The Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship bursary is made available to students who are top achievers. Since its establishment in year 2005, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation has continued to invest in education and development in South Africa. The Foundation’s 2023 annual report revealed that 21 full-time employees were on standby to help support 1133 students who are on a bursary programme.
The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation identifies candidates with entrepreneurial potential and provides them with quality education. They are supported financially while studying in South Africa’s leading institutions of higher learning. The foundation does this inline with its vision of “empowered, prosperous, productively engaged African citizenry thriving in ethical societies with dignity and hope.”
The Foundation continues to believe that an entrepreneurial mindset will protect recipients of its development programmes against the shocks of a changing economic environment. We are going to discuss detailed guidelines of how to apply for the bursary and help our readers with step-by-step process to submit their applications.
About Allan Gray Orbis Foundation
The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation is a non-governmental organization hat was established in 2005. It focuses mainly on the development of entrepreurs through education and funding. . It has a number of projects that include scholarships, fellowships, and programs to support talented youth aspiring to become successful entrepreneurs.
The Allan Gray Orbis Foundation has helped 225 high school learners, 420 university students and 894 fellows. There is also a total of 16 000 learners who have participated in the Allan Gray Entrepreneural Challenge. These successes affirm the Foundation’s value proposition of knowledge that is fuelled by research and practice on entrepreneurial mindset and behaviours. This helps the Foundation to identify potential in youth which gets nurtured, developed and supported to create impact and change.
The AGOF works in partnership with institutions that pioneer development through education. These partners include a number of universities in South Africa. Closing one of partnership meetings held between the Foundation and Rhodes University, Head of Programmes at AGOF Charleen Duncan reiterated that their goals were closely aligned: “We have a lot of work to do and we cannot do it by ourselves. Collaboration is so important,” she stated.
Fields of Study Covered by the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Bursary
Allan Gray Bursary is offered to undergraduate students who intend pursuing studies in 2026. Preferred qualifications must be in one of the following study fields:
- Science,
- Engineering
- Arts,
- Humanities,
- Commerce,
- Law,
- Health Sciences (with the exclusion of Medicine, Veterinary Studies and Dentistry),
Eligibility Criteria – Who Can Apply?
The Foundation has developed eligibility criteria that is used to selected candidates for its bursary programme. Below are the requirements for funding:
- Applicant must be a current grade 6 learner in year of application
- Applicant must be a South African citizen
- Applicant must be 12 years of age in the year of application
- Applicant must demonstrate financial need
- Applicant must obtain a minimum of 70 % for English and Mathematics
- Applicant must obtain a minimum of 70% average for remaining subjects
- The applicant must demonstrate the following entrepreneurial characteristics
Bursary Value and Benefits
Successful applicants will have the following expenses catered for by the Foundation:
- Tuition and boarding,
- A monthly allowance,
- Toiletries, uniforms and casual clothing allowances.
- Extra murals activities support,
- Stationery and textbooks
- Workshops attendance
- Annual entrepreneurial conference
- Online Learning Campus
- Mentorship program participation
- Mingle with like-minded groups
- Building of confidence
- Development of entrepreneurial mindset
- Growth mindset
- Development of leadership qualities
- Gain access to interactive online learning
- Gain access to speakers and seminars
- Entrepreneurial mindset development through collaboration and a community of like-minded individuals.
How To Apply?
Apply online via the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Bursary Application 2026 official page. Alternatively, you can download the Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship Bursary Application Form (.pdf) and complete it. Provided below is a step-by-step guide to help you apply for financial assistance from Allan Gray.
Required Supporting Documents
Below is the set of all documents required when you submit your online application:
- Your ID document (certified copy)
- Your academic transcripts (Grade 10 to Grade 12)
Offline Application
The alternative way to apply for Allan Gray bursary is to complete the downloaded form
- Gather all required documents
- Sumbit your application with required documents to the following address:
- By post: Allan Gray Orbis Foundation, Freepost no: CB 11349, Kloof Street, 8008
- Delivery by Hand (Cape Town): 46 Hof Street, Oranjezicht, Cape Town, 8001
- Delivery by Hand (Johannesburg): 1st Floor, Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr, 1 Protea Place, Cnr of Fredman Drive and Protea Place, Sandton, Johannesburg, 2196
Closing Date
30 April 2026
No application received after the deadline will be considered – please apply asap.
Bursary Provider’s Contact Details
If you have queries relating to this bursary opportunity, please contact Allan Gray Orbis Foundation on the following details:
- Telephone number: 086 123 9235
- WhatsApp number: 072 137 0238
- Email address: fellowship@allangrayorbis.org
See other Accounting Bursaries available in South Africa for 2026 academic year.