Arena Academy Bursary 2027, Requirements & Application

Key facts

Status: No current round published Last closed 13 January 2023
Provider: Arena Academy
Study level: University
Academic year: 2023
Last checked: September 2026

The last confirmed round, for the 2023 academic year, awarded 13 bursaries worth R2.5 million in total and closed on 13 January 2023.

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Arena Holdings, the media group that publishes the Sunday Times, Business Day, Sowetan and other titles, launched Arena Academy to fund tertiary study for young South Africans at Boston City Campus and Boston Media House. The bursary was run in partnership with Boston and covered certificate, diploma and degree programmes at Boston’s campuses.

About the Arena Academy Bursary

The bursary covered tuition for full-time or distance study at Boston City Campus or Boston Media House in:

Higher certificates, diplomas and degrees in management, marketing, accounting and business administration.
Advertising, communication and public relations.
Hospitality and events management.
Media, journalism and creative programmes at Boston Media House.

Arena Academy Bursary eligibility requirements

South African citizen with Matric.
Accepted for one of the Boston programmes above for the coming academic year.
Good academic results and demonstrated financial need.
A motivation letter explaining your career goals and why you should be chosen.

How applications were made

Applicants completed the online form on the Arena bursary website and uploaded a certified ID, Matric results, proof of acceptance from Boston, proof of household income and a motivation letter. Shortlisted applicants were interviewed before the awards were announced in January.

Boston City Campus bursaries

Whether or not Arena Academy returns, Boston runs its own bursary rounds for new and existing students who need help with fees. Applications open from 1 to 30 November for Semester A of the following year and from 1 to 31 May for Semester B. Applicants must be at least 17 and submit a letter of motivation, a copy of their ID and their latest results to their preferred support centre. A bursary application does not guarantee funding and the committee does not give reasons for its decisions.

Arena Academy Bursary closing date

The last confirmed closing date was 13 January 2023. No 2027 closing date has been published. Boston’s own November round closes on 30 November 2026 for Semester A of 2027.

Contact details

Arena Academy: bursaries@arena.africa
Boston City Campus National Support Office: 011 551 2000, 247 Louis Botha Avenue, Orchards, Johannesburg
Boston bursaries page: boston.ac.za/bursaries

Students looking at private colleges should compare funding across institutions. Our commerce bursaries list includes funders that pay for accredited private programmes.

FAQs

1. Is the Arena Academy bursary open for 2027? +

No 2027 call has been published. The last confirmed round, for 2023, closed on 13 January 2023, and the arenabursary.education website no longer resolves. Boston City Campus still lists Arena Academy among its bursary partners, so ask Boston's support centres or email bursaries@arena.africa before assuming it has ended.

2. What did it offer? +

In 2023, 13 bursaries worth R2.5 million in total for certificate, diploma and degree studies at Boston City Campus and Boston Media House, funded by Arena Holdings, publisher of the Sunday Times and Business Day.

3. Which programmes were covered? +

Higher education programmes at Boston in management, marketing, accounting, business administration, advertising, communication and public relations, hospitality and events, and media studies at Boston Media House.

4. Who could apply? +

South African citizens with Matric, accepted for a Boston programme in the coming year, with good results and financial need. Selection was by application and interview.

5. What are the alternatives? +

Boston City Campus runs its own bursary rounds twice a year, in November for Semester A and May for Semester B, for new and existing students who submit a motivation letter, ID and results to their support centre.

6. Who do I contact? +

Boston City Campus National Support Office on 011 551 2000, or Arena at bursaries@arena.africa.

Update note (checked September 2026): the last confirmed round, for the 2023 academic year, awarded 13 bursaries worth R2.5 million in total and closed on 13 January 2023. No later round has been published, and the programme’s website, arenabursary.education, no longer resolves. Boston City Campus still lists Arena Academy among its bursary partners, so the programme may continue through Boston directly. Ask a Boston support centre before assuming it has ended. The details below are from the 2023 round.

Student funding in numbers

2025811 011students funded by NSFAS580 000 at universities, 231 000 at TVET colleges, on a budget of R48.7 billion.

20261 026 091students approved for NSFAS funding609 403 first-year applicants qualified and 416 688 continuing students met the progression criteria, out of 893 847 applications.

2027 projectedR53.4bnbudgeted for NSFASThe allocation rises from R48.7 billion in 2025 to R51 billion in 2026 and R53.4 billion in 2027. Student numbers for 2027 are not published yet.

Figures from the Minister of Higher Education’s Budget Vote of 3 July 2025 and the NSFAS statement of 2 January 2026. NSFAS is the largest funder, not the only one – we track the rest.