The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) has opened a new bursary funding window for the 2027 academic year that will make 500 bursary opportunities available to unemployed students studying at participating public universities and TVET colleges.
Unlike the MQA bursary programme for employed applicants, individual students do not apply directly to MQA through this funding window. Public universities and TVET colleges must first apply to MQA for funding, after which approved institutions will administer the bursaries to financially needy and deserving students.
The institutional application window opened on 19 October 2026 and closes on 19 November 2026.
At a glance
- Sponsor: Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA)
- Opportunity type: Institution-administered bursary funding for unemployed students
- Academic year funded: 2027
- Number of bursary opportunities: 500
- Who it is for: Financially needy and deserving unemployed students studying at participating public universities and TVET colleges
- University field: Mining Engineering
- TVET fields: Selected artisan trades plus approved JET and 4IR qualifications
- Student application route: Through a participating university or TVET college
- Direct individual application to MQA: No
- Institutional funding window opened: 19 October 2026
- Institutional closing date: 19 November 2026
- Last verified: 19 October 2026
High-value notes (read this first)
- A total of 500 bursary opportunities will be available for unemployed bursars for the 2027 academic year.
- Individual students do not apply directly to MQA through the OneView funding portal.
- The current application window is for public universities and TVET colleges to apply to MQA for bursary allocations.
- Funding will be administered through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between MQA and each approved institution.
- Students will therefore need to follow the bursary, financial-aid or nomination process established by their own participating institution.
- For university students, the current 2027 funding window lists Mining Engineering only.
- TVET students have a broader list of eligible artisan, JET and Fourth Industrial Revolution study areas.
- MQA has not yet published a final list of universities and TVET colleges that will receive allocations because the institutional application window is still open.
- Students should therefore contact their institution’s financial-aid, bursary or student-funding office to ask whether it is participating in the MQA 2027 programme.
About the sponsor
The Mining Qualifications Authority (MQA) is a South African statutory body and Sector Education and Training Authority responsible for skills development within the mining and minerals sector.
The MQA was established in terms of the Mine Health and Safety Act and is registered as a SETA under the Skills Development Act. It supports the objectives of the National Skills Development Plan and works with employers, labour organisations, government, education institutions and communities to identify and address skills requirements within the mining and minerals sector.
Its programmes include bursaries, learnerships, internships, workplace experience, artisan development and other education and training initiatives. One of the MQA’s strategic priorities is to improve access to occupationally directed learning opportunities for unemployed South Africans.
Main MQA website:https://mqa.org.za/
MQA Company Overview:https://mqa.org.za/company-overview/
How the 2027 funding works
This funding programme works differently from a conventional bursary where a student completes an application directly with the sponsor.
MQA is first inviting public universities and TVET colleges to apply for bursary funding for financially needy and deserving unemployed students who will be studying at those institutions during 2027.
Once funding is approved, the bursary will be administered and regulated through an MOU between MQA and the institution.
This means the participating university or TVET college becomes the practical access point for the student.
Can individual students apply directly to MQA?
No direct individual application route is provided in this 2027 funding notice.
The MQA OneView application system linked in the official announcement is intended for public universities and TVET colleges applying for the bursary allocation.
Students should therefore not create the impression that they can use the institutional portal to submit a personal bursary application.
An unemployed student interested in this funding should instead contact the financial-aid or bursary office at the public institution where they will be studying in 2027 and ask whether that institution is participating in the MQA funding programme and how students will be selected.
Who the funding is intended for
The current funding call is intended to support:
- Unemployed students
- Financially needy students
- Deserving students
- Students who will be studying at participating South African public universities or TVET colleges in 2027
- Students enrolled in programmes aligned with the MQA Sector Skills Plan
The official 2027 notice does not publish a specific household-income ceiling or a separate student age limit for this funding window.
University field of study
For students at public universities, the current 2027 direct-funding call lists only:
- Mining Engineering
Students studying other university qualifications should not assume that those programmes are included under this specific 500-bursary funding window.
TVET College fields of study
The following TVET College programmes are specifically listed:
- Boilermaker
- Motor Mechanic
- Electrician
- Fitter and Turner
- Fitting, including Machinery
- Instrumentation Mechanic
- Millwright
- Rigger Ropes Man
JET and 4IR qualifications at TVET colleges
MQA will also consider funding students at TVET colleges who are completing full qualifications linked to Just Energy Transition (JET) and Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) focus areas.
These include:
- 3D Printing
- Augmented Reality
- Virtual Reality
- Artificial Intelligence
- Automation Technology
- Cloud Computing
- CNC Machining
- Coding
- Cyber Security
- Drone Technology
- Internet of Things
- IT Linguistics
- Networking and Programming
- Renewable Energy Technologies
- Robotics and Programming
- Software Simulation
- Solar and Photovoltaics Technology
- Welding Robotics
- Raspberry Pi and Arduino-related technologies
What the bursary may cover
The specific 2027 direct-funding notice does not provide a detailed student-level breakdown of the bursary package.
However, MQA’s general bursary programme states that its bursary scheme may provide support for:
- Full tuition fees
- Registration fees
- Residence fees or a private accommodation allowance
- Books
- Meals
- An allowance per bursar per semester, where applicable
The exact benefits available under the 2027 institution-administered funding should be confirmed with the participating university or TVET college once its allocation and bursary conditions have been finalised.
Documents students should prepare
The MQA’s current funding notice does not publish a student-level supporting-document checklist because the application being advertised is submitted by institutions.
Participating universities and TVET colleges may set their own internal bursary nomination or application requirements.
Students should therefore follow the document requirements issued by their institution rather than relying on an older MQA bursary checklist.
It may nevertheless be useful to have current academic, registration, identification and financial-need documentation readily available in case the institution requests it.
Institutional application period
The application period for public universities and TVET colleges opened on:
19 October 2026
The institutional funding window closes on:
19 November 2026
This is not necessarily the deadline that individual students will use. Participating institutions may establish their own internal student nomination or application dates.
Important note about participating institutions
As at 19 October 2026, MQA has opened the funding window to all public universities and TVET colleges but has not yet published a final list of institutions that will receive 2027 bursary allocations.
Students should therefore not assume that every public university or TVET college will automatically have MQA funding available.
Check directly with your institution’s financial-aid, bursary, student-funding or relevant faculty office to confirm participation.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Trying to apply as an individual through the MQA OneView institutional portal
- Assuming that the 19 November 2026 deadline is automatically the student’s own application deadline
- Assuming that every public university or TVET college will automatically participate
- University students applying for a qualification other than Mining Engineering under this specific funding window
- Applying as an employed student when this funding window is specifically intended for unemployed bursars
- Assuming the general MQA bursary benefits are guaranteed before checking the institution’s 2027 funding conditions
- Failing to monitor your institution’s bursary and financial-aid announcements
- Missing an institution-specific internal application or nomination deadline
How this opportunity was verified
This opportunity was verified directly from the official Mining Qualifications Authority announcement published on 19 October 2026.
The official notice confirms that MQA is inviting public universities and TVET colleges to apply for funding for financially needy and deserving unemployed students studying during the 2027 academic year.
It also confirms that 500 bursary opportunities will be available, identifies the approved university and TVET study areas, and states that funding will be administered through an MOU between MQA and participating institutions.
The institutional application period runs from 19 October to 19 November 2026.
How students can access the funding
- Confirm that you are unemployed and intend to study an eligible qualification in 2027.
- Confirm that your intended institution is a South African public university or TVET college.
- For university study, confirm that you are studying or will study Mining Engineering.
- For TVET study, confirm that your programme appears on the eligible trade or JET/4IR list.
- Contact your institution’s financial-aid, bursary or student-funding office.
- Ask whether the institution has applied for, or intends to apply for, an MQA 2027 unemployed-bursar allocation.
- Ask how students will be nominated or invited to apply if the institution receives funding.
- Follow the institution’s own application process and internal deadline.
- Submit all documents requested by the institution.
- Continue monitoring both the institution and MQA for further 2027 bursary announcements.