The FirstRand Foundation Bursary is designed to provide financial assistance to selected students, allowing them to complete their studies. Beneficiaries of the bursary stand the opportunity to secure employment within FirstRand upon completion.
Financial disadvantage often force many students to drop-out from university, leaving their qualifications incomplete. In order to mitigate this, the FirstRand Foundation extend finacial support to undergraduate students. In this article, Grads24 explores eligibility requirements, benefits of the bursary and important dates to help increase your chances of acceptance. Furthermore, we take a look at fields of study selected to qualify for funding.
What Is FirstRand Foundation Bursary?
The FirstRand Foundation Bursary is a financial support scheme covering a broad spectrum of qualifications. It caters for a variety of expenses incurred by undergraduate students while pursuing their qualifications. All approved study fields are aligned with the business of FirstRand. The main objective of the bursary is to support youth with funds they need to complete their studies and unlock their dreams.
FirstRand Foundation Bursary Programme – Study Fields
This bursary programme caters for the following fields of study:
- All engineering disciplines are invited to apply
- Economics
- Accounting
- Law
- Financial Management
- Risk Management
- Actuarial Science
- Agricultural Science
- Bioscience
- Climate Science
- Data Science
- Electronics
- Environmental Science
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems
- Mathematical Science
- Physics
- Renewable Energy
- Society and Sustainability
- Statistics
- Business Information Systems
- Computer Science
- Information Management
- Information Systems
- Information Science
- Information Technology
Eligibility for the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary
In order for your application to be considered by FirsRand Foundation, you must meet the following criteria:
- Applicants must be a South African citizen
- Applicants must be Black (African, Coloured, Indian, Asian)
- Applicants for the bursary must NOT be older than 21 years of age in their first year of study
- You must be currently in Grade 12 or have completed Matric within the last 3 years
- Applicants must have achieved a minimum of level 5 for Mathematics in Matric
- Your qualification of choice must fall within the ones below (fields of study)
- Applicants must have applied for and been provisionally admitted to study at a public university in South Africa, in 2024
- Applicants must belong to the “missing middle” group, with a combined gross family income of between R350 000 and R600 000 per annum
FirstRand Foundation Bursary Value & Benefits
The bursary will cover your cost towards your studies which will include the following:
- tuition fees,
- learning resources,
- computer (for 1st year students),
- accommodation,
- meals and
- monthly stipend
How To Apply?
- Step 1 – Visit the official FirstRand Foundation Bursary Aplication 2026 dedicated page
- Step 2 – Provide your email address in the field provided and click the next button. Make sure it is a correct and active email address where you receive your communications.
- Step 3 – Provide personal information needed including your 13 digits South African ID number. Press the ‘continue’ button provided.
- Step 4 – Check your email inbox messages for your passcode. Enter the passcode in the field provided and press continue.
- Step 5 – Now that you have created your profile, continue with your application and upload all required documents as listed below.
Required Documents
Here is the list of all required supporting document that you must upload:
- ID copy / Refugee permit
- Applicants younger than 18 are required to complete a consent form
- Mother proof of income (provide a death certificate if she is late)
- Father proof of income (provide a death certificate if he is late)
- Guardian proof of income (if applicable)
- Your ID size profile picture
- Proof of acceptance / registration
- Proof of address
- National Senior certificate (Matric Certificate)
- Full academic record for students already at the University
Note: All documents must be certified and the certification date must not be older than 3 months.
Closing Date
5 October 2025.
(No applications must be sent after the closing date – they will not be accepted.)
Bursary Contact Information
If you have queries regarding this bursary programme, please use the following contact details:
- Tel: 011 403 1632
- Email: apply@StudyTrust.org.za
This article was last updated in December 2025.