The Bowmans Bursary provides financial support to academically strong South African students who are studying or planning to study law. The programme is aimed at excellent Matric students intending to pursue a law qualification and exceptional university students already studying law.
Application period: 1 August to 30 September annually
Current cycle: Students applying during the 2026 application window are applying for the following academic year.
Minimum average: 70% overall
Study area: Law
Institution: Public university in South Africa
Application method: Online
Last verified: August 2026. Application dates, eligibility requirements and supporting-document requirements can change. Check the official Bowmans application information before submitting your application.
Quick answer: Yes, the Bowmans Bursary is available to South African students pursuing law. Bowmans currently lists LLB, BCom Law and BA Law among the qualifications it looks for. The firm states that applications open annually from 1 August to 30 September. Applicants must have at least a 70% overall average, demonstrate financial need and be accepted at or studying at a public university.
Bowmans Bursary 2027 Application Status
The Bowmans Bursary operates on an annual application cycle. Bowmans currently states that bursary applications open on 1 August and close on 30 September each year. Therefore, students seeking funding for the following academic year should prepare their documents before the application window opens.
Important: Do not confuse the Bowmans Bursary with Bowmans’ vacation work, virtual experience or candidate legal practitioner programmes. These are separate opportunities offered by the firm.
What Is the Bowmans Bursary?
The Bowmans Bursary is a financial-support programme offered by Bowmans, a leading African law firm. The bursary is intended to support students with strong academic potential who want to pursue a career in law.
Bowmans specifically says that it looks for students with strong academic achievement, commercial awareness and a genuine passion for law. The firm offers the bursary to excellent Matric students hoping to study law as well as exceptional university students currently studying law.
About Bowmans
Bowmans is an African law firm providing legal services across a range of corporate and commercial practice areas. For students considering the bursary, the organisation is particularly relevant because the programme is connected to the development of future legal professionals.
Bowmans also offers other student and graduate opportunities, including its Bowmans Break vacation work programme, virtual work experience and candidate legal practitioner articles. These should be regarded as separate programmes rather than components of the bursary.
Fields of Study Covered by the Bowmans Bursary
The Bowmans Bursary is specifically focused on law studies. Bowmans currently identifies the following qualifications:
- LLB
- BCom Law
- BA Law
Bowmans states that it looks for students studying towards these law qualifications.
Who Can Apply for the Bowmans Bursary?
Applicants should carefully check the current Bowmans requirements before applying. The firm’s current requirements include the following:
- You must be a South African citizen.
- You must have excellent academic results.
- You must have achieved a minimum 70% overall average.
- You must be studying or intending to study LLB, BCom Law or BA Law.
- You must be accepted at or studying at a public university in South Africa.
- You must demonstrate financial need.
- If you are in Matric, you must provide the required Grade 11 and latest Grade 12 results.
Bowmans also requires applicants to submit evidence relating to household income and financial circumstances. For example, the current requirements mention payslips for both parents or an affidavit where appropriate.
Can I Apply for the Bowmans Bursary if I Am in Matric?
Yes. Bowmans specifically considers excellent Matric students who are hoping to study law. Matric applicants should be prepared to provide their Grade 11 final results together with their latest Grade 12 results as requested by Bowmans.
Can LLB Students Apply for the Bowmans Bursary?
Yes. Current university students studying law are eligible to be considered, provided they meet the programme requirements. Bowmans specifically lists LLB among the qualifications it looks for.
Can BCom Law Students Apply?
Yes. BCom Law is one of the qualifications specifically identified by Bowmans as part of its bursary programme.
Can BA Law Students Apply?
Yes. Bowmans also lists BA Law among the qualifications it considers under the bursary programme.
Can I Apply if I Study at a Private University?
Bowmans’ current bursary requirements state that applicants must be accepted or studying at a public university and that private institutions are not eligible. Always check the official application requirements for the cycle in which you are applying.
What Does the Bowmans Bursary Cover?
Bowmans’ current official bursary information confirms the programme and its eligibility requirements but does not publish a fixed rand value for the bursary on the page reviewed. For this reason, Grads24 does not state an unverified bursary amount.
Students should check the current bursary terms and application information for details about the expenses covered in the relevant cycle. Do not assume that every expense is automatically covered simply because a bursary is described elsewhere as “full cost”.
Bowmans Bursary Requirements and Supporting Documents
Prepare your supporting documents before beginning the application. Bowmans currently requests documents and information that can include the following:
- South African ID
- Grade 11 final results and latest Grade 12 results if you are in Matric
- Matric Certificate if you have completed Matric
- Academic transcript if you are already studying at university
- Letter motivating why you need a bursary
- Payslips for both parents, where applicable
- Affidavit where applicable, including circumstances such as a single-parent household or unemployed parents
The exact documents requested can depend on your circumstances, so use the current online application requirements as the final checklist before submitting.
How to Apply for the Bowmans Bursary
Bowmans accepts bursary applications online. The firm directs applicants to its graduate recruitment platform for the application process.
- Check that you meet the Bowmans Bursary eligibility requirements.
- Confirm that your intended or current qualification is LLB, BCom Law or BA Law.
- Make sure you are accepted at or studying at a public university in South Africa.
- Prepare your academic results and identity document.
- Prepare your financial-need information, including the required income documentation.
- Write your bursary motivation explaining why you need funding and why you want to pursue a career in law.
- Complete the Bowmans online application during the official application period.
- Review your application and supporting documents carefully before submitting.
Bowmans Bursary Closing Date
The current Bowmans bursary application period runs from 1 August to 30 September each year. This means students seeking funding for the following academic year should monitor the programme during this period.
For the 2027 academic year: check the live Bowmans application platform during the 2026 application window for the current application status and closing information.
What Happens After You Apply?
Submitting an application does not guarantee that you will receive funding. Bowmans considers academic achievement, financial need and the overall suitability of applicants for its programme.
Make sure your application is complete and that all requested supporting documents have been supplied. Missing information can make it difficult for the organisation to assess your application.
How to Write a Strong Bowmans Bursary Motivation
Your motivation should explain more than simply saying that you need money for university. Use it to show why you want to study law, what you hope to achieve and why financial support would make a meaningful difference to your studies.
- Explain your motivation for studying law.
- Discuss your academic performance.
- Explain your financial circumstances honestly.
- Describe your career goals.
- Show your interest in the legal profession.
- Proofread your motivation before submitting it.
Bowmans says it looks for well-rounded applicants with strong academic achievement and commercial awareness, so your application should demonstrate more than marks alone.
Bowmans Bursary Contact Details
For the most current contact information and application instructions, use Bowmans’ official graduate recruitment information. The online application platform is the preferred route for submitting bursary applications.
Bowmans Bursary vs Other Law Bursaries
The Bowmans Bursary is one of several funding opportunities available to South African students studying law. If you do not meet Bowmans’ requirements, or if the application period has closed, do not stop your search.
Browse our Law Bursaries South Africa directory for other opportunities, including bursaries and scholarships that may have different academic, financial or university requirements.
You can also compare opportunities by looking at our General Bursaries South Africa page if you are willing to consider funding programmes that cover more than one field of study.
Related Law Bursaries
- Bheki Mlangeni Memorial Scholarship
- Legal Practitioners Fidelity Fund Bursary
- View all Law Bursaries in South Africa
Frequently Asked Questions About the Bowmans Bursary
Is the Bowmans Bursary open for 2027?
Bowmans states that its bursary applications open annually from 1 August to 30 September. Students applying for the 2027 academic year should check the official application platform during the 2026 application window for the current status.
What is the Bowmans Bursary closing date?
The current Bowmans information states that bursary applications close on 30 September each year.
What qualifications does the Bowmans Bursary cover?
Bowmans currently lists LLB, BCom Law and BA Law among the qualifications it looks for under its bursary programme.
What average do I need for the Bowmans Bursary?
The current Bowmans requirements state that applicants must have achieved a minimum overall average of 70%.
Can Matric students apply for the Bowmans Bursary?
Yes. Bowmans considers excellent Matric students who hope to study law. Matric applicants are asked to provide their Grade 11 final results and latest Grade 12 results.
Can university students apply for the Bowmans Bursary?
Yes. Bowmans also considers exceptional university students currently studying law, provided they meet the programme requirements.
Can I apply for the Bowmans Bursary if I study at a private university?
No. Bowmans’ current requirements state that applicants must be accepted or studying at a public university, with private institutions excluded.
Is Bowmans Bursary only for LLB students?
No. Bowmans currently identifies LLB, BCom Law and BA Law as qualifications it looks for under the bursary programme.
How do I apply for the Bowmans Bursary?
Bowmans accepts bursary applications online through its graduate recruitment platform. Applications are normally open from 1 August to 30 September each year.
Does the Bowmans Bursary require financial need?
Yes. Bowmans states that applicants must demonstrate financial need and requires supporting information such as parents’ payslips or an affidavit where applicable.
Other Funding for Law Students
If the Bowmans Bursary is closed or you do not qualify, continue searching for other Law Bursaries in South Africa. Different programmes have different closing dates, academic requirements and fields of study.
Students who are still deciding how to finance tertiary education can also explore the wider Grads24 bursary directory for opportunities outside the legal field.
Important: Bursary requirements, application dates, funding arrangements and eligibility criteria can change. Grads24 aims to keep this page updated, but the bursary provider’s latest information should always be treated as the final authority before you submit an application.