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SIOC-CDT Bursary South Africa 2027

🟢 SIOC-CDT BURSARY 2027 STATUS: OPEN
The current 2027 bursary intake is accepting applications. The closing date is 30 November 2026 at 12:00 midday.

WHAT IS THE SIOC-CDT BURSARY?

The SIOC-CDT Bursary is the tertiary education funding scheme of the SIOC Community Development Trust (SIOC-CDT). It forms part of the Trust’s Education, Training and Skills Development programme and supports students from its beneficiary communities who need financial assistance to pursue higher education.

The Trust supports access to tertiary education at recognised public higher education institutions and has historically provided funding across a broad range of academic disciplines. The programme is particularly relevant to students from the Trust’s beneficiary communities in the Northern Cape and Limpopo.

For the 2027 intake, the bursary is available for undergraduate and postgraduate study, with preference given to students pursuing scarce and critical skills fields. The programme also encourages applications from students living with disabilities.

WHAT FIELDS OF STUDY DOES THE SIOC-CDT BURSARY COVER?

The 2027 programme allows students in any field of study to apply, although preference may be given to qualifications in scarce and critical skills areas. Previous SIOC-CDT bursary information has included fields such as the following:

  • Agriculture: Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Engineering, Food Technology, Food Science, Veterinary-related studies and other agricultural fields.
  • Business and Economics: Accounting, Economics, Auditing and Tax, Actuarial Science, Statistics, Mathematics and Project Management.
  • Education: BEd programmes including Foundation Phase, FET, Mathematics, Physical Science, Natural Sciences, Languages and Special Needs Education.
  • Engineering and Sciences: Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Geology, Quantity Surveying, Architecture, Town Planning and Environmental Health.
  • Health and Clinical Sciences: Medicine, Pharmacy, Dentistry, Nursing, Emergency Medical Services, Biochemistry and Medical Laboratory Sciences.
  • Information Technology: Computer Science, Software Development, Data Science and Analytics, Web Design and Development and related IT studies.
  • Law: Bachelor of Laws (LLB).
  • Tourism and Hospitality: Hospitality Management, Arts and Culture, Heritage and Ecotourism Management.

The approved fields can change between application cycles. If your qualification is outside the fields previously prioritised by SIOC-CDT, you should still check the requirements for the current intake because the 2027 programme permits applications across any field of study.

WHAT ARE THE SIOC-CDT BURSARY REQUIREMENTS?

For the current 2027 intake, applicants must meet the programme’s citizenship, age, academic, financial and community requirements.

  • You must be a South African citizen.
  • You must be 35 years old or younger at the relevant closing date.
  • You must live in or originate from an SIOC-CDT beneficiary community.
  • You must be studying or intending to study full-time.
  • You must have achieved a minimum overall average of 65% in your latest academic results.
  • You must be accepted, provisionally accepted or have applied to a recognised public higher education institution in South Africa.
  • You must demonstrate financial need, with the current household-income threshold set at less than R600,000 per year before deductions.
  • You must be studying or intending to study towards an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate qualification.

The qualifying beneficiary communities are located within Gamagara Local Municipality, Ga-Segonyana Local Municipality, Joe Morolong Local Municipality and Tsantsabane Local Municipality in the Northern Cape, and Thabazimbi Local Municipality in Limpopo.

Students living with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Meeting the minimum requirements does not automatically guarantee an award, as applications are subject to the Trust’s selection process.

WHAT DOES THE SIOC-CDT BURSARY COVER?

The bursary provides financial support towards the costs of tertiary study. The current programme information lists the following forms of support:

  • Registration fees
  • Tuition fees
  • Accommodation
  • Prescribed study materials
  • A laptop
  • A stipend
  • Assistive devices for students with disabilities

The precise value of the stipend and other benefits can vary between application cycles. Applicants should therefore rely on the current bursary information and application terms rather than assuming that an amount from a previous year will remain unchanged.

Shortlisted applicants may also be required to attend an interview as part of the selection process.

HOW DO I APPLY FOR THE SIOC-CDT BURSARY?

There are two ways to apply for the SIOC-CDT bursary:

Online – complete the SIOC-CDT Bursary Application 2027 onine application

Manual – download and complete the SIOC-CDT Bursary Application Form 2027 (.pdf)

WHAT DOCUMENTS ARE NEEDED FOR THE SIOC-CDT BURSARY?

The current application requirements include supporting documents that establish your identity, academic record, admission status, residence and household financial circumstances.

  • Certified copy of your South African ID.
  • Latest academic results, such as Grade 12 results or your latest tertiary academic record, depending on your study status.
  • Matric certificate where applicable.
  • Proof of acceptance, provisional acceptance or application to a recognised public tertiary institution.
  • Proof of household income, such as recent payslips or the applicable declaration where a parent or guardian is unemployed.
  • Recent bank statements for the relevant parent or guardian where required.
  • Recent proof of residence.
  • Medical documentation confirming the nature of a disability, where applicable.

Certified documents must comply with the current application instructions. Recent SIOC-CDT application requirements have specified that certified documents should not be older than three months, and applicants should ensure that documents are clear, legible and not altered.

Check the current application form before submitting your documents because the exact document checklist and certification requirements may be updated for a new intake.

WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE SIOC-CDT BURSARY?

30 November 2026 at 12:00 midday.

Late applications will be rejected.

HOW DO I CONTACT SIOC-CDT ABOUT THE BURSARY?

For current bursary application enquiries, the programme’s bursary administration is handled through DUX. The published bursary contact details are:

Use the current bursary contact route for questions about eligibility, application submission or supporting documents. Contact details may change between application cycles, so check the latest application instructions before contacting the administrator.

ABOUT SIOC COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT TRUST

The SIOC Community Development Trust (SIOC-CDT) was established in 2006 by Sishen Iron Ore Company (SIOC), which is part of Kumba Iron Ore. The Trust was established to invest in the development of communities associated with SIOC’s mining operations.

Its beneficiary communities are located in four municipal areas in the Northern Cape and Thabazimbi Local Municipality in Limpopo. Education, Training and Skills Development is one of the Trust’s focus areas, with the bursary programme providing tertiary funding to eligible members of these communities.

The bursary is therefore not a general national funding programme open to all South African students. The applicant’s connection to an SIOC-CDT beneficiary community is an important part of eligibility.

SIOC-CDT BURSARY FAQ

CAN POSTGRADUATE STUDENTS APPLY FOR THE SIOC-CDT BURSARY?

Yes. The current 2027 programme information allows applications for both undergraduate and postgraduate study, subject to the other eligibility requirements.

CAN I APPLY IF MY FIELD OF STUDY IS NOT ON THE PREVIOUSLY LISTED SIOC-CDT FIELDS?

Yes. The current 2027 information allows applications in any field of study, although preference may be given to scarce and critical skills fields.

CAN STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES APPLY?

Yes. Students living with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Assistive devices can also form part of the bursary support where applicable.

WHICH COMMUNITIES QUALIFY FOR THE SIOC-CDT BURSARY?

The beneficiary areas are Gamagara, Ga-Segonyana, Joe Morolong and Tsantsabane in the Northern Cape, and Thabazimbi in Limpopo. Applicants must live in or originate from an eligible SIOC-CDT beneficiary community.

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This bursary information was last updated in September 2026.

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