Learners and students who want to follow the Chartered Accountant (CA(SA)) pathway should treat the SAICA Thuthuka Bursary Fund 2027 as a priority application. This bursary is designed for academically capable Black African and Coloured students from financially disadvantaged backgrounds who want to study a BCom Accounting CA-stream degree.
At a glance
Sponsor/host: South African Institute of Chartered Accountants (SAICA) / Thuthuka Bursary Fund
Opportunity type: Chartered Accounting bursary
Who it’s for: Grade 12 learners, recent matriculants and qualifying university students pursuing the CA(SA) pathway
Location: South Africa, at universities offering the Thuthuka programme
Study field: BCom Accounting (CA stream)
Closing date: 31 August 2026
Last verified: 15 May 2026
High-value notes (read this first)
This is one of South Africa’s most structured accounting bursary pathways. It is not only a financial-aid scheme: Thuthuka includes academic support, social and emotional support, work-readiness training, mentoring, counselling and exposure to chartered accountants and business leaders.
Applicants must also plan around the National Benchmark Tests (NBTs). SAICA notes that applicants must apply for and write the NBT before the end of August, or submit results if they have already written it. Do not leave the NBT step until the last week.
About the sponsor
Thuthuka was established in 2005 by the South African Institute of Chartered Accountants. The fund supports disadvantaged African and Coloured students who want to qualify as Chartered Accountants, and it combines study funding with academic, personal and professional development support.
Source Link: SAICA – Apply to the Thuthuka Bursary Fund
What it covers
- Tuition fees
- Books
- Meals
- Residence fees and accommodation support
- Academic enrichment and additional tutorials
- Study-skills support
- Social and emotional support
- Work-readiness and life-skills training
- Mentoring and counselling
Eligibility
- Must be a South African citizen
- Must be Black African or Coloured
- Must be in Grade 12, have been out of school with Matric for no more than two years, or be a university student studying a CA-stream BCom degree
- Must have obtained at least 60% / Level 5 in Mathematics in Grade 11
- Maths Literacy and Technical Maths are not accepted
- Must have applied, or be in the process of applying, for a BCom Accounting CA-stream degree at a university offering the Thuthuka programme
- Combined family income must be R350,000 per year or less
- Must apply for and write the NBT before the end of August, or submit existing NBT results
Documents to prepare
- Signed consent form
- Applicant’s ID
- Parent / guardian ID documents
- Latest academic results
- Proof of household income
- University application or acceptance details for a CA-stream BCom Accounting programme
- NBT registration or NBT results, where available
Closing date
31 August 2026 at 11:59.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying for a non-CA accounting course
- Using Maths Literacy or Technical Maths instead of Mathematics
- Forgetting the NBT requirement
- Applying when household income exceeds the stated threshold
- Submitting without proof that you applied for a Thuthuka-offering university programme
How this opportunity was verified
Verified against the Thuthuka Bursary Fund portal and SAICA’s current Thuthuka application page, including the 2027 application cycle, closing date, eligibility requirements, support model and NBT requirement.
How to apply
- Review SAICA’s Thuthuka application guidance.
- Confirm that you are applying for a CA-stream BCom Accounting degree at a university offering the Thuthuka programme.
- Register for the NBT if you have not already written it.
- Complete the online application on the Thuthuka Bursary Fund portal.
- Submit before the closing date.