Applications are open for the South Deep Education Trust Undergraduate Bursary Programme for the 2027 academic year. It supports eligible Grade 12 learners and current tertiary students from South Deep Mine's host communities and surrounding areas. The application guide sets out household-income, academic and other eligibility conditions; applications close on 6 November 2026. Use the Apply Here button below to access the application call.
Closing date: 6 November 2026
At a glance
- Sponsor/host: South Deep Education Trust
- Opportunity type: Undergraduate bursary
- Who it’s for: Eligible Grade 12 learners and current university or TVET college students from the South Deep Mine host community and surrounding areas, including Westonaria, Bekkersdal, Simunye, Poortjie, Borwa, Hillshaven and Zuurbekom. Applicants must meet the applicable academic, household-income and other criteria.
- Study level: Undergraduate; Grade 12 learners provisionally accepted for tertiary study and current tertiary students
- Location: South Deep Mine host communities and surrounding areas, South Africa
- Academic year: 2027
- Closing date: 6 November 2026
- Last verified: 2026-10-24
High-value notes (read this first)
The programme is for the 2027 academic year.
Household income must be R350,000 or less per year.
The guide says bursaries are limited and qualifying applicants are considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Recipients are encouraged and supported to complete one week of vacation or community volunteering work annually.
Failed modules are not funded for repetition; the student is responsible for those costs.
About the sponsor
The South Deep Education Trust supports education for beneficiaries in South Deep Mine host communities. Its 2027 undergraduate bursary provides study funding and related student support. The application call is published through Tshikululu Social Investments, which provides the programme's application administration and enquiries contact.
What it covers
Full tuition; on-campus or off-campus accommodation; textbooks; a laptop allowance; a monthly stipend for 10 months; personal development support, mentorship and additional tutoring. Equipment may be covered case by case for specialised qualifications. Successful recipients are encouraged and supported to complete one week of vacation or community volunteering work each year.
Eligible fields
- The guide permits a diploma or degree in any technical or non-technical field for eligible Grade 12 applicants; no narrower list of fields is specified.
Eligibility
- Applicant must come from the South Deep host community or surrounding areas, including Westonaria, Bekkersdal, Simunye, Poortjie, Borwa, Hillshaven or Zuurbekom.
- Total annual household income must be R350,000 or less.
- Applicants must not be dependants of Gold Fields employees, its divisions or associated companies, or trustees of the South Deep Education and Community Trusts.
- Grade 12 applicants must have a 75% average pass mark for the National Senior Certificate, excluding Life Orientation; be provisionally accepted for first-year diploma or degree study in any technical or non-technical field at a South African public university or public TVET college; and have no existing bursary, scholarship or other tertiary funding.
- First-time applicants already studying at a university or TVET college must have achieved a 65% average in their most recent year of study.
- Returning South Deep Education Trust bursary applicants must have passed their most recent year of study with an average of at least 50%.
- Applicants who passed the year overall but failed a module must pay the cost of repeating that module themselves.
Documents to prepare
- Certified copy of the applicant's ID, certified within the last three months.
- Proof of address not older than three months, such as a bank letter, utility bill or letter from the tribunal office.
- Bank confirmation letter issued within the last three months.
- Acceptance letter from a tertiary institution.
- Official stamped or certified academic results showing the applicant's personal details and school or institution.
- Certified copies of parents' or guardians' IDs, not older than three months.
- Parents' or guardian's proof of income, pension or social grant receipt; if there is no proof of income, an affidavit to that effect.
- Tuition fee and/or accommodation estimate.
Closing date
6 November 2026
Common mistakes to avoid
- Do not assume that living anywhere in South Africa is sufficient: applicants must come from the South Deep host community or surrounding areas.
- Grade 12 applicants need a 75% average excluding Life Orientation, provisional acceptance for a diploma or degree at a South African public university or public TVET college, and no other tertiary funding.
- Current tertiary students applying for the first time need a 65% average in their most recent year; returning SDET bursary applicants need at least 50%. Failed modules must be repeated at the student's own cost.
- Dependants of Gold Fields employees, its divisions or associated companies, and dependants of trustees of the South Deep Education and Community Trusts are excluded.
- Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. The guide says awards are limited and made to qualifying applicants on a first-come, first-served basis.
- Check that required certified documents and address or bank documents meet the guide's stated three-month recency requirements.
How this opportunity was verified
Verified on 24 October 2026 against the official Tshikululu Social Investments call page and the South Deep Education Trust 2027 application guide. The call page and guide identify the Trust and Tshikululu's application administration contact.
How to apply
- Register or log in to the Tshikululu awards platform using the Apply Here button below.
- Scroll to the South Deep logo and select Start Application.
- Under Category, select South Deep Trusts, then Bursary Programme, then Undergraduate.
- Complete the relevant application and submit it with the required documents before the deadline. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted.