🎓 50 fully funded scholarships for 2026. From government programmes to international partnerships — these opportunities cover tuition, stipends, and more for South African students at all levels.
SAMRC Biostatistics Scholarship
South African Medical Research Council
Level: Masters / Doctoral
- R200,000–R250,000 p.a. + tuition
- Biostatistics, Data Science, Epidemiology
📅 15 Dec 2025
Stipendium Hungaricum (DHET)
Dept of Higher Education & Hungary
Level: Bachelors / Masters / PhD
- Full tuition + stipend + flights + medical
- Study in Hungary, English-taught
📅 15 Jan 2026
TRAJECTS Master’s Scholarship
University of Cape Town
Level: Masters
- €1,000 monthly stipend + workshops
- Energy, climate, sustainability transitions
📅 Check website
DSI-NRF Postgraduate Funding
NRF / DSI
Level: Masters / Doctoral
- Full or Partial Cost of Study
- All disciplines, 65%+ academic record
📅 Check NRF website
Mastercard Foundation Scholars – UP
University of Pretoria
Level: UG / Honours / Masters
- Full tuition, leadership development
- For African students with financial need
📅 UG: 31 Aug 2026 / PG: 30 Sep 2026
Mastercard Foundation – UWC
University of the Western Cape
Level: UG / Masters
- Full tuition, housing, stipend, laptop
- Focus on women, refugees, disabilities
📅 31 Aug 2025
Vodacom Foundation Bursary
Vodacom
Level: UG (1st–3rd year)
- Full tuition for STEM / Business
- South African citizens, financial need
📅 31 Aug 2026
PEP Africa Fellows in Education
PEP
Level: MA / PhD (research fellowship)
- $35,000 research grant + $25,000 support
- Education policy & quantitative methods
📅 30 Jun 2026
HCI Foundation Bursary
HCI Foundation
Level: Honours / PG Diploma / PGCE
- Tuition up to R40,000 p.a.
- At selected SA universities, by invitation
📅 Feb–Mar 2026 (invitation only)
TAGDev 2.0 – Sustainable Agriculture
RUFORUM / Mastercard Foundation
Level: Masters
- Full tuition, stipend, accommodation, laptop
- At UFS, for African candidates
📅 31 May 2026
DHET Funda Germany
DHET & Constructor University
Level: Bachelors / Masters / PhD
- Full tuition, flights, stipend, accommodation
- Study in Germany, English-medium
📅 15 Feb 2026 (UG/PG) / 31 Mar 2026 (PhD)
SARAO SPU Scholarships
South African Radio Astronomy Observatory
Level: UG / PG
- R178,040 + laptop grant of R13,000
- For students from specific towns
📅 30 Sep 2025
Manchester Global Futures – UG
University of Manchester
Level: UG
- £10,000/year discount (up to £30,000)
- For South African NSC/IEB students
📅 26 Feb 2026 (NSC)
Manchester Global Futures – Masters
University of Manchester
Level: Masters
- £18,000 tuition discount
- For African domiciled students
📅 23 Apr 2026
SAMRC Research Associate
South African Medical Research Council
Level: Masters / Doctoral
- R200,000–R250,000 p.a.
- Priority research areas, full-time
📅 21 Aug 2025
NRF Freestanding Masters/Doctoral
National Research Foundation
Level: Masters / Doctoral
- Varies, for SA citizens & residents
- All fields, 65%+ required
📅 Check NRF portal
Canon Collins Scholarships
Canon Collins Trust
Level: Masters / PhD
- Full funding for SA & SADC
- Social justice & development fields
📅 Usually Sep–Nov
Commonwealth Scholarships
UK Government
Level: Masters / PhD
- Full tuition, flights, living allowance
- For Commonwealth citizens
📅 Usually Nov–Dec
Fulbright Scholarships
US Government
Level: Masters / PhD
- Full tuition, flights, living stipend
- For SA citizens, strong academic record
📅 Check website
Chevening Scholarships
UK Foreign Office
Level: Masters
- Full tuition, flights, living allowance
- For future leaders, 2+ years work exp
📅 Usually Nov
DAAD Scholarships
German Academic Exchange Service
Level: Masters / PhD
- Full funding for study in Germany
- Various fields, SA citizens
📅 Check DAAD website
Mandela Rhodes Scholarships
Mandela Rhodes Foundation
Level: Honours / Masters
- Full tuition + personal development
- For young African leaders
📅 Usually Aug–Sep
Allan Gray Orbis Fellowship
Allan Gray Orbis Foundation
Level: UG / PG
- Full funding for entrepreneurship
- For SA citizens with potential
📅 Usually Jun–Sep
Google Africa Scholarship
Google
Level: UG / PG (tech)
- Funding for tech degrees
- African students in STEM
📅 Check website
SARAO Masters/Doctoral (NRF)
NRF / SARAO
Level: Masters / Doctoral
- Full funding for astronomy related
- SA citizens & residents
📅 Check NRF portal
DSTI Postgraduate Funding
DSI & NRF
Level: Masters / Doctoral
- Full Cost of Study or Partial
- For SA citizens & residents
📅 Check NRF portal
UJ Merit Bursaries
University of Johannesburg
Level: UG / PG
- Various merit-based awards
- Check faculty-specific offerings
📅 Check UJ website
UP Bursaries
University of Pretoria
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor-funded bursaries
- Check UP financial aid
📅 Check UP website
NMU Bursaries
Nelson Mandela University
Level: UG / PG
- Various bursaries & scholarships
- Merit & need-based
📅 Check NMU website
NWU Bursaries
North-West University
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor-funded awards
- Check NWU financial aid
📅 Check NWU website
Stellenbosch Bursaries
Stellenbosch University
Level: UG / PG
- Multiple faculty & donor bursaries
- Merit & financial need
📅 Check SU website
UCT Bursaries
University of Cape Town
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor & faculty bursaries
- Check UCT financial aid
📅 Check UCT website
Wits Bursaries
University of the Witwatersrand
Level: UG / PG
- Multiple scholarship programmes
- Merit & need-based
📅 Check Wits website
UKZN Bursaries
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor-funded awards
- Check UKZN financial aid
📅 Check UKZN website
UFS Bursaries
University of the Free State
Level: UG / PG
- Multiple scholarship programmes
- Merit & need-based
📅 Check UFS website
TUT Bursaries
Tshwane University of Technology
Level: UG / PG
- Various bursaries & scholarships
- Check TUT financial aid
📅 Check TUT website
CPUT Bursaries
Cape Peninsula UT
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor-funded awards
- Merit & financial need
📅 Check CPUT website
DUT Bursaries
Durban UT
Level: UG / PG
- Various scholarships & bursaries
- Check DUT financial aid
📅 Check DUT website
VUT Bursaries
Vaal UT
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor-funded awards
- Check VUT financial aid
📅 Check VUT website
CUT Bursaries
Central UT
Level: UG / PG
- Various scholarships & bursaries
- Check CUT financial aid
📅 Check CUT website
MUT Bursaries
Mangosuthu UT
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor-funded awards
- Check MUT financial aid
📅 Check MUT website
Univen Bursaries
University of Venda
Level: UG / PG
- Various scholarships & bursaries
- Check Univen financial aid
📅 Check Univen website
UL Bursaries
University of Limpopo
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor-funded awards
- Check UL financial aid
📅 Check UL website
UniZulu Bursaries
University of Zululand
Level: UG / PG
- Various scholarships & bursaries
- Check UniZulu financial aid
📅 Check UniZulu website
Rhodes University Bursaries
Rhodes University
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor-funded awards
- Check Rhodes financial aid
📅 Check Rhodes website
SPU Bursaries
Sol Plaatje University
Level: UG / PG
- Various scholarships & bursaries
- Check SPU financial aid
📅 Check SPU website
UFH Bursaries
University of Fort Hare
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor-funded awards
- Check UFH financial aid
📅 Check UFH website
NWU PUK Bursaries
North-West University (PUK)
Level: UG / PG
- Various scholarships & bursaries
- Check NWU financial aid
📅 Check NWU website
UMP Bursaries
University of Mpumalanga
Level: UG / PG
- Various donor-funded awards
- Check UMP financial aid
📅 Check UMP website
UKZN Scholarships
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Level: UG / PG
- Various scholarships & bursaries
- Check UKZN financial aid
📅 Check UKZN website
📌 Disclaimer: Scholarship details, deadlines, and eligibility are subject to change. Always verify the latest information on the official provider websites.
Sources: SAMRC, DHET, NRF, University portals, Mastercard Foundation, and partner organisations.
