British American Tobacco Bursary 2027: How to Apply

Key facts

Status: Applications closed Closed 31 August 2026
Provider: British American Tobacco
Field of study: Information Technology
Study level: Undergraduate, Postgraduate
Academic year: 2027
Last checked: September 2026

BAT has used an annual closing date of 31 August, so a 2027 round would have closed on 31 August 2026.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Closed · applications closed on 31 August 2026 Latest update ↓

British American Tobacco South Africa has funded students in the technical and commercial fields it recruits into, from industrial engineering and IT to postgraduate accounting and marketing, with a work-back agreement at the company afterwards. The scheme runs from the company’s Stellenbosch office and has not been advertised widely in recent years.

About the British American Tobacco Bursary

Undergraduate and postgraduate: industrial engineering and information technology.
Postgraduate only: accounting and marketing.
Covers tuition and study costs, with a work-back obligation at BAT for a period equal to the years funded.

BAT Bursary eligibility requirements

South African citizen who has completed Matric.
Holds a learner’s or driver’s licence.
Enrolled full-time in one of the funded fields.
Willing to complete the work-back programme at BAT.

How to apply for the BAT Bursary

Email riana_cassiem@bat.com to confirm whether a round is open and request the application form.
Attach a certified ID, certified Matric certificate, your latest academic record on the institution’s letterhead, proof of enrolment in an eligible field and a motivation letter.
Send the application by email, or post it to PO Box 631, Cape Town 8000, or hand-deliver it to 25 Du Toit Street, Stellenbosch 7600, before the closing date.

BAT Bursary closing date

31 August annually in the last published call. No 2027 date has been confirmed.

Contact details

Riana Cassiem, bursary manager: 021 888 3500, riana_cassiem@bat.com

Engineering, IT and commerce students should also see the funders on our ICT bursaries, commerce bursaries and accounting bursaries pages.

FAQs

1. When does the British American Tobacco bursary close for 2027? +

BAT has used an annual closing date of 31 August, so the 2027 round would have closed on 31 August 2026. The company has not advertised widely in recent years, so email the bursary manager to confirm whether the scheme is still running before you rely on it.

2. Which fields? +

Industrial engineering and information technology at undergraduate and postgraduate level, and accounting and marketing at postgraduate level.

3. What does it cover? +

Financial support for tuition and study costs, with a work-back obligation at BAT for a period equal to the years funded.

4. Who qualifies? +

South African citizens who have completed Matric, hold a learner's or driver's licence and are enrolled full-time in one of the funded fields.

5. How do I apply? +

Email the application to riana_cassiem@bat.com, or post it to PO Box 631, Cape Town 8000, or hand-deliver it to 25 Du Toit Street, Stellenbosch, with a certified ID, certified Matric certificate, your latest academic record on the institution's letterhead, proof of enrolment and a motivation letter.

6. What are the alternatives? +

Engineering, IT and commerce students should look at the corporate schemes on our ICT bursaries, commerce bursaries and accounting bursaries pages.

Update note (checked September 2026): BAT has used an annual closing date of 31 August, so a 2027 round would have closed on 31 August 2026. No current advert was visible when we checked. Email the bursary manager to confirm whether the scheme is still running before you rely on it. The details below are from the last published call.

This round is not open right now. Check the provider’s own site for the next round.

Visit the provider’s website

Paper applications go to:

PO Box 631, Cape Town 8000, or hand-deliver to 25 Du Toit Street, Stellenbosch 7600

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.