The Department of Tourism is inviting eligible South African students to apply for its External Bursaries for the 2026 academic year. The bursary supports study in selected fields (listed below) and is awarded for the remainder of the approved study period, subject to annual renewal based on academic performance.
At a glance
- Sponsor/host: National Department of Tourism (South Africa)
- Fields/level: Diploma / Degree / Honours / MSc / MTech / Masters / PhD (in the listed fields)
- Who it’s for: South African students studying full-time at an accredited institution in South Africa
- Closing date: 20 March 2026
- How to apply: Complete the official application form and submit with supporting documents via email, post, or hand delivery
About the sponsor
The Department of Tourism is a national government department responsible for tourism policy, sector development and support in South Africa.
Fields of study
The Department lists the following required study fields for the 2026 external bursary intake:
- Tourism Management
- Accounting / Financial Accounting / Management Accounting
- Bachelor of Law
- Business Analytics
- Communications / Communication Science / Communication Design / Graphic Design / Strategic Communication
- Computer Science / Information Technology / Software Development
- Construction Management
- Data Sciences / Data Analytics
- Development Studies
- Digital Transformation
- Economics
- Facility Management / Property Management and Development
- Forensic Auditing / Internal Auditing / Information Systems Auditing
- Humanities (Social Sciences)
- Information and Knowledge Management
- Industrial / Organisational Psychology
- Management Services / Operations Management / Work-Study / Organisational Development
- Monitoring and Evaluation
- Public Administration / Business Administration
- Risk Management
- Statistics
- Supply Chain Management
What it covers
The Department states the bursary is awarded for the remainder of the study period (renewable annually based on academic progress). The official page does not provide a detailed cost breakdown—confirm the final approved costs and conditions in the bursary contract if selected.
Documents to prepare
Prepare clear, certified copies of the documents listed in the official application form (and any additional items requested for your level of study):
- South African ID document
- Certified qualifications / academic certificates (as applicable)
- Academic records / transcripts
- Proof of registration / admission at a recognised institution
- Proof of parent/guardian income (or affidavit if unemployed)
- Motivational letter
- Research proposal (applicable to Honours and Masters, as stated on the form)
Closing date
20 March 2026. Late or incomplete applications are not considered.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting after 20 March 2026.
- Missing certified copies (ID, transcripts, qualifications).
- Leaving out proof of registration/admission.
- Omitting income proof/affidavit and a motivation letter.
- Applying for a field that is not on the Department’s required list.
How this bursary was verified
This opportunity was verified using the Department of Tourism’s official bursaries page (which lists the closing date and study fields) and the official External Bursary Application Form PDF hosted on the tourism.gov.za domain.
How to apply
- Download and complete the official application form.
- Attach all required supporting documents.
- Submit by email, post, or hand delivery as per the official notice (and keep proof of submission).
Email submissions: Bursary2026@tourism.gov.za
Hand delivery: Tourism House, 17 Trevenna Street, Sunnyside, 0002
Postal submissions: Tourism House, Private Bag X424, Pretoria, 0001
Enquiries: Mr G Moroke (gmoroke@tourism.gov.za) / Ms M Sibiya (msibiya@tourism.gov.za)