The Free State Provincial Government, through the Office of the Premier, is inviting eligible unemployed young people residing in the Free State to apply for its Full-Time Bursary Programme for the 2027 academic year.
Applications are open to current Grade 12 learners as well as students who have already been accepted or enrolled at recognised higher education institutions.
The programme focuses on qualifications linked to scarce and critical skills required by the province.
Applications opened on 21 September 2026 and close on 13 November 2026.
At a glance
Sponsor/host: Free State Provincial Government – Office of the Premier
Opportunity type: Full-time bursary
Academic year funded: 2027
Who it’s for: Unemployed South African youth residing in the Free State
Age requirement: 18–35 years
Study level: Diploma or Degree
Study mode: Full-time
Institutions: Recognised and accredited South African universities and universities of technology
Household income: Less than R600,000 per year
Applications opened: 21 September 2026
Closing date: 13 November 2026
Application method: Online
Last verified: 23 September 2026
High-value notes (read this first)
- The bursary is specifically for applicants residing in the Free State Province.
- Applicants must be South African citizens.
- Applicants must be between 18 and 35 years old.
- Applicants must be unemployed.
- Current Grade 12 learners may apply.
- Students already accepted or enrolled at a higher education institution may also apply.
- The combined household income must be below R600,000 per year.
- Applicants must study full-time towards an approved Diploma or Degree.
- Applicants must not already be receiving another form of government funding.
- Applications for 2027 are now completed through the new official online bursary application system.
- All compulsory documents must be uploaded before the closing date.
- Applications close on 13 November 2026.
About the sponsor
The Free State Provincial Government provides bursary funding to financially needy students while also addressing scarce and critical skills shortages within the province.
The provincial government states that funding is made available each year for Free State students pursuing qualifications in fields needed by the province.
The Office of the Premier’s new online bursary system allows applicants to register, complete their applications electronically, upload supporting documents and receive application notifications.
What it covers
According to the 2027 bursary information, funding may include:
- Tuition fees
- Prescribed textbooks
- Learning-aid devices, where applicable
- Meals
- Accommodation, where applicable
- Transport, where applicable
- Monthly living allowance, where applicable
The exact value of the bursary and the expenses approved for individual recipients are not stated as fixed amounts.
Funding remains subject to the bursary award and available provincial budget.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be South African citizens
- Reside in the Free State Province
- Be between 18 and 35 years old
- Be unemployed
- Be currently in Grade 12 or have completed Matric
- Have a combined household income of less than R600,000 per year
- Be studying or intending to study full-time towards an approved Diploma or Degree
- Be accepted or provisionally accepted at a recognised and accredited South African higher education institution
- Not be receiving another form of government funding
- Meet the applicable academic and programme requirements
Preference may be given to applicants from previously disadvantaged backgrounds.
Fields of study supported
The 2027 programme focuses on scarce and critical skills within the Free State.
Priority study areas listed for the current programme include:
- Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM)
- Commercial-related studies
- Finance
- Economics
- Accounting
- Psychology-related studies
- Social Sciences
- Aviation Studies
- Bachelor of Administration programmes
- Public Governance
- Developmental Studies
Applicants should select the exact qualification and field available within the official online application system.
The Free State Provincial Government’s general bursary information also identifies fields such as Agricultural Sciences, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Environmental Sciences, ICT, Medicine, Social Work and Veterinary Sciences as examples of provincial scarce skills. The scarce-skills list is reviewed periodically, so applicants should rely on the current 2027 application system when selecting their qualification.
Documents to prepare
The official online application-system manual confirms that applicants must upload supporting documents including:
- South African ID document
- Proof of Free State residence
- Grade 12 certificate or latest academic results
- Proof of acceptance or provisional admission from an accredited institution
- Parent or guardian proof of income, or an affidavit where applicable
- Any additional documents requested by the bursary programme
The current 2027 bursary information also indicates that applicants should prepare, where applicable:
- Certified copy of ID
- Certified Matric September results if currently in Grade 12
- Certified Matric certificate if Matric has already been completed
- Proof of acceptance from a registered higher education institution
- Proof of residence not older than three months
- Parent or guardian ID documents
- Death certificates if a parent or guardian is deceased
- Recent payslips where parents or guardians are employed
- Affidavit where parents or guardians are unemployed
- Proof of SASSA grant or pension where applicable
Upload clear, readable documents.
Important online application information
The Free State Government has introduced an online application system for the bursary programme.
Applicants must first create an account using:
- Bursary type
- First name(s)
- Surname
- South African ID number
- Email address
- Password
An activation email is then sent to the registered email address.
After activating the account, the application contains four main sections:
- Personal Information
- Additional Information
- Qualification Information
- Document Upload
Each section must be completed before the application is finalised.
Supporting documents can be added to the system, but all compulsory documents must be uploaded before the closing date.
Applicants receive an acknowledgement notification after successful submission.
How applications are assessed
The official application-system procedure shows that applications go through several stages.
The bursary office checks:
- Applicant information
- Supporting documents
- Completeness of the application
- Authenticity of documentation
- Compliance with minimum bursary requirements
Applications that pass the initial assessment proceed for further evaluation.
The Provincial Bursary Technical Committee considers factors including:
- Approved selection criteria
- Provincial scarce and critical skills priorities
- Academic potential
- Financial need
- Relevance of the programme
- Available bursary funding
Applicants may ultimately receive an approval or rejection notification through the system.
Work-back requirement
The Free State Provincial Government’s bursary information states that bursary recipients are expected to complete their qualifications within the required period and contribute their skills to the province.
The general bursary conditions state that recipients may be required to work in the Free State for the same number of years for which they received bursary funding.
Successful applicants should read their individual bursary agreement carefully for the applicable service obligation.
Closing date
13 November 2026
Applications opened on:
21 September 2026
The official application portal displays the application period as 21 September 2026 to 13 November 2026.
Applicants should submit early rather than waiting until the final day.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying if you do not reside in the Free State
- Applying if you fall outside the 18–35 age range
- Providing incorrect household-income information
- Selecting a qualification outside the approved priority fields
- Applying to an institution that is not recognised or accredited
- Forgetting proof of residence
- Forgetting academic results
- Failing to provide proof of university acceptance or provisional admission
- Uploading unclear or incomplete documents
- Using an old paper application instead of the current online system
- Creating an account but failing to activate it through the email sent by the system
- Completing only some sections of the online form
- Failing to upload compulsory documents before the closing date
- Receiving overlapping government funding without declaring it
- Submitting after 13 November 2026
How this opportunity was verified
This opportunity was verified using official Free State Provincial Government sources.
The Free State Provincial Government Online Bursary Application System confirms that applications are open from 21 September 2026 to 13 November 2026.
The official system’s user manual was issued on 31 August 2026 by the Office of the Premier and confirms that the system is intended for unemployed youth residing in the Free State who are applying for bursary funding for approved fields of study at accredited higher education institutions.
The manual also confirms the online registration process, required application sections, document uploads, assessment procedure and electronic notifications.
The official Free State Online bursary page separately confirms the provincial government’s longstanding bursary programme, its scarce-skills focus and the expectation that funded students contribute their skills to the Free State after completing their studies.
How to apply
- Open the official Free State Provincial Government Online Bursary Application System.
- Select Sign Up if you do not already have an account.
- Select the appropriate bursary type.
- Enter your full names, surname, ID number and email address.
- Create a password.
- Check your email for the account-activation message.
- Activate your account.
- Log in to the bursary system.
- Complete the Personal Information section.
- Complete the Additional Information section.
- Complete the Qualification Information section.
- Upload all compulsory supporting documents.
- Check that each application section shows as complete.
- Review the information carefully.
- Submit the application before 13 November 2026.
- Keep the submission acknowledgement or confirmation for your records.