Potatoes South Africa (PSA) is inviting eligible South African students to apply for its Bursary Programme for the 2027 academic year. The programme supports undergraduate and postgraduate students studying agricultural disciplines relevant to the potato industry, including Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Plant or Crop Production and Soil Science. Applications are currently open and close on 31 August 2026.
At a glance
Sponsor/host: Potatoes South Africa (PSA)
Opportunity type: Undergraduate and postgraduate bursary
Academic year funded: 2027
Study levels: Undergraduate from second year onwards; BTech, Honours, Master’s and PhD
Study mode: Full-time
Who it’s for: South African students studying agriculture-related qualifications relevant to the potato industry
Application opening announcement: 3 August 2026
Closing date: 31 August 2026
Application method: Online application followed by submission of supporting documents
Last verified: 8 August 2026
Potatoes South Africa’s official announcement confirms that applications for 2027 are open, while its official social-media announcement confirms the 31 August 2026 closing date and the current Microsoft Forms application route.
High-value notes (read this first)
- Undergraduate applicants must be entering at least their second year of study in 2027.
- Postgraduate applicants at BTech, Honours, Master’s and PhD level may also apply.
- Applicants must be studying full-time at a recognised and accredited South African tertiary institution.
- The bursary focuses on agricultural disciplines relevant to the potato industry.
- A strong academic record is required.
- Potatoes South Africa’s wider Tertiary Skills Development Pipeline combines bursary support with internship and workplace-experience opportunities.
- The programme has a strong transformation focus and specifically aims to develop technical capacity among deserving Black students.
- Applicants should submit well before the 31 August deadline because the application involves both an online form and supporting-document submission.
About the sponsor
Potatoes South Africa is the national industry organisation representing South Africa’s potato producers and broader potato value chain.
Its Tertiary Skills Development Pipeline is designed to develop young talent through bursaries, internship training and workplace experience. The programme aims to strengthen technical skills within the potato industry while giving students practical exposure to the potato value chain and potential career opportunities.
The bursary programme forms part of this broader skills-development and transformation initiative.
What it covers
Potatoes South Africa confirms that successful applicants receive bursary funding towards their studies.
The current public announcement does not provide a detailed breakdown of specific expenses such as tuition, accommodation, textbooks, meals or allowances. Applicants should therefore check the final bursary agreement or communication from Potatoes South Africa for the exact funding package.
The programme also provides opportunities for practical development through internships and workplace experience linked to relevant study disciplines.
Eligibility
Applicants should meet the following requirements:
- Be a South African citizen
- Have completed Matric
- Be studying full-time towards an eligible undergraduate or postgraduate qualification
- Be entering at least the second year of undergraduate study in 2027, or be studying at postgraduate level
- Be studying at a recognised and accredited tertiary institution in South Africa
- Be studying an agricultural discipline relevant to the potato industry
- Have a strong academic record
Fields of study supported
The 2027 bursary application information lists the following fields:
- Agricultural Economics
- Agronomy
- Plant Production
- Crop Production
- Soil Science
- Other agricultural studies or research relevant to the potato industry
Postgraduate students undertaking potato-related research may also be considered.
Practical experience and work-back requirement
Potatoes South Africa’s Tertiary Skills Development Pipeline is designed to give bursars access to practical exposure through:
- Internship opportunities
- Workplace experience
- Exposure to the potato value chain
- Industry relationships and career-development opportunities
The current 2027 application information also states that bursary recipients may be required, after completing their studies, to work for a potato-industry-related organisation, company or institution for a period equivalent to the duration of the bursary received. Applicants should read the bursary agreement carefully before accepting an award.
Documents to prepare
Applicants should prepare:
- Certified copy of South African ID
- Matric certificate
- Qualification certificates, where applicable
- Most recent academic transcripts
- University admission letter or proof of registration
- Proof of parents’ or guardians’ household income, such as payslips, an affidavit where unemployed, or proof of a social grant where applicable
- Master’s and PhD applicants: progress report or recommendation letter from the academic supervisor
- Any additional documents relevant to the application
The current application information states that supporting documents should be combined into one PDF file, arranged in the requested order.
The PDF should be named using the applicant’s full name and ID number. Applicants receive the supporting-document upload route after completing the initial application form.
Closing date
31 August 2026.
Potatoes South Africa confirmed the deadline through its official 2027 bursary announcement on its social-media channels. Applications submitted after the deadline will not be considered.
Apply early enough to complete both parts of the process: the initial online application and the supporting-document submission.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Applying if you will still be a first-year undergraduate student in 2027
- Applying for a qualification that has no clear relevance to agriculture or the potato industry
- Submitting without a complete academic record
- Forgetting proof of registration or university admission
- Leaving out household-income documentation
- Master’s or PhD applicants forgetting the supervisor progress report or recommendation
- Uploading supporting documents as several separate files when the application requires one combined PDF
- Naming the supporting-document PDF incorrectly
- Completing the application form but failing to complete the separate supporting-document submission
- Waiting until 31 August 2026 to start the application
How this opportunity was verified
The opportunity was verified from the official Potatoes South Africa 2027 bursary announcement, published on 3 August 2026, which confirms that applications are open for funding for the 2027 academic year.
Potatoes South Africa’s official social-media announcement confirms the 31 August 2026 closing date, official Microsoft Forms application route and Potatoes SA contact number.
The programme’s broader purpose, including bursary, internship and workplace-experience development, was checked against Potatoes South Africa’s official Tertiary Skills Development page.
How to apply
- Open the official Potatoes South Africa 2027 bursary application form.
- Complete every section of the online application accurately.
- Prepare all required supporting documents.
- Combine the required supporting documents into one PDF in the requested order.
- Name the PDF using your full name and ID number as instructed.
- Follow the supporting-document upload instructions provided through the application process.
- Check that both the application form and supporting documents have been submitted.
- Submit everything before 31 August 2026.
- Keep proof of submission.