FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary South Africa 2026 is an exciting opportunity for academically talented South African students who are financially in need. This bursary supports first-year students pursuing undergraduate studies in priority fields at public universities across South Africa.
About the Bursary Provider – FirstRand Empowerment Foundation
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) is a division of FirstRand Bank Limited, one of South Africa’s leading financial services groups. The Foundation is dedicated to empowering South Africans through education, enterprise development, and social investment initiatives.
Through its Education Portfolio, the Foundation aims to increase access to quality higher education for students who show exceptional academic promise but lack the financial means to pursue their studies. The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary South Africa 2026 Programme contributes to addressing the youth unemployment crisis by producing skilled graduates aligned with South Africa’s economic needs.
About the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary Programme – Fields Covered
The bursary is open to students pursuing undergraduate degrees in critical and high-demand disciplines at traditional public universities in South Africa. The following fields are 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
The programme funds the first undergraduate degree. In certain cases, where a postgraduate qualification (such as a PGD or Honours degree) is required for professional access (e.g. Accounting or Actuarial Science), additional support may be provided.
More About the Bursary Programme – Coverage & Selection
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary South Africa 2026 covers the following expenses:
- Tuition fees
- Accommodation and meals
- Learning resources
- A monthly stipend
- A computer for first-year students
Selection is based on: proven academic potential and financial need (family income not exceeding R700 000 per year).
The bursary is administered by StudyTrust on behalf of the Foundation.
Eligibility Requirements for the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary South Africa 2026
Applicants must meet the following minimum entry requirements (please ensure that you meet all before applying):
- Be a Black South African citizen (as defined by the BBBEE Act)
- Be currently in Grade 12 (Matric) or have completed Grade 12 within the past 3 years
- Be under the age of 21 in your first year of study
- Have achieved at least a Level 5 for Mathematics in Grade 12
- Have applied for and been provisionally accepted into a South African public traditional university for full-time studies in one of the fields listed above
- Belong to a family with a combined annual gross income of R700 000 or less
How to Apply for the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary
Applications must be submitted online via StudyTrust’s application platform:
Apply Online for the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary 2026
All applications must include the required supporting documentation and must be submitted before the closing date.
Closing Date for the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary
31 October 2025
Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted — apply early to avoid disappointment.
Contact the Bursary Provider
For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact StudyTrust (the administrators of this bursary) directly:
📞 Tel: 011 403 1632 x 200
📧 Email: b.ndlouv@studytrust.org.za / apply@studytrust.org.za
👉 Mention you heard about this bursary on www.edufunds.co.za