The IDC is inviting applications for its External Bursary Scheme for the 2026 academic year. The bursary aims to support academically strong and financially needy South African students pursuing their first undergraduate qualification in selected study fields. Applications open on 1 June 2025 and close on 30 September 2025.
The program is designed to empower youth from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, particularly those from Quintile 1–3 schools and rural areas, and helps remove financial barriers to higher education.
The Bursary Sponsor – Industrial Development Corporation (IDC)
The IDC is a national development finance institution established to promote economic growth and industrial development. Through its External Bursary Scheme, IDC is committed to empowering youth through education by targeting underprivileged communities and nurturing critical skills needed in the South African economy.
What Is This Bursary Program?
The IDC External Bursary provides comprehensive financial support for qualifying students. The bursary covers:
- Full tuition fees
- University accommodation or accredited off-campus accommodation
- Meal allowance
- Transport allowance
- A once-off laptop allowance
It is available to undergraduate students, and limited postgraduate funding is available for select fields only.
Who Can Apply
To qualify for the IDC External Bursary Scheme, applicants must:
- Be South African citizens under the age of 26
- Be studying or intending to study full-time at a South African public university or university of technology
- Be pursuing their first undergraduate qualification
- Have a minimum average of 75% for matriculants, or 65% for current tertiary students (must maintain a 60% GPA annually)
- Come from households earning a combined income of up to R350,000 per annum (preference), or up to R600,000 p.a. in exceptional cases
- Have attended a Quintile 1, 2, or 3 school (public schools from previously disadvantaged communities)
Postgraduate funding is considered only for students in:
- Law
- Accounting (CA)
- Actuarial Science
- Mathematics and Statistics
Applicants living with disabilities will be given preference.
Eligible Fields of Study
Finance / Management:
- Accounting (CA), Financial Management, Cost & Management Accounting, Internal Audit
- Investment Management, Risk Management, Transport or Logistics Management
- Supply Chain Management, Entrepreneurship, Finance Studies, Economics
- Econometrics, Business Management, Financial Accounting, Financial Engineering
STEM Courses:
- Engineering (Industrial, Chemical, Electrical, Electronic, Mechanical, Mechatronic, Mining)
- Civil, Construction, Quantity Surveying
- Metallurgy, Analytical Chemistry, Agricultural Studies, Geology
- Actuarial Science, Data Science, Environmental Science, Quantitative Risk Management
- Physics, Biotechnology, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science
- Information Science, BCom Information Systems, Information Technology
Law:
- BCom Law (Commercial), LLB, Diploma in Law Studies
Postgraduate (only in approved fields):
- Postgrad in Law, Mathematics, Statistics, Actuarial Science, Accounting CTA
- Note: Only qualifications listed above will be considered. Applications for unlisted fields will not be reviewed.
Closing Date
Applications open on 1 June 2025 and close on 30 September 2025.
Prospective applicants must apply online and are encouraged to submit their documents early, ensuring all certifications are recent (not older than 3 months).
How to Apply
Applications must be submitted online.
Applicants must upload all required documents and complete the interview questionnaire during the online application process.
Visit the IDC Bursary Page or Study Trust platform for updates and the application link.