FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Undergraduate Bursary

Who can apply

• Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):
• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be Black, as defined by the BBBEE Act
• You must NOT be older than 21 years in your first year of study
• You must be currently in Matric or have completed Matric within the last 3 years (applicants who completed Matric more than 3 years ago may NOT apply)
• You must have achieved a minimum of level 5 for Mathematics in Matric
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must intend on studying full time, towards a first undergraduate degree in one of the fields listed above
• You must be entering your 1st year of study in 2027 (postgraduate funding will be considered in special circumstances where a postgraduate qualification (PGD or Honours degree) is essential to give access to employment opportunities)
• You must have applied for and been provisionally admitted to study at a public university in South Africa, in 2027
• You must have a combined gross family income NOT more than R700 000 per annum

How to apply

Applications are submitted directly to FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Undergraduate - we do not collect applications. Read the eligibility criteria, prepare your supporting documents, then complete your application on the official page.

Full details

FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Undergraduate Bursary South Africa 2027

WHAT FIELDS OF STUDY DOES THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY COVER?

The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation is inviting students to apply for their Bursary Programme, for the 2027 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded for studies towards critical skills programmes, specifically for Undergraduate Degree studies in the following fields:

• Agricultural Sciences: All specialisations
• Arts: Psychology, Digital Arts, Fine Arts, Multimedia, Architecture, Art and Design
• Commercial Sciences: Accounting, Actuarial Science, Economics, Financial Management
• Engineering: All specialisations
• Environmental Sciences: Climate Sciences, Renewable Energy
• Health Sciences: Medicine, Nursing, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Public Health, Pharmacy
• Information Sciences: Business Information Systems, Computer Science, Data Science, Information Systems, Information Management, Information Technology
• Mathematical Sciences: Mathematics, Risk, Statistics
• Natural Sciences: Biosciences, Electronics, Physics
• Social Sciences and Law: Society and Sustainability, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Law

(Read about the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary here).

WHAT EXPENSES DOES THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY COVER?

The bursary will provide cover for the following expenses: tuition fees, learning resources, computer (for 1st year students), accommodation, meals and a monthly stipend.

WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY?

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be Black, as defined by the BBBEE Act
• You must NOT be older than 21 years in your first year of study
• You must be currently in Matric or have completed Matric within the last 3 years (applicants who completed Matric more than 3 years ago may NOT apply)
• You must have achieved a minimum of level 5 for Mathematics in Matric
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must intend on studying full time, towards a first undergraduate degree in one of the fields listed above
• You must be entering your 1st year of study in 2027 (postgraduate funding will be considered in special circumstances where a postgraduate qualification (PGD or Honours degree) is essential to give access to employment opportunities)
• You must have applied for and been provisionally admitted to study at a public university in South Africa, in 2027
• You must have a combined gross family income NOT more than R700 000 per annum

HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY?

Applications must be submitted online at: FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary Application 2027

Enter “www.zabursaries.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation bursary.

Applicants must read the Study Trust Bursary Applications Page before applying.

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE REQUIRED FOR THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY?

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your application (the submission of these documents is compulsory - if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

• Clear photograph (head and shoulders)
• South African ID document (certified copy)
• Grade 11 final results and Matric June results, if currently in Matric
• Matric certificate, if completed Matric
• Proof of university acceptance/ provisional acceptance for 2027
• Proof of parents or guardians household income (latest payslips if employed/ affidavit if unemployed/ affidavit stating annual income if self-employed/ most recent audited financial statement or 3 months’ most recent bank statements if they own a business/ SASSA letter stating the grants received if applicable)
• Parents death certificates if deceased
• Letter from the court stating child support amounts if parents are divorced or affidavit from the parent stating the child support amount received if parents are separated

WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY?

30 September 2026.

(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted - please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)

HOW CAN I CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER?

For any queries related to these bursary programmes, please contact StudyTrust (the administrators for this bursary) directly:

• Tel: 011 403 1632
• Email: apply@StudyTrust.org.za

WHAT DOES THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION DO?

The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF), founded in 2005 as part of FirstRand Limited’s broad-based black economic empowerment (B-BBEE) initiative, is committed to reducing poverty and inequality by supporting public benefit activities aligned with B-BBEE principles. The foundation’s leadership primarily consists of individuals classified as black under the Financial Sector Charter.

FREF envisions a South Africa where all citizens have equitable access to economic opportunities, fostering inclusive growth. By focusing on empowering communities to actively participate in the national economy, the foundation has outlined key strategic areas to drive this mission forward.

- END -

Frequently asked questions

Sources

This page summarises information published by: