South African students who meet the set criteria can apply for a Motsepe Foundation 2027 bursary, with submissions due by 16 October 2026.
The 2027 bursary will fund approved students pursuing selected science, technology, engineering, accounting, mathematics and specific humanities fields of study.
Selected applicants can use the bursary funds to pay for a range of fees, including university tuition, residence, books and meals.
The bursary has academic and financial requirements that prospective applicants must satisfy, as well as location-based approval criteria.
Motsepe Foundation bursary requirements
Applicants must provide proof that they have an average pass of more than 70% when Life Orientation and Home Language are excluded.
The academic standard is just one of the selection criteria, since the bursary requires that students demonstrate financial need.
Students are advised to compile all the relevant academic and financial documents to confirm their status as qualifying candidates for the bursary.
Which fields of study are supported?
The Motsepe Foundation 2027 bursary covers specific fields of study, not all degree courses.
The approved areas of study include:
Science
Technology
Engineering
Accounting
Mathematics
Humanities, specifically Music and LLB
Applicants should double-check that their intended field of study is one of the approved options before submitting the application form.
What does the bursary cover?
The bursary covers a range of university-related fees and expenses for qualifying students.
The specified benefits of the bursary include:
- Registration fees
- Tuition fees
- University-accredited accommodation
- Books and stationery
- A laptop
- Meal allowance
- Tutor allowance
- Mental wellness support
It is evident that the bursary covers a wide range of fees and expenses beyond just tuition.
Applicants are, therefore, encouraged to read the full description of the bursary plan in order to fully understand the benefits.
Documents applicants need
Applicants should compile the required documents before they submit their application form.
The required documents are:
- Certified copies of the applicant’s ID.
- Certified copies of the IDs of parents or legal guardians.
- A certified copy of the latest academic transcript or results.
- Proof of income for both parents or legal guardians.
- A testimonial letter from a principal, religious leader or traditional leader.
Applicants should give themselves enough time to get certified documents because several files need to be certified by authorised institutions.
Where is the bursary available?
The bursary covers specific geographical areas in South Africa, and applicants must be residents in one of the specified locations.
Limpopo
Sekhukhune
Capricorn
Vhembe
Mopani
Free State
Thabo Mofutsanyana
Mangaung
KwaZulu-Natal
Umgungundlovu
Ethekwini
King Cetshwayo
Eastern Cape
OR Tambo
Nelson Mandela Bay
Buffalo City
Mpumalanga
Bushbuckridge
Mbombela
Kwamhlanga
North West
Mmakau
Madibeng
Bojanala
Gauteng
Tshwane
Ekurhuleni
Johannesburg
Sedibeng
Western Cape
Khayelitsha
Mitchells Plain
Northern Cape
John Taole
Frances Baard
Applicants should ensure that they live in one of the specified areas because the bursary selection committee will reject applications from non-eligibility geographical regions.
ACCESS APPLICATION FORM VIA MOTSEPE OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Closing date for the 2027 bursary
The application deadline for the Motsepe Foundation 2027 bursary is 16 October 2026.
Applicants are advised to submit their application forms before the deadlines because it may take time to compile and certified some documents. Some examples of such documents include certified IDs of parents or legal guardians, proof of income and testimonials.
What applicants should check before applying
Applicants should ensure that they satisfy all the specified requirements before they apply.
The requirements include:
- Academic performance: Do you have an average pass of more than 70% when Home Language and Life Orientation are excluded?
- Financial need: Can you provide the documents that prove your financial status?
- Field of study: Is your field of study one of the approved areas by the bursary?
- Location: Are you a resident of the specified geographical regions?
- Documents: Have you compiled and certified all the required documents?
- Deadline: Will you submit your application form before 16 October 2026?
Academic performance is not the only criterion that the bursary approval committee uses when selecting the final beneficiaries.
Therefore, even if an applicant meets the academic requirements, but do not satisfy the other criteria, then they will not be selected.
Editorial and fact-checking information
Author: Lerato Chabalala
Fact-checking: The eligibility criteria, fields of study, cover of the bursary, required documents, geographical areas and the deadline were taken from the information provided by the 2027 Motsepe Foundation bursary.
Important: You should always cross-check the latest bursary requirements before applying, as the eligibility criteria, fields of study, cover of the bursary, required documents, geographical areas and the deadline can change.
Corrections: If you notice any errors in the article, the editorial team should verify the necessary information and correct the error.
