South African students who need help covering 2027 university costs can now submit applications for IDC Bursaries 2027. The scheme may pay tuition, accommodation, meals, transport, a once-off laptop and other approved expenses. Applications close on 30 September 2026, offering eligible students a valuable chance to study without carrying the full financial burden.
The Industrial Development Corporation opened its External Bursary Scheme on 1 June 2026. It targets academically capable students who demonstrate financial need and plan to study full-time at a South African public university or university of technology.
Applicants must generally be South African citizens, unemployed and 26 years old or younger. In addition, the bursary mainly supports students entering or completing their first undergraduate qualification.
The scheme prioritises households earning up to R350,000 per year. However, students from households earning between R350,000 and R600,000 may still receive consideration after an affordability assessment.
What expenses could IDC Bursaries 2027 cover?
The IDC bursary aims to reduce several of the largest costs associated with university study. Therefore, successful students may receive a funding package covering approved academic and living expenses.
Depending on the bursary agreement, support may include:
- Full tuition fees
- University accommodation
- University-accredited off-campus accommodation
- A once-off laptop
- A meal allowance
- A transport allowance
- Other approved study-related expenses
Importantly, the final package will depend on the conditions in each recipient’s bursary agreement. Applicants should not assume that every expense will receive automatic approval.
Which qualifications will the IDC fund?
The bursary supports selected qualifications connected to South Africa’s industrial, financial, scientific and technological development.
Students should confirm that the exact name of their qualification appears on the IDC-approved list. A related course may not qualify simply because it falls within a broadly supported faculty.
Finance, management and business qualifications
The approved finance and business fields include:
- Accounting leading to Chartered Accountancy
- Financial Management
- Internal Auditing
- Cost and Management Accounting
- Investment Management
- Risk Management
- Transport Management
- Logistics Management
- Supply Chain Management
- Entrepreneurship
- Finance
- Economics
- Econometrics
- Business Management
- Financial Accounting
- Financial Engineering
Engineering qualifications
Meanwhile, students pursuing selected engineering and built-environment qualifications may also qualify. These fields include:
- Industrial Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronic Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Mechatronic Engineering
- Mining Engineering
- Civil Engineering
- Construction-related Engineering
- Quantity Surveying
- Metallurgical Engineering
Science and technology qualifications
The approved science and technology fields include:
- Analytical Chemistry
- Geology
- Actuarial Science
- Data Science
- Environmental Science
- Quantitative Risk Management
- Physics
- Bachelor of Science programmes
- Biotechnology
- Agricultural Studies
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Computer Science
- Information Science
- Bachelor of Commerce in Information Systems
- Information Technology
Law and education qualifications
The IDC may also consider applications for these law and education programmes:
- Bachelor of Commerce in Law specialising in Commercial Law
- Bachelor of Laws
- Diploma in Law Studies
- Education
However, applicants must study one of the specific law or education qualifications approved by the IDC.
Can Honours students receive an IDC bursary?
Although the scheme mainly funds first undergraduate qualifications, the IDC offers limited support for selected Honours programmes.
The approved postgraduate fields include:
- Postgraduate Law qualifications
- Mathematics
- Statistics
- Actuarial Science
- Accounting, including the Certificate in the Theory of Accounting
The scheme does not fund postgraduate qualifications outside these approved fields. Consequently, applicants should verify their programme before preparing a submission.
Who qualifies for IDC Bursaries 2027?
Applicants must meet the citizenship, age, financial and academic conditions attached to the scheme.
To qualify, an applicant must:
- Be a South African citizen
- Be 26 years old or younger
- Be unemployed
- Demonstrate financial need
- Study or intend to study full-time
- Attend a South African public university or university of technology
- Pursue an IDC-approved qualification
- Work towards a first undergraduate qualification, unless applying for an approved Honours programme
- Meet the relevant academic requirements
- Provide all compulsory supporting documents
Meeting these conditions does not guarantee funding. The IDC will assess eligible applications before selecting successful students.
Why does the first-qualification rule matter?
The External Bursary Scheme generally helps students complete their first qualification. Therefore, it does not ordinarily fund:
- A second undergraduate qualification
- Unapproved postgraduate study
- A qualification outside the published fields
- Studies at an ineligible institution
The limited postgraduate exception applies to approved Honours programmes in Law, Accounting, Actuarial Science, Mathematics and Statistics.
Students who already hold an undergraduate qualification should check this condition carefully before submitting an application.
How does household income affect an application?
The bursary primarily targets applicants whose parents or guardians earn a combined income of R350,000 or less per year.
However, students from households earning between R350,000 and R600,000 per year may also submit applications. The IDC will assess whether those households can reasonably afford the student’s education.
Applicants must disclose all household income accurately. Moreover, they should provide supporting records for both parents or guardians unless their family circumstances prevent them from doing so.
Incomplete or inconsistent financial information could affect the assessment.
What results do current Matric learners need?
Current Grade 12 learners should demonstrate strong academic performance and meet the admission requirements for their chosen qualification.
Preference may go to applicants who have:
- An academic result or score of at least 75%
- Strong marks in the subjects required for their qualification
- Results that satisfy university admission requirements
Grade 12 learners completing Matric in 2026 must submit their Grade 11 results and June 2026 results.
In addition, they will need admission to an eligible public university or university of technology.
What results do current university students need?
Current tertiary students must generally have an average of at least 65% in their latest academic results.
They must also:
- Show satisfactory academic progress
- Have admission or registration for an approved qualification
- Maintain a minimum grade point average of 60% during the funded programme
The IDC may review a recipient’s academic performance when deciding whether to continue funding. Therefore, students must maintain consistent progress after receiving the bursary.
Which applicants could receive preference?
The selection process may favour applicants whose circumstances align with the IDC’s financial-support and transformation objectives.
Preference may go to:
- Students living with disabilities
- Learners from Quintile 1, 2 and 3 public schools
- Students from previously disadvantaged communities
- Applicants from rural communities
- Academically strong students
- Applicants who demonstrate significant financial need
The IDC may consider academic results, household circumstances and transformation factors together. As a result, no single factor guarantees selection.
Which documents must applicants prepare?
Applicants must upload clear and complete supporting documents. Furthermore, certified copies must not be older than three months when submitted.
The required documents include:
- A recently certified South African identity document
- June 2026 or first-semester academic results
- The latest academic results if the applicant did not study during 2026
- A Matric certificate, where applicable
- Grade 11 and June 2026 results for current Grade 12 learners
- Proof of admission or an application to an eligible institution
- Proof of household income
- Certified identity documents for both parents or guardians
- Recently certified proof of residence
Before uploading the files, applicants should ensure that every page remains clear and readable.
Which documents prove household income?
The required income records will depend on the employment and family circumstances of the applicant’s parents or guardians.
Applicants may need to provide:
- The latest certified payslips for employed parents or guardians
- Three months of bank statements for employed parents
- An affidavit confirming unemployment and annual income
- Six months of bank statements for unemployed or self-employed parents
- A South African Social Security Agency letter confirming social grants
- Death certificates if one or both parents have died
- A divorce certificate if the parents are divorced
- A sworn statement if the parents are separated
Where possible, applicants should provide records for both parents. However, they should use the relevant legal documents to explain circumstances such as death, divorce, separation or unemployment.
How can students prevent certification problems?
Expired, unclear or incomplete certified copies may delay or invalidate an application. Applicants should therefore inspect every document before uploading it.
Check that:
- The certification date appears clearly
- The certification is no older than three months
- The commissioner’s stamp and details are readable
- Every page appears in the correct orientation
- No section has been cut off
- All required documents have been included
Itumeleng’s Insider Tip: Do not wait until September to collect income records and certified copies. Bank statements, affidavits and family-status documents often take longer to organise than expected. Create one clearly named digital folder for every required document, then check each file before starting the online form.
How can students submit an IDC bursary application?
The IDC accepts applications online. Applicants should first prepare their academic, identity and household-income records so that they can complete the form accurately.
Applications must be submitted through the official IDC online bursary portal.
Applicants should then:
- Register an applicant profile.
- Complete every compulsory personal and academic section.
- Provide accurate household-income information.
- Select the correct qualification and field of study.
- Upload all compulsory supporting documents.
- Complete the online interview questionnaire.
- Review every answer and uploaded file.
- Submit the application before the deadline.
- Save proof of submission.
Applicants should use an active email address and check it regularly after submitting. The IDC may use email to communicate with shortlisted or successful candidates.
When do IDC bursary applications close?
Applications close on Wednesday, 30 September 2026.
Late or incomplete submissions may not receive consideration. Consequently, students should avoid leaving the online form until the final day.
Submitting early also provides time to correct missing documents, unclear scans or inaccurate information before the portal closes.
Where can applicants request bursary assistance?
Students who need help with bursary-related questions may contact Noluthando Baepi or use the dedicated enquiries address.
- Telephone: 011 269 3374
- Email: noluthandob@idc.co.za
- Alternative email: ExternalBursaryQueries@idc.co.za
These contact details are for enquiries. Applicants must still complete and submit the online application themselves.
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Final Thoughts
IDC Bursaries 2027 could provide substantial support to financially constrained students entering priority fields such as engineering, finance, science, information technology, law and education.
However, eligibility depends on more than choosing a supported field. Applicants must meet the age, income, academic, institution and first-qualification conditions while also providing complete supporting documents.
Students who qualify should begin collecting their records early, confirm that their exact qualification appears on the approved list and submit the online form well before 30 September 2026.
