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.
A study conducted by StatsSA that was published on 6 November 2024 revealed that: “Funding from tuition fees rose sharply in 2021 as higher education institutions began to slowly reopen their doors. In 2023, tuition fees accounted for R38,8 billion (or 36%) of total higher education funding. Government grants accounted for the largest share (R48,3 billion or 45%). Other funding contributed R20,4 billion (or 19%).”
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 THE 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.
STUDY FIELDS COVERED BY ALLAN GRAY BURSARY
Allan Gray Bursary is offered to undergraduate students who intend pursuing studies in 2025. 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),
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ALLAN GRAY ORBIS FELLOWSHIP BURSARY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
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
MORE ABOUT ALLAN GRAY ORBIS FELLOWSHIP BURSARY – VALUE & 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 FOR THE ALLAN GRAY ORBIS FELLOWSHIP BURSARY?
There are two ways you can submit your application for the bursary. You can either apply online via a dedicated page or 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.
We have put together a list of steps you must follow to submit your bursary application.
Here is a step-by-step guide to help students apply for this Fellowship Bursary:
- Step 1: Get on the internet and visit the Foundation’s official website.
- Step 2: Create your online account
- Step 3: Log-in your account using your credentials (username & password)
- Step 4: Complete the online form by filling in all sections
- Step 5: Attach all required documents as appearing on the list below.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS FOR ALLAN GRAY ORBIS FELLOWSHIP BURSARY
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 PROCESS
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 FOR ALLAN GRAY BURSARY
The closing date for the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation Bursary is 30 April 2025.
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
Grads24 regularly update bursary listings to bring you the latest opportunities—this article was last updated in February 2025.
ALLAN GRAY BURSARY FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
We decided to add frequently asked questions (faq) to help our readers increase their success chances, here they are below:
What is the Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship Bursary?
- The Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship bursary is a prestigious scheme that provides financial support to South African students who want to become future entrepreneurial leaders.
Who is can apply for the Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship Bursary?
- Grade 12 and and first-year university students who demonstrate academic excellence, leadership skills, and entrepreneurial potential are invited to apply.
What does the Allan Gray Bursary cover?
- The Fellowship provides funding towards tuition fees, accommodation, textbooks, and a monthly living stipend.
What study fields are eligible for the bursary?
- The Fellowship supports Science, Engineering, Arts, Humanities, Commerce, Law and Health Sciences. These are aligned with the entrepreneurial development focus of the program.
What are the requirements for Allan Gray bursary?
- The requirements for the Allan Gray bursary program are academic excellence, leadership qualities, a strong commitment to personal growth, and entrepreneurial potential.
What are the additional benefits of the bursary?
- The additional benefits of the bursary, over and above tuition, accommodation, books and means are mentorship, personal development workshops, and access to a network of like-minded peers and industry experts.
Are there any obligations after completion of studies?
- Successful beneficiaries who complete their studies are expected to apply the skills and knowledge gained to create positive impact in their communities. There are no financial obligations to the Foundation.
Can international students apply?
- The Fellowship is generally open to citizens of South Africa and certain other Southern African countries specified by the Foundation.
How do I apply for the bursary?
- There are two ways to apply for the bursary. The first one is online application where you apply via the Foundation’s official webiste. The second option is to apply offline by downloading and completing the PDF application form. Complete forms must be returned to an address provided. You can either hand deliver it or post it to the official address.
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About the Author:
Mr. Percy Mncwango is a seasoned education writer with over 10 years of experience in creating high-ranking articles that provide valuable guidance for students seeking university funding. As a graduate of the University of Cape Town Business School, Percy combines deep knowledge and personal experience to help students succeed. He has received bursaries from Nampak, Telkom, and the Institute of Directors of South Africa (IoD). Percy’s educational background, which includes Richtec TVET, Mangosuthu University of Technology, and UCT GSB, equips him with a unique perspective that enriches his SEO-optimized content and resonates with aspiring scholars.