Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027 | Apply Now

About the Citrus Academy

The Citrus Academy is a non-profit company established in 2005 by the Citrus Growers’ Association of Southern Africa to enable human resource development in the Southern African citrus industry. The Citrus Academy Bursary Fund was then established in its current form at the beginning of 2006.

The purpose of the Citrus Academy Bursary Fund is to provide young people with opportunities to obtain the necessary knowledge, skills and exposure to allow them to enter the citrus industry and engage in long and fruitful careers. The Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027 is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme for the 2027 academic year.

Organisation: Citrus Academy • Established: 2005 (Bursary Fund: 2006) • Focus: Citrus industry human resource development • Academic Year: 2027

What Fields of Study Are Covered?

The Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027 will be awarded for studies within the following agricultural related fields:

What Expenses Does the Bursary Cover?

The Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027 will provide cover for the following expenses:

• Tuition fees
• Prescribed books
• Stationery and other study-related expenses
• Accommodation
• Meals
• Research costs (for postgraduate students)

Note: The Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027 provides partial cover. It does not provide full funding.

Eligibility Requirements for the Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027

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

• You must be a citizen of South Africa, Zimbabwe, or Eswatini
• You must have completed Matric
• You must be studying full-time or part-time towards a qualification in a field related to citrus production or research
• You must be entering your 2nd year or higher year of study in 2027 (not first year)
• You must be studying at a recognised and accredited tertiary institution in South Africa (Universities, Colleges, or Universities of Technology)
• You must be interested in pursuing a career within the citrus industry
• You must meet all the criteria within the Citrus Academy Bursary Agreement

Selection Criteria

Candidates for the Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027 will be selected based on the following main criteria:

• Previously disadvantaged status
• Relevant field of study
• Academics
• Financial need
• Background relation to the citrus industry
• Gender (female students will receive preference)
• Disability (students living with disabilities are encouraged to apply)

Required Documents

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation with your online application for the Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027. All documents must be certified.

• ID document
• Passport or ID document (if a citizen of Eswatini or Zimbabwe)
• Secondary education results
• Most recent tertiary academic record
• Motivational essay (max 500 words) explaining:
  • Why you wish to study further
  • Your background in the citrus industry
  • How you will give back to the citrus industry and citrus enterprise when you have completed your studies
• Details of your proposed research project (for postgraduate students)

Important Information About the Selection Process

• Applicants will receive a notification after their application has been successfully submitted
• After the bursary has closed for applications, candidates will be scored according to a weighted scoring system and ranked
• Postgraduate applications will be scored in terms of importance and priority by citrus researchers and academics in various fields
• Postgraduate students must provide details of their research project and supervisor to facilitate this process
• After the scoring process is complete, top candidates will be shortlisted alongside current bursary recipients who will be continuing their studies
• Shortlisted candidates will then be submitted for approval, and thereafter funding will be secured
• Successful candidates will be informed by mid-December 2026. If you do not receive any feedback, please regard your application as unsuccessful

Bursary Agreement and Work-Back Obligation

Bursary recipients of the Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027 will be required to:

• Sign a Bursary Agreement with Citrus Academy
• Adhere to certain academic standards
• Commit to the Citrus Academy Code of Conduct
• After graduation, work within the citrus industry as part of the “work back service contract”. The period of work will be equal to (as a minimum) the period of bursary funding received (i.e., 1 year of work for 1 year of funding)

Contact Information

If you have any queries related to the Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027, please contact the Citrus Academy directly:

• Telephone: 031 765 3410 / 031 765 3412 / 086 546 7808
• Email: learnmore@citrusacademy.org.za
• Technical support: candice@citrusacademy.org.za

Citrus Academy Bursary South Africa 2027 – Quick Summary

• Organisation: Citrus Academy (Citrus Growers’ Association)
• Bursary Name: Citrus Academy Bursary Fund
• Established: 2005 (Bursary Fund: 2006)
• Academic Year: 2027
• Who can apply: Citizens of South Africa, Zimbabwe, or Eswatini
• Study level: 2nd year or higher (full-time or part-time)
• Fields of study: Agriculture, Agricultural Economics, Agricultural Management, Entomology, Horticulture, Industrial Engineering, Plant Pathology, Plant Production, Mechanical Engineering, Microbiology, Soil Science
• Institution type: Recognised and accredited SA tertiary institution (University, College, or University of Technology)
• What is covered: Tuition fees, books, stationery, accommodation, meals, research costs (postgraduate) – partial cover only
• Selection criteria: Previously disadvantaged status, relevant field, academics, financial need, citrus industry background, gender (female preference), disability
• Work-back obligation: Work in citrus industry for period equal to bursary funding received
• Required documents: ID/passport, secondary results, academic record, motivational essay (500 words), research project details (postgraduate)
• Application method: Online via Citrus Communities portal
• Closing date: 15 September 2026
• Notification date: By mid-December 2026