PHARMACEUTICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTH AFRICA BURSARY

The PSSA Bursary is offered by the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa which is a professional body that represents pharmaceutical professionals in South Africa. Since it was established in 1885, the organisation has been able to help the sector grow. Its areas of focus still remain education, ethical practice standards, and advocating for policies with the aim of benefiting pharmacists and the general public.

ABOUT THE PSSA BURSARY PROGRAMME

The PSSA Bursary programme is a financial assistance package that targets students who are pursuing studies aligned with the sector. The main objective of the bursary is to provide financial relief to allow students to focus on studies while fees are taken care of.

FIELDS OF STUDY

All bursaries are offered through the  Foundation for Pharmaceutical Education (FPE) for both undergraduate and postgraduate studnets.

Applicants of the Pharmaceutical Society of South Africa Bursary must be on the second year of study. You must be pursuing a BPharm undergraduate degree.

Postgraduate studies that are funded are master’s and doctoral studies in pharmacy-related fields. There are two factors that determine the eligbility for the bursary – the academic potential (60%) and financial need (40%).

ELIGBILITY CRITERA FOR THE PSSA BURSARY

Below is the list of eligibility requirements for your 2025 application to be considered. They are for undergraduate and postgraduate applicants:

Undergraduate Bursary Requirements:

1. The applicant must be a South African citizen with a valid ID.
2. The applicant must have completed Matric (Grade 12).
3. The applicant must be enrolled full-time in a BPharm program, beginning from the second year of study.
4. The applicant must be studying at an accredited tertiary institution in South Africa.
5. The applicant must be a registered member of the PSSA (free membership).
6. The applicant must have passed all previous subjects/modules.
7. The applicant must have achieved a minimum average of 60% in prior years of study.
8. The applicant must demonstrate financial need, with family income not exceeding R130,000 per annum before tax.

Postgraduate Bursary Requirements:

1. The applicant must be a South African citizen.
2. The applicant must have completed Matric and an undergraduate degree.
3. The applicant must be enrolled full-time in a postgraduate pharmacy program (Master’s or Doctoral) at a recognized South African institution.
4. The applicant must be a registered member of the PSSA.
5. The applicant must agree to the terms and conditions of the bursary as outlined in the application form.

STEP-BYSTEP GUIDE TO APPLY FOR THE PSSA BURSARY

Applications for undergraduate will OPEN in June 2025

Postgraduate Application Process

• STEP 1 – Donwload the official PSSA Bursary Application Form 2025 (word document)
• STEP 2 – Complete the form by providing all required information
• STEP 3 – Attach all required documents
• STEP 4 – Submit by email to address: nitsa@pssa.org.za OR fax to 0866 159 835

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS

• Certified copies of your ID document
• Certified copies of your full tertiary academic record/transcript
• Application motivation letter (read our guide on how to write a bursary motivational letter)

DEALINE FOR APPLICATIONS

Applications for undergraduate are closed and will re-open in June 2025. Postgraduate applications deadline is 5 May 2025.