Key facts
- Status
- Applications open Closes 1 March 2027
- Provider
- Varsity College
- Study level
- University, Undergraduate, High school
- Academic year
- 2027
- Last checked
- September 2026
Emeris publishes a set of bursaries and awards each year rather than a single scholarship.
VerifiedVarsity College is the largest private higher education brand in South Africa, with campuses in Cape Town, Durban, Pietermaritzburg, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria, Sandton and Johannesburg. In 2026 its owner, The Independent Institute of Education (IIE), merged Varsity College with IIE MSA, Vega and the School of Hospitality and Service Management under a single new name, Emeris. The campuses, IIE qualifications and bursaries continue under the Emeris brand.
Emeris bursaries and awards for new students
- National Senior Certificate Award: for first-year students with an 80% average across six Matric subjects, excluding Life Orientation. Cannot be combined with the Academic Scholarship.
- Leadership Bursary: one year of study, non-renewable, for matriculants who held a senior leadership position at school and register for a full contact module load.
- Activation Bursary: one year of study for Grade 12 learners from participating schools, reviewed annually.
- Open Day Bursary: won through a competition and interviews at the annual campus Open Days.
- Schools Quiz Bursary: awarded to the top three schools in the Emeris schools quiz, which each allocate it to a deserving learner.
- Sports bursaries: for high sporting achievement, with priority for national Protea colours in athletics, golf and swimming.
Awards for returning students
- Aggregate Distinction Award: for a 75% overall programme average with a full module load (contact) or at least six modules (online), excluding repeats.
- Committee bursaries: one year of study for students elected to the Student Life Squad, Emeris Cares, Emeris Voice or a sports club committee, and for Career Services ambassadors.
- Family Loyalty Bursary: 5% off tuition when an immediate family member is enrolled at the same time on the same account.
How to apply
- New students: book an appointment with a student advisor at your nearest Emeris campus, and bring your latest school results, ID and proof of any leadership or sporting achievement.
- Returning students: contact the Student Relations Centre on your campus.
- Submit the bursary application before the closing date. A bursary application does not guarantee an award.
Emeris bursary closing date
Applications for 2026 closed on 1 March 2026. Expect 1 March 2027 for the 2027 academic year. Undergraduate contact-study applications for 2027 close on 30 October 2026.
Contact details
- Bursaries page: emeris.ac.za/admissions/fees-and-finance/bursaries-and-awards
- Campuses: Cape Town 021 685 5021; Durban North 031 573 2038; Westville 031 266 8400; Nelson Mandela Bay 041 363 4223; Pietermaritzburg 033 386 2376; Pretoria 012 348 2551; Sandton 011 784 6939; Waterfall 011 022 8100
Private higher education is not funded by NSFAS, so combine an Emeris award with external funders. Our commerce bursaries list includes schemes that pay for accredited private programmes.
FAQs
1. What happened to Varsity College? +
In 2026 The Independent Institute of Education brought Varsity College, IIE MSA, Vega and the School of Hospitality and Service Management together under one name, Emeris. The campuses, qualifications and bursaries continue under the Emeris brand.
2. Which awards can new students get? +
The National Senior Certificate Award for an 80% average across six Matric subjects (excluding Life Orientation), the Leadership Bursary for learners who held a senior leadership position at school, the Activation and Open Day bursaries won through school and campus events, and sports bursaries for provincial and national athletes.
3. When is the closing date? +
Bursary applications for the 2026 year had to be in by 1 March 2026. For 2027, expect the same deadline of 1 March 2027, with the Open Day and Activation competitions running during 2026. Confirm with your campus student advisor.
4. How much are the awards worth? +
Most cover one year of tuition and are reviewed annually. The NSC Award and Aggregate Distinction Award cannot be combined with each other. The Family Loyalty bursary gives 5% off tuition when an immediate family member is also enrolled.
5. What about returning students? +
The Aggregate Distinction Award for a 75% programme average, plus one-year bursaries for students elected to the Student Life Squad, Emeris Cares, Emeris Voice, Career Services ambassadors and sports committees.
6. How do I apply? +
New students book an appointment with a student advisor at their nearest campus; returning students contact the Student Relations Centre. The old Varsity College scholarship, which required 75% in four Grade 11 subjects and a household income under R400 000, has been folded into these awards.
Update note (checked September 2026): Emeris publishes a set of bursaries and awards each year rather than a single scholarship. For the 2026 academic year, applications had to be submitted by 1 March 2026. For 2027, expect the same deadline of 1 March 2027, with the Open Day and school competitions that feed some of the awards running through the second half of 2026. The old Varsity College Scholarship, with its Grade 11 mark and R400 000 household income criteria, has been replaced by the awards below.
Checked the requirements and closing date? Apply directly with the provider.
Apply on the provider’s website