Key facts
- Status
- Check with the provider
- Provider
- Bombela
- Field of study
- Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Information Technology, Occupational Health and Safety
- Academic year
- 2027
- Last checked
- September 2026
Bombela Concession Company concluded the Gautrain concession on 28 March 2026, and operations have moved to the Gautrain Management Agency's new arrangement.
VerifiedBombela Operating Company ran the Gautrain, Africa’s first rapid rail system, and its bursary funded students in the engineering, commercial and logistics fields the railway depends on. The programme was tied to the Gautrain concession, which has now come to an end, so the position for 2027 has changed.
About the Bombela Bursary
- Fields: accounting sciences; chemical, civil, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering; environmental science and health and safety; human resource management and industrial psychology; information technology; marketing and communications; security; and transport and logistics.
- Covered tuition, registration and examination fees, textbooks and accommodation, with a monthly allowance.
- Bursars did vocational or vacation work during their studies and could be required to work back afterwards.
Bombela Bursary eligibility requirements
- South African citizen.
- Good Matric results, particularly in Mathematics and Physical Science for the engineering fields.
- Studying, or accepted, at a recognised South African tertiary institution in a funded field.
- Demonstrated financial need.
How the Bombela Bursary was applied for
- Applicants downloaded the form from the Bombela Operating Company website when the call opened.
- They attached a certified ID, Matric results or certificate, academic transcripts, proof of acceptance or registration and proof of household income.
- The application was emailed to the address in the advert before the closing date.
Closing date
No 2027 date has been published. Check the Gautrain Management Agency for the successor programme.
Contact details
- Gautrain Management Agency: gma.gautrain.co.za, 011 086 3500
Transport and engineering students should apply to the Transnet bursary, the PRASA bursary, the SANRAL bursary and the TETA bursary.
FAQs
1. Is the Bombela bursary open for 2027? +
Bombela Concession Company concluded the Gautrain concession on 28 March 2026, and the operating contract has moved to the Gautrain Management Agency's new operator. No 2027 bursary call had been published when we checked, and the scheme's future depends on the new arrangement. Watch the Gautrain Management Agency website at gma.gautrain.co.za for a replacement programme.
2. What was the Bombela bursary? +
A bursary from Bombela Operating Company, which managed, operated and maintained the Gautrain rapid rail system in Gauteng, for students in the fields the railway employs.
3. Which fields did it fund? +
Accounting sciences, chemical, civil, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering, environmental science, health and safety, human resource management and industrial psychology, information technology, marketing and communications, security, and transport and logistics.
4. What did it cover? +
Tuition, registration and examination fees, textbooks and accommodation, with a monthly allowance. Bursars did vacation work and could be required to work back after graduating.
5. Who qualified? +
South African citizens with good Matric results, studying or accepted at a recognised South African tertiary institution in one of the funded fields, with financial need.
6. Where should transport students apply now? +
The Transnet bursary, the PRASA bursary, the SANRAL bursary and the Transport Education and Training Authority (TETA) bursary.
Update note (checked September 2026): The Gautrain Management Agency says the Bombela concession ended on 27 March 2026, with Bombela Operating Company running the system under a six-month holdover while a new partner is negotiated. No bursary call has been published. Source: gma.gautrain.co.za.
Checked the requirements and closing date? Apply directly with the provider.
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