The Polyoak Foundation Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics Scholarship 2027 is open for first-year students who have successfully begun a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics. The scholarship is aimed at South African missing-middle students with strong academic results and demonstrated financial need.
At a glance
Sponsor/host: Polyoak Family Educational Foundation
Opportunity type: Undergraduate engineering scholarship
Who it’s for: First-year Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics students who meet the academic, citizenship, age and household-income criteria
Study level: Undergraduate Bachelor’s degree
Fields: Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics
Institution type: Government-subsidised South African tertiary institution
Closing date: 30 September 2026
Last verified: 25 July 2026
High-value notes (read this first)
Applicants must already be in the first year of the relevant Bachelor’s degree and must have passed every first-year subject completed to date. The required overall academic average is at least 60%.
The scholarship is aimed at the missing middle: annual household income must be below R500,000. Applicants may not hold another bursary or scholarship, although NSFAS support is specifically allowed.
About the sponsor
The Polyoak Family Educational Foundation supports talented South African students who face financial barriers to completing tertiary education. In addition to financial assistance, the Foundation describes its approach as holistic, with personal development, mentoring and workplace exposure forming part of the broader support model.
What it covers
The current scholarship notice does not publish a fixed award amount or a detailed cost schedule. The Foundation states that its scholarship support is holistic and may be accompanied by mentorship, personal-development support and vacation-work exposure. Applicants should confirm the final funded items and conditions in the scholarship agreement if selected.
Eligibility
- Must be 23 years old or younger on the application date
- Must be a South African-born citizen
- Must be enrolled in the first year of a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics
- Must study at a government-subsidised South African tertiary institution
- Must have passed all first-year subjects completed to date
- Must have an overall academic average of at least 60%
- Total annual household income must be below R500,000
- Must fall within the missing-middle funding category
- May not receive another bursary or scholarship, except for NSFAS support
- Must accept the Foundation’s application and scholarship terms
Documents to prepare
- Completed online scholarship application
- Certified South African ID copy
- Certified Matric certificate
- Most recent university academic results or transcript
- Latest academic fee statement
- Proof of NSFAS or other declared financial support, where applicable
- Current IRP5 documents or payslips for both parents or guardians
- Motivation letter explaining academic goals and financial circumstances
- Any additional income or household documents requested by the application portal
Closing date
30 September 2026.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying while still in Matric rather than after beginning the first year of the degree
- Applying for an engineering discipline other than Mechanical Engineering or Mechatronics
- Leaving out the fee statement or proof of household income
- Failing to disclose NSFAS or other financial assistance
- Submitting results that do not show every first-year subject completed to date
- Waiting until the closing date before registering on the application portal
How this opportunity was verified
Verified against the Polyoak Family Educational Foundation’s official website and application portal, together with the current one-page 2027 scholarship notice hosted on the University of Cape Town bursary noticeboard. The official notice confirms the eligible degrees, age limit, academic threshold, household-income ceiling, supporting documents and 30 September 2026 closing date.
How to apply
- Read the current scholarship notice and eligibility requirements.
- Open the Polyoak Foundation NextGen application portal.
- Create an applicant account and complete the online form.
- Upload certified identity, academic, financial and motivation documents.
- Review and submit the complete application before the closing date.