay to "secure" or "release" funds. Real bursaries are funded by companies, government, SETAs and universities - they cover your costs, they do not charge you. Any request for payment, especially an EFT to a personal account, is a scam, so apply only through official funder websites.