Key facts
- Status
- Applications open Closes 31 October 2026
- Study level
- Undergraduate
- Academic year
- 2027
- Applications open
- 1 September 2026
- Last checked
- September 2026
The 2027 application season is under way.
VerifiedIf you are looking for a bursary for 2027 in South Africa, this page gives you direct access to the application forms we have collected in PDF format. Whether you are applying for a corporate bursary, a municipal or provincial scheme, or a university award, download the correct form here, complete it and submit it the way the funder specifies before its closing date.
Bursary application forms for 2027
Click a form to download it. Check the closing date printed on the form against the funder’s own website before you submit, because dates change from year to year.
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How to complete a 2027 bursary application
- Read the requirements first. Check the fields of study, the academic minimum, the household income limit and the residence rules before you spend time on the form.
- Certify one set of documents: your ID, your parents’ or guardians’ IDs, your latest results or Matric certificate, proof of application or acceptance at the institution and proof of household income. Keep the copies less than three months old.
- Complete every field on the form in black ink or as a typed PDF, sign where required and write a short, specific motivation letter.
- Submit exactly as the funder specifies. Some accept email only, some online only, and many municipalities accept hand delivery only.
- Keep proof of submission and note the feedback date; most funders only contact successful applicants.
Funders that use online portals instead of forms
- NSFAS: apply on the myNSFAS portal; 2027 applications close on 31 October 2026.
- ISFAP: online at applyonline.isfap.org.za by 31 October 2026.
- Funza Lushaka: on the government eServices portal, expected in early October (last year it opened on 7 October 2025).
- SETA bursaries such as LGSETA and FASSET: online portals only.
For a step-by-step plan of which bursaries to apply for and when, read where to find bursaries for 2027, and browse our undergraduate bursaries and government bursaries pages.
FAQs
1. How do I apply for a bursary for 2027? +
Download the funder's application form from the list on this page, complete it in full, attach the certified documents it asks for and submit it the way the funder specifies, by email, online portal, post or hand delivery, before the closing date. Many large funders such as NSFAS, ISFAP and the SETAs now use online portals instead of PDF forms.
2. Are 2027 bursary forms available online? +
Yes. Most South African funders publish their forms or online applications between August and November for the following academic year, and provincial and municipal funders often publish in December and January after Matric results.
3. When are the 2027 closing dates? +
Each funder sets its own. Most corporate and industry bursaries close between 30 September and 30 November 2026, NSFAS closes on 31 October 2026, and many municipal bursaries close in January or February 2027. The closing date is printed on each form and on our bursary pages.
4. What documents do I need? +
Almost every funder wants certified copies of your ID, your latest results or Matric certificate, proof of application or acceptance at the institution, proof of household income and a motivation letter. Certify one set now and keep the copies less than three months old.
5. Can I apply for more than one bursary for 2027? +
Yes. Apply to several and declare each on the others' forms; most funders allow one other award, and NSFAS can top up partial bursaries.
6. Where can I find more 2027 bursaries? +
Our guide to where to find bursaries for 2027, and the category and provincial pages linked from it, list every funder we track with closing dates and requirements.
Update note (checked September 2026): the 2027 application season is under way. NSFAS applications opened on 18 September 2026 and close on 31 October 2026, ISFAP closes on 31 October 2026, Funza Lushaka is expected in early October, and most corporate and industry bursaries close between 30 September and 30 November 2026. Forms are added to the list below as funders publish them; where a funder has moved to an online portal, the entry links to the portal instead.