South African students looking for financial support for the 2027 academic year can apply for the Thebe Foundation Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship 2027, which provides comprehensive funding for eligible students pursuing selected qualifications at public tertiary institutions.
Applications are currently open, but prospective applicants must submit their applications by Tuesday, 22 September 2026 at 12 midday.
The scholarship is designed to assist financially needy South African students while supporting the development of graduates who are academically capable, socially equipped and confident in their African identity and heritage.
The Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship Fund was established in 2016 in honour of Dr Enos Mabuza and his contribution to the establishment of Thebe Investment Corporation alongside Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Beyers Naude.
The scholarship seeks to provide financial assistance to students at higher education institutions who meet the programme’s eligibility requirements. Beyond financial assistance, the Thebe Foundation provides support services throughout the programme to help scholarship recipients remain on track academically and successfully complete their studies.
For the 2027 academic year, the scholarship is available to eligible students pursuing selected qualifications at public tertiary institutions registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET) and the South African Qualifications Authority (SAQA).
What Does the Scholarship Cover?
The Thebe Foundation Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship provides support towards several major study-related expenses.
The bursary covers:
- Tuition fees
- Textbooks
- Accredited accommodation costs
- Meals
- A transport allowance for students living at home
- Support services throughout the scholarship programme
Applicants should note that the scholarship does not cover historical debt incurred before 2027. If historical debt is discovered, including after an applicant has received an offer, pledge or bursary contract, the bursary may be terminated or cancelled at the provider’s discretion.
Successful applicants who accept the scholarship must also terminate other funding arrangements, including NSFAS, where applicable.
Fields of Study Covered
The 2027 scholarship supports students studying selected fields at public tertiary institutions.
Eligible fields include:
- Accounting
- Corporate Finance
- Finance
- Mining Engineering
- Electrical Engineering
- Agriculture
- Education/BEd, specialising in Mathematics and Technology
- Renewable Energy
- Water and Energy
- ICT
- Media, Information and Communication programmes
TVET artisan applicants may also qualify if they are pursuing programmes in areas including:
- Electrical work
- Plumbing
- Mechanics
- Solar photovoltaic service technology
- Millwright
Applicants should carefully confirm that their specific qualification and institution meet the scholarship requirements before submitting an application.
Who Can Apply?
Applicants must satisfy several requirements to be considered for the Thebe Foundation Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship.
Applicants must:
- Be under 35 years of age at the time of application.
- Be South African citizens.
- Be unemployed.
- Be pursuing a full-time qualification.
- Be studying towards a Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Degree, Honours or Master’s qualification. PhD studies are excluded.
- Be pursuing their qualification level for the first time and not repeating a degree year, Honours year or equivalent.
- Have achieved an average pass rate of 60% or higher during their last full year of academic enrolment.
- Come from a household with an annual income below R600,000.
- Belong to a Black Designated Group as defined under BBBEE, namely Africans, Coloureds, Indians and Asians.
- Be studying, or intending to study, at a public tertiary institution registered with DHET and SAQA.
For Master’s applicants, the research topic will form part of the selection criteria.
The scholarship is intended for students who will be studying full-time during the 2027 academic year.
Required Documents
Applicants should prepare all supporting documentation before completing the application.
Required documents include a one-page motivation explaining why the applicant selected their field of study and how they intend to use their qualification after graduation. Applicants must also provide a certified South African identity document, a recent certified ID document for their parent or guardian, and proof of household income.
Additional academic documents depend on the applicant’s current status.
Matric applicants should provide their Grade 11 and Grade 12 Term 2 reports with the official school stamp.
Gap-year students should provide a certified copy of their Grade 12 matric certificate and may also submit their latest official academic transcripts.
Undergraduate, Honours and Master’s applicants must provide a certified matric certificate, official 2026 proof of university registration and their latest official academic transcript or transcripts.
Applicants should ensure that certified documents are less than three months old. Screenshots are not accepted, while documents issued by institutions must display an official logo and institutional stamp. Documents must be clear, readable and not password protected.
Optional supporting documents include disability-related documentation, previous bursary or NSFAS funding agreements, and a 2027 acceptance letter from an accredited institution.
Application Deadline
The application deadline for the 2027 Thebe Foundation Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship is:
Tuesday, 22 September 2026 at 12 midday.
Applicants should submit their applications before the stated closing time and ensure that all required documents have been uploaded correctly. Incomplete applications or applications containing misrepresentations will be disregarded.
The scholarship will be allocated for the 2027 academic year.
Have You Applied?
Eligible South African students who need financial assistance for their 2027 studies should review the scholarship requirements and supporting-document checklist carefully before applying.
Applicants are encouraged to ensure that their documents are properly certified, readable and complete before submission. Those who do not receive a response within three months of the application closing date should consider their application unsuccessful.
The scholarship is subject to terms and conditions, and successful applicants will be required to sign an agreement provided by the sponsor.
