FirstRand Empowerment Foundation – Postgraduate Honours Bursary 2027

The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Postgraduate Bursary is administered in partnership with Feenix and aims to support academically capable students from under-resourced communities.

The programme provides financial assistance to eligible students entering their first one-year Honours qualification in 2027. Approved study areas include Actuarial Science, Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Environmental Sciences, Mathematics, Physics and selected other STEM disciplines, as well as BA Honours Arts (Psychology).

The bursary may cover full tuition fees, approved accommodation up to R65,000, monthly travel stipends, a book allowance, food and airtime vouchers, and additional student support services. Funding is subject to the programme's selection process and available bursary places.

Applicants must meet all the following requirements:

Must be a South African citizen.

Must be a Black South African citizen, as defined by the B-BBEE Act (African, Coloured or Indian).

Must be aged between 18 and 35 as at 31 December 2027.

Must have achieved at least 60% in NSC Mathematics. Mathematical Literacy does not qualify.

Must have achieved a minimum 60% average in their undergraduate degree.

Must be applying for their first full-time, one-year Honours qualification in 2027.

Must study at an eligible South African public university.

Combined annual household income must not exceed R700,000.

Must meet the admission requirements for the intended qualification.

Must disclose any other funding received or secured, as double funding is not permitted.

Applicants must be entering their first full-time Honours qualification at NQF Level 8 in one of the approved fields:

Actuarial Science

Agricultural Sciences

BA Honours Arts (Psychology)

Biosciences

Climate Sciences

Computer Science

Data Science

Electronics

Engineering

Environmental Sciences

Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Information Management

Information Science

Information Systems

Information Technology

Mathematical Sciences

Mathematics

Physics

Renewable Energy

Risk

Sciences

Statistics

Commerce-related qualifications are not eligible. Psychology is limited to BA Honours Arts (Psychology).

Prepare the following documents for online submission:

Certified South African identity document, certified within the last six months.

Certified Matric certificate.

Complete undergraduate academic transcript.

Provisional or final acceptance letter for the 2027 Honours qualification, if available.

Valid 13-digit ID numbers for the applicant and a household member aged 18 or older.

Completed EEA1 form and recent medical letter or certificate, where applicable for students living with a disability.

All supporting documents must be uploaded as PDF files, with each file no larger than 5 MB.

Applications must be submitted online through the official Feenix application portal.

Visit the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation bursary application page.

Review the eligibility criteria and document checklist.

Complete the initial eligibility screening.

Provide your personal details and contact information.

Enter your undergraduate academic information and intended 2027 Honours study plans.

Upload the required supporting documents in PDF format.

Complete and submit the application.

Applicants may save a draft and return to complete it later using their private resume link. Keep this link safe.

Meeting the minimum eligibility requirements does not guarantee funding. Applications are subject to screening, verification and the availability of bursary places.