Postgraduate (Honours, Masters, PhD) Bursaries in South Africa 2026
All postgraduate study levels — honours through doctoral. 23 funding opportunities available — updated May 2026.
Studying further after your degree is a big step, and the good news is that postgraduate funding works a little differently to undergrad. While NSFAS mainly supports undergraduate study, postgrad bursaries, scholarships and research grants are often where the more specialised money sits. At honours, master's and PhD level, funding usually comes from a mix of sources: national research foundations and councils, universities themselves (through merit awards, faculty bursaries and fee remissions), government departments and SOEs, SETAs aligned to your field, and corporates and trusts that want to build skills in their sector. Many of these are designed to free you up to focus on your research rather than juggling a full-time job.
What's expected of you tends to rise with the level. Honours and master's funders usually look at your academic record (a strong average, often a distinction or upper-second pass), your chosen field of study, financial need in some cases, and South African citizenship or permanent residence. At master's and PhD level, the focus shifts toward your research proposal, your supervisor and department, and how your work fits a funder's priority areas, scarce-skills shortages, or a company's pipeline. Some awards are full-cost (tuition, a living stipend and a running allowance), while others top up what you already have. Watch for workback or service conditions, where you commit to working for the funder after you qualify, and for rules about whether you can hold a bursary alongside other income or part-time work.
Timing matters more than people expect. Many university and research-council postgraduate awards close early, often months before the academic year begins, so start scouting once your results are out rather than waiting until registration. Corporate and SETA bursaries frequently open in the second half of the year for the following intake. Apply broadly, keep your documents ready, and don't assume you're 'overqualified' for need-based help. Postgraduate study brings its own costs, and most students stack several smaller sources together.
Quick tips
- →Polish your research proposal early. It's often the single biggest factor for master's and PhD funding, and a good supervisor can point you to scheme-specific awards.
- →Apply to several funders at once (research councils, your university's postgraduate office, sector SETAs and relevant corporates) rather than pinning everything on one application.
- →Read the workback and service conditions before you accept. Some bursaries require you to work for the funder for a set number of years afterwards.
- →Remember that NSFAS is largely undergraduate-focused, so at postgrad level lean on research grants, university merit awards and bursaries instead.
- →Diarise deadlines now. Many postgraduate awards close well before the academic year starts, much earlier than undergrad applications.
Funza Lushaka Teaching Bursary
Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)
The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a government-funded full bursary for education students who commit to teaching in public schools after graduation.
Nexa: From Climate Risk to Health Resilience - Global Climate and Health Innovation Funding Opportunity
South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC)
The SAMRC invites South African researchers and innovators to apply for a funding opportunity focused on climate risk and health resilience.
The Funza Lushaka Bursary
Department of Basic Education
The Funza Lushaka Bursary is a national government initiative designed to promote teaching as a profession and increase the supply of qualified educators in South African public schools.
Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme 2027/2028 for Postgraduate Study in Ireland
Kader Asmal Fellowship Programme
A fully-funded fellowship for South African postgraduate students to study in Ireland, aiming to nurture future leaders and develop in-country capacity.
Entrepreneurial Skills Development Programme
BANKSETA
This programme assists Small and Micro Enterprises (SMEs), including Cooperative Financial Institutions (CFIs), in the banking and alternative sector to gain entrepreneurial skills and knowledge over a 3-month period.
Sanlam Actuarial Bursary
Sanlam
Sanlam offers funding and support for students who are enrolled to study or are currently completing their actuarial science degrees.
NIHSS Postgraduate Bursary (Humanities & Social Sciences)
National Institute for the Humanities and Social Sciences (NIHSS)
NIHSS funds postgraduate research in humanities, social sciences, law, and education. One of the few dedicated postgraduate bursaries for humanities students in South Africa.
Netcare Clinical Scholarship
Netcare
The Netcare Clinical Scholarship provides bursaries to South African medical specialists for doctoral or post-doctoral training and research in academic medicine.
Commonwealth Startup Fellowship
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
The Commonwealth Startup Fellowship is a six-month programme designed to ignite and elevate promising startup ventures from eligible Commonwealth countries.
Commonwealth Professional Fellowships
UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO)
Commonwealth Professional Fellowships are for mid-career professionals from eligible Commonwealth countries to undertake short programmes of professional development in the UK.
PwC Chartered Accountant Bursary
PwC South Africa
PwC offers comprehensive bursaries for South African students pursuing a Chartered Accountant (CA) qualification, providing financial support and a structured path to professional development.
South African National Space Agency (SANSA) 2027 Postgraduate Bursaries
South African National Space Agency (SANSA)
SANSA provides postgraduate degree bursaries to contribute to the development of skills in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.
Old Mutual Chartered Accounting Bursary Programme 2026/2027
Old Mutual
Old Mutual invites exceptional South African learners pursuing or interested in Chartered Accounting studies to apply for their bursary programme.
Rhodes Southern Africa Scholarships Programme 2027
Rhodes Trust
A fully-funded postgraduate award for talented Southern African students to study at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.
CECIL Renaud Overseas Scholarships 2027
The Cecil Renaud Educational and Charitable Trust
Dr Cecil Renaud's Trust offers scholarships for young South Africans to pursue postgraduate study in the United Kingdom.
University of Pretoria MasterCard Foundation Scholars Program (MCFSP) 2027
University of Pretoria
A fully-funded scholarship for undergraduate and postgraduate study at the University of Pretoria, supported by the Mastercard Foundation.
German Bundestag International Parliamentary Scholarships (IPS) 2027
German Bundestag
A fully-funded scholarship for young African graduates to gain parliamentary experience in Berlin, Germany, with a monthly stipend.
SAICA’s Thuthuka Bursary Fund 2027
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA)
Thuthuka Bursary Fund by SAICA supports students from disadvantaged backgrounds aspiring to become Chartered Accountants in South Africa.
South African Reserve Bank External Bursary Scheme 2026 for Economics Students
South African Reserve Bank (SARB)
The SARB invites aspiring economists to apply for its 2026 External Bursary Scheme, supporting undergraduate and postgraduate studies.
SAICA’s Thuthuka Bursary Fund 2027 for aspiring Chartered Accountants
South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) Thuthuka Bursary Fund
Thuthuka bursary is open to financially needy African, Coloured, and Indian students aspiring to become Chartered Accountants (CAs).
Provincial Health Department Bursary (Medicine, Nursing & Allied Health)
Department of Health (Provincial)
Provincial health departments fund medicine, nursing, pharmacy, and allied health students who commit to working in public healthcare after graduation.
National Skills Fund (NSF) Bursary
National Skills Fund (NSF) — DHET
The NSF funds students in scarce and critical skills fields — including medicine, engineering, social work, and agriculture — at university and TVET level.
NRF Postgraduate Funding (Honours, Masters & PhD)
National Research Foundation (NRF)
The NRF funds postgraduate research students (Honours through PhD) across science, engineering, humanities, and social science fields. No workback, no financial need requirement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there bursaries for postgraduate (honours, masters, phd) students in South Africa?
Yes — we currently list 23 bursaries available to postgraduate (honours, masters, phd) students. All postgraduate study levels — honours through doctoral.
Can Postgraduate students apply for NSFAS?
NSFAS is primarily for undergraduate and TVET students. Postgraduate students should explore NRF bursaries, departmental bursaries, and corporate postgraduate awards.