South Deep Education Trust Bursary 2027 | Apply Now

About the South Deep Education Trust (SDET)

The South Deep Education Trust (SDET), established by Gold Fields, introduced its Bursary Programme in 2015 to support educational development and create opportunities for students from historically disadvantaged and low-income households in communities surrounding the South Deep Mine and its labour-sending areas.

The programme provides financial assistance to Grade 12 learners who have been provisionally accepted for tertiary education in the following year, as well as current tertiary students from the mine’s host communities.

The bursaries help cover study-related expenses, including tuition fees, accommodation, textbooks and study equipment, enabling eligible students to access higher education, develop their skills and build successful futures.

Organisation: South Deep Education Trust (SDET) • Established by: Gold Fields • Sector: Mining / Education • Academic Year: 2027

What Fields of Study Are Covered?

The South Deep Education Trust Bursary 2027 will be awarded to students from the South Deep Mine’s host and labour-sending areas, for Diploma and Degree studies within ANY field (technical or non-technical fields).

South Deep Host Communities

• Westonaria
• Bekkersdal
• Simunye
• Poortjie
• Borwa
• Hillshaven
• Zuurbekom

Expenses Covered

If your application is successful, the bursary will cover the following costs:

• Full tuition
• Accommodation (on-campus and off-campus)
• Textbooks
• Equipment (on a case-by-case basis for specialised qualifications e.g., dentistry, architecture, engineering, etc.)
• Laptop allowance
• Monthly stipend (for 10 months)
• Personal development, mentorship support and additional tutoring

Eligibility Requirements for the South Deep Education Trust Bursary 2027

Before you apply for the South Deep Education Trust Bursary 2027, check that you meet all the requirements below. If you miss any requirement, your application will not be considered.

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must be from a low-income household (total annual household income is R350,000 or less)
• You must be from the South Deep host community and surrounding areas listed above
• You must NOT be a dependent of an employee of Gold Fields or any of its divisions or associated companies and/or a dependent of a Trustee of the South Deep Education and Community Trusts

For Grade 12 Applicants

• You must have achieved an average pass mark of 75% (excluding Life Orientation) for your National Senior Certificate
• You must be provisionally accepted for the first year of study towards a diploma or degree in any technical or non-technical field of study at any public university or public TVET college in South Africa
• You must NOT have existing bursaries, scholarships or any other form of funding assistance for your tertiary studies

For Current University/TVET College Students

First-time applicants already pursuing tertiary studies:

• You must have achieved an average pass mark of 65% in your most recent year of study
• Should you have achieved 65% but failed a particular module, the Trust will not pay for the repeat module, and you will be fully responsible for the cost of repeating the module

Returning South Deep Education Trust bursary applicants:

• You must have passed the most recent year of study with an average pass mark of 50% and above
• Should you have failed a particular module, the Trust will not pay for the repeat module, and you will be fully responsible for the cost of repeating the module

Required Documents

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your online application.

• A certified copy of your ID, with certification dated within the last three months
• Proof of address not older than 3 months, such as a bank letter or utility bill or a letter from the tribal office
• A bank confirmation letter issued within the last three months
• Acceptance letter from a tertiary institution
• Official stamped or certified copy of academic results – this must clearly state personal details and the school or institution you are or were attending
• Your parents’ or guardians’ certified copies of IDs not older than 3 months
• Your parents’ or guardian’s proof of income, pension or social grant receipt – if no proof of income – affidavit to the effect
• Tuition fee and/or accommodation estimation document

Important Information

• To ensure that students are well-rounded graduates who are prepared for the world of work, bursary recipients are encouraged and supported to complete 1 week of vacation or volunteering work in their community once a year.
• The available bursaries are limited and will be awarded to qualifying applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact Information

For any queries related to the South Deep Education Trust Bursary 2027, please contact the South Deep Education Administration at:

• Email: southdeepeducation@tshikululu.org.za
• Telephone: 011 544 0300 (press one for the Administration team)

South Deep Education Trust Bursary 2027 – Quick Summary

• Organisation: South Deep Education Trust (SDET)
• Bursary Name: South Deep Education Trust Bursary Programme
• Established by: Gold Fields
• Established in: 2015
• Academic Year: 2027
• Who can apply: South African citizens from low-income households (R350,000 or less per annum) in the South Deep host communities
• Fields of study: ANY field (technical or non-technical)
• Study level: Diploma and Degree
• Institution type: Public university or public TVET college in South Africa
• Grade 12 requirement: 75% average (excluding Life Orientation), provisional acceptance, no existing bursaries
• Current student requirement: 65% average in most recent year of study (first-time applicants)
• Returning bursary recipient requirement: 50% average and above
• Expenses covered: Full tuition, accommodation, textbooks, equipment (case-by-case), laptop allowance, monthly stipend (10 months), personal development and mentorship support
• Required documents: Certified ID, proof of address, bank confirmation letter, acceptance letter, academic results, parents/guardians ID and proof of income, tuition/accommodation estimation
• Application method: Online via Tshikululu Grant Platform
• Award basis: First-come, first-served
• Closing date: 06 November 2026