The Absa Fellowship Programme is more than a bursary. Each year Absa selects about 50 first-year students from South Africa and nine other African countries and funds their whole degree, then puts them through leadership and entrepreneurship development, mentoring and networking so they graduate ready to build businesses and lead. It is administered for Absa by Fundi.
About the Absa Fellowship Programme
- Covers full tuition, accommodation, a laptop, textbooks, a meal allowance, a monthly stipend, a data allowance and medical aid for the full degree.
- Adds leadership and entrepreneurship training, mentoring by Absa leaders and membership of the fellowship network.
- Fields: commerce; humanities and social sciences; science including health sciences (but not medicine or veterinary science); technology, engineering and mathematics; creative arts; and digital and data design.
- About 50 fellows are selected each year.
Absa Fellowship eligibility requirements
- Citizen of South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda or Zambia.
- Aged 18 to 25.
- At least a 65% average in the June preliminary or final Matric results.
- Enrolling as a first-year undergraduate at a public university in 2027 in a listed field.
- Applying in your own name; applications by parents or guardians are rejected.
How to apply for the Absa Fellowship
- Go to absa-bsp.fundi.co.za, create a profile and complete the pre-screening questions.
- Upload your ID, latest results and proof of university application before the closing date of the next round.
- If you pass pre-screening, you receive a voucher code by email for the online psychometric assessment; complete it by the deadline given.
- Shortlisted candidates are interviewed, and Absa makes the final selection before the academic year starts.
Absa Fellowship closing date
10 September 2026 for the 2027 intake, now closed. The 2028 intake dates are not yet published.
Contact details
- Email: Absafellowship@fundi.co.za
- Website: absa.africa/fellowship
Top achievers should also apply to the Moshal scholarship (31 December 2026), the Mastercard Foundation scholarship and the Nedbank bursary.
FAQs
1. When does the Absa Fellowship close for 2027? +
The 2027 intake closed on 10 September 2026. Watch for the 2028 intake from mid-2027. No late applications are accepted, and the psychometric assessment must be completed by the date in your invitation.
2. What is the Absa Fellowship Programme? +
A full scholarship plus leadership and entrepreneurship development for about 50 first-year students a year, run by Absa with Fundi, aimed at young Africans who want to become changemakers in business and their communities.
3. What does it cover? +
Full tuition, accommodation, a laptop, textbooks, a meal allowance, a monthly stipend, a data allowance and medical aid for the degree, plus mentoring, leadership training and access to the Absa network.
4. Who qualifies? +
Citizens of South Africa, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Mauritius, Mozambique, Seychelles, Tanzania, Uganda or Zambia aged 18 to 25, with at least a 65% average, entering first year at a public university in 2027 in commerce, humanities and social sciences, science (excluding medicine and veterinary science), technology, engineering, mathematics, creative arts or digital and data design.
5. How is selection done? +
Pre-screening against the minimum requirements, an online psychometric assessment by voucher, shortlisting on assessment scores, interviews and final selection by Absa.
6. How do I apply? +
Online at absa-bsp.fundi.co.za in your own name, with your ID, latest results and proof of university application. Enquiries go to Absafellowship@fundi.co.za.
Update note (checked September 2026): applications for the 2027 intake closed on 10 September 2026. Watch the Absa Fellowship portal from mid-2027 for the 2028 intake. No late applications are accepted, and shortlisted applicants must complete the psychometric assessment within the time given in their invitation.
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