The GCRA Bursary is a financial support awarded by the Gauteng City Region Academy, an agency of the Gauteng Education Department. The bursary programme creates a pool of qualified individuals who can contribute to the Province’s economic development agenda.
The agency has identified scarce skills which form part of study fields that are funded by the GCRA Bursary programme. It is a yearly programme that gets renewed when satisfactory results are submitted to the agency.
[ez-toc]FIELDS OF STUDY COVERED BY THE GCRA BURSARY
The GCRA Bursary caters for ANY fields of study pursued by Gauteng Province students in 2025 academic year. These include both Undergraduate and Postgraduate studies.
*View SIMILAR General Bursaries and Scholarships available in South Africa
*View our Bursaries and Scholarships OPEN for applications in 2025 academic year
GCRA BURSARY ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
The bursary is made available to students who reside in Gauteng Province. Applicants for the GCRA bursary must meet the following requirements to be considered:
- Learners from Gauteng Province (proof of residence is required)
- Applicants must be in possession of matric
- Applicants must intend enrolling for an undergraduate programme
- You must have been accepted at an accredited PSET institution of learning and/or is currently registered for such.
- Postgraduate applicants must be accepted at an accredited institution of higher learning
WHO QUALIFIES FOR THE GCRA BURSARY?
The students who meet the following criteria automatically qualify to apply. They must complete the application form online in order to be considered. They are as follows:
- Top Achievers from Gauteng Province Schools
- Top learner from no-fee paying schools in Gauteng Province
- Top 3 learner from LSEN schools in Gauteng Province
HOW MUCH DOES THE GCRA BURSARY PAY?
The bursary caters for the following expenses:
- registration fees,
- tuition fees,
- accommodation in residence (to a maximum value of R65 000) or off-campus/ private accommodation (to a maximum value of R47 000),
- books,
- laptop and
- a living allowance for off-campus/ private accommodation.
HOW TO APPLY FOR THE GCRA BURSARY?
- STEP 1 – Visit the official GCRA Bursary Application 2025 dedicated applications page.
- STEP 2 – Complete the application form by providing your personal and academic details needed
- STEP 3 – Upload all required documents
- STEP 4 – Submit your application before the closing date
You can download guidelines to complete the bursary application here.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- Certified copy of South African ID(by birth)
- Proof of Gauteng residence(utility bill or letter from ward councilor)
- Matric Certificate and or latest academic results(certified)
- Proof of income from parent(s) or guardian(s) or affidavit
- Letter of Motivation not more than 2 pages, read our guide on how to write a bursary motivational letter.)
- Proof of registration or acceptance letter from PSET institution
- Disability or medical report(where applicable)
CLOSING DATE FOR THE GCRA BURSARY
There are two separate closing dates for the GCRA Bursary:
- Current bursary holders/renewal closing date – 28 February 2025
- New intake – applications closed, new date not announced yet.
(Applications received after the closing date will not be considered)
BURSARY CONTACT DETAILS
New bursary queries (Email: gdeinfo@gauteng.gov.za / Tel: 0800 000 789 or 011 355 0000)
Bursary renewal queries (Email: Bursaries.Gcra@gauteng.gov.za)
If the GCRA bursary does not match your qualification of choice, you can browse other Government Bursaries that are open to applications.
*Please note:
- Only South African citizens may apply for this bursary. Applications from non-South African citizens will not be reviewed.
- Ensure all required documents are included with your application. Incomplete submissions will result in disqualification.
- Late applications will not be considered, so submit your application before the closing date.
This article was last updated in March 2025.
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.