The Motsepe Foundation Bursary 2027 is now accepting applications from eligible South African students who require financial support for university studies. The bursary provides comprehensive funding across tuition, accommodation, learning materials, meals and additional student support.
Applications for the 2027 bursary programme close on 16 October 2026. Prospective applicants should review the academic, financial-need, field-of-study and geographic requirements before beginning the application.
The bursary is aimed at students demonstrating strong academic performance and financial need, with supported study areas including Science, Technology, Engineering, Accounting, Mathematics and selected Humanities disciplines.
Motsepe Foundation Bursary 2027 – Key Details
- Bursary: Motsepe Foundation Bursary 2027
- Application Deadline: 16 October 2026
- Academic Requirement: Average pass mark above 70%
- Financial Requirement: Evidence of financial need
- Study Areas: Science, Technology, Engineering, Accounting, Mathematics and selected Humanities
- Humanities Supported: Music and LLB
- Coverage: Tuition, registration, accommodation, books, stationery, laptop, meals, tutoring and mental wellness support
- Eligible Areas: Selected districts and municipalities across all nine South African provinces
- Application: Online through the Motsepe Foundation Student Portal
What Does the Motsepe Foundation Bursary Cover?
The bursary offers several forms of financial and academic support. Successful applicants can receive funding for registration and university tuition fees, helping cover the main costs associated with higher education.
The programme also covers university-accredited accommodation fees, which can provide support for students who need to live away from home while pursuing their studies.
Learning-related expenses are included as well. The bursary provides funding for books and stationery, including a laptop.
Additional support includes:
- Meal allowance
- Tutor allowance
- Mental wellness support
The combination of academic, living and student-support provisions means applicants should carefully review the official bursary terms to understand how each component applies to their circumstances.
Who Can Apply?
The Motsepe Foundation has established academic and financial criteria for the 2027 bursary.
Applicants must have an average pass mark of over 70%, with Life Orientation and Home Language excluded from the calculation.
Applicants must also provide evidence demonstrating financial need.
The application portal includes a pre-screening process in which prospective applicants enter their latest marks for relevant subjects. According to the portal, applications below the 70% threshold cannot proceed through the pre-screening stage.
Applicants should therefore ensure that their academic results meet the required standard before completing the full application.
Supported Fields of Study
The 2027 bursary supports students pursuing studies in several academic areas.
The listed fields are:
- Science
- Technology
- Engineering
- Accounting
- Mathematics
- Humanities – Music
- Humanities – LLB
Students should confirm that their intended programme falls within one of these supported categories before applying.
Where Is the Bursary Available?
The Motsepe Foundation bursary is geographically targeted. Applicants must be from the specified supported areas.
The listed areas include:
Limpopo
- Sekhukhune
- Capricorn
- Vhembe
- Mopani
Free State
- Thabo Mofutsanyana
- Mangaung
KwaZulu-Natal
- Umgungundlovu
- Ethekwini
- King Cetshwayo
Eastern Cape
- OR Tambo
- Nelson Mandela Bay
- Buffalo City
Mpumalanga
- Bushbuckridge
- Mbombela
- Kwamhlanga
North West
- Mmakau
- Madibeng
- Bojanala
Gauteng
- Tshwane
- Ekurhuleni
- Johannesburg
- Sedibeng
Western Cape
- Khayelitsha
- Mitchells Plain
Northern Cape
- John Taole
- Frances Baard
Applicants should check the exact geographic eligibility criteria on the official portal before submitting an application.
Documents Required
Applicants should prepare the required supporting documents in advance to avoid delays during the application process.
The bursary portal lists the following documents:
- Certified copy of the applicant’s ID
- Certified copies of parents’ or legal guardians’ IDs
- Certified copy of the latest academic transcript or results
- Proof of income for both parents or legal guardians
- Testimonial letter from a principal, religious leader or traditional leader
Documents should meet the Foundation’s certification requirements. Applicants should ensure that all requested documents are available before proceeding with the application.
How the Application Process Works
The Motsepe Foundation has structured its online application process into four main stages:
Step 1: Screening
Applicants enter their contact details, province, applicable subjects and latest academic marks. The system performs an academic eligibility check.
Step 2: Profile
Eligible applicants create their application profile through the student portal.
Step 3: Apply
Applicants complete the bursary application and upload the required supporting documents.
Step 4: Track
Applicants can use their account to track the progress of their application.
This staged process allows applicants to determine whether they meet the basic academic threshold before proceeding with the full application.
How to Prepare a Strong Application
Prospective applicants should begin by checking their academic average and confirming that it exceeds the required 70% threshold, excluding Life Orientation and Home Language.
They should also confirm that their field of study and geographic location fall within the Foundation’s supported categories.
Because several certified documents are required, applicants should arrange certification and collect parental or guardian income documentation before starting the application.
A clear testimonial letter should also be requested early from an eligible authority, such as a school principal, religious leader or traditional leader.
Application Deadline
The closing date for the Motsepe Foundation 2027 Bursary is 16 October 2026.
Applicants should avoid waiting until the final day to begin the process, particularly because the application requires multiple supporting documents.
The Foundation’s student portal provides the pre-screening, profile creation, application and tracking functions.
How to Apply
Eligible students can begin the application process through the official Motsepe Foundation Student Portal.
Motsepe Foundation Student Portal – Apply for the 2027 Bursary
Applicants should carefully review the eligibility criteria, supported fields, geographic areas and document requirements before submitting their application.
Final Thoughts
The Motsepe Foundation Bursary 2027 provides extensive university funding for eligible students who meet the academic and financial-need requirements. Support can include tuition and registration fees, accredited accommodation, learning materials including a laptop, meals, tutoring and mental wellness support.
With the 16 October 2026 deadline approaching, prospective applicants should complete the pre-screening stage early and prepare all required certified documents before submitting their applications.
