The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation offers bursaries to first-year students in a variety of degree programmes at traditional public universities.

The degree programmes funded are informed by the critical skills needs of the country, FirstRand and social investing focus areas.

The selection criteria are proven academic potential and belonging to a family with a combined gross annual income of not higher than R600 000. Current Grade 12 learners are invited to apply for this prestigious opportunity. Applicants who completed Grade 12 not more than 3 years ago will also be considered.

The bursary covers the first undergraduate degree. Where a postgraduate qualification (PGD or Honours degree) is essential to give access to employment opportunities, e. g. accounting and actuarial science, funding for a postgraduate qualification will be accommodated. Study Trust has been appointed by the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation to administer the bursaries. The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation, through its Education Portfolio, aims to increase access to quality education through the provision of local bursaries and in this way contribute to addressing the youth unemployment crisis.

Degree Programmes Funded

Agricultural Sciences: All specialisations

Commercial Sciences: Accounting, Actuarial Science, Economics, Financial Management

Engineering: All specialisations

Environmental Sciences: Climate Sciences, Renewable Energy

Information Sciences: Business Information Systems, Computer Science,

Data Science, Information Systems, Information Management, Information Technology Mathematical Sciences:

Mathematics, Risk, Statistics

Natural Sciences: Biosciences, Electronics, Physics

Social Sciences and Law: Society and Sustainability, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Law

Arts: Psychology

Selection Criteria

• Only Black South African citizens, as defined by the BBBEE Act, will be considered

• Applicants must have obtained a minimum of level 5 for Mathematics in Grade 12

• Applicants must not be older than 21 years in their first year of study

• Applicants must have applied for and been provisionally admitted into a South African public traditional university for fulltime studies in the degrees stated above

• Only applicants who will start studying towards a first degree in 2025 who are currently in Grade 12 or who have completed Grade 12 not more than 3 years ago will be considered

• Only applicants from families with a combined gross annual income of up to R600,000 will be considered.

What the Bursary Covers

Tuition fees, accommodation, meals, learning resources, a monthly stipend, and a computer for first-year students

How to Apply

Applications must be completed on Study Trust's online application platform and submitted to be considered for a bursary for next year.

Closing Date

15 December 2024