CHIETA Industrial Futures Bursary

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

The CHIETA Industrial Futures Bursary is the Chemical Industries Education and Training Authority’s bursary for unemployed young people who have just finished Matric and are starting a qualification linked to the chemical industries. It pays tuition of up to R76 000 a year, but the entry bar is high: a Matric average of at least 75%, with Mathematics and Physical Science. CHIETA ran the bursary through its 2026/2027 discretionary grant window, which opened on 30 January 2026 and closed on 27 February 2026 at 15:00. CHIETA had not published a later window by 29 September 2026.

Tuition up to R76 000 a year

The bursary covers tuition fees as shown on the institution’s official statement of account, capped at R76 000 per year for undergraduate study. The advert mentions tuition only. It says nothing about accommodation, meals, books or a living allowance, and it does not state a work-back obligation. CHIETA decides the number of bursaries each year according to its available budget, and approval is at its discretion, so no fixed number of awards is promised.

Nine chemical sub-sectors, with Chemical Engineering first in line

CHIETA considers studies aligned to its sub-sectors: petroleum, base chemicals, glass, explosives, fertilisers, pharmaceuticals, fast-moving consumer goods, speciality chemicals and surface coatings. Within that range, priority goes to applicants accepted for Chemical Engineering and to qualifications for occupations in high demand, as identified in the CHIETA Sector Skills Plan. The advert does not list those occupations, so a student in a related field such as analytical chemistry or process technology should check the Sector Skills Plan on the CHIETA website or ask the bursary office.

A 75% Matric average and recent school leavers

The 2026/2027 advert required applicants to:

• be South African citizens aged 16 to 35 and unemployed
• have recently completed Grade 12 with Mathematics and Physical Science
• have an overall Matric average of at least 75%
• have been accepted for an undergraduate qualification at an accredited public tertiary institution or TVET college in South Africa for the 2026 academic year

CHIETA gives preference to households earning less than R350 000 a year, and also to the “missing middle”, which it defines as a household income of R350 000 to R600 000 per annum. Income is a preference, not a cut-off: the advert sets no maximum household income. Because the Matric condition refers to recent school leavers, the advert does not describe students already part-way through a degree.

The online form and uploads

Applications were made online through CHIETA’s IMS system at ims.chieta.org.za, the address given in the advert. That system did not load when this page was checked on 29 September 2026. Applicants had to upload:

1. a certified copy of their South African ID, certified within the last six months
2. a certified copy of their final Matric results, or highest qualification
3. the most recent proof of household income
4. certified copies of the parents’ or guardian’s IDs, certified within six months
5. certified proof of registration at a public institution, due before contract signing if a bursary is awarded

Late applications were not accepted. Applicants without feedback by 30 April 2026 were told to consider themselves unsuccessful. The bursary contact is Ms Dinky Dlamini, on 087 357 6623 or Bursary@chieta.org.za. CHIETA’s bursary announcement and the 2026/27 bursary advert carry the full terms.

This is a bursary for individual students. Companies in the chemical sector apply for CHIETA funding through a separate process described on our CHIETA discretionary grants page. Students heading for the priority field can compare other funders on the chemical engineering bursaries list, and those aiming at the pharmaceutical sub-sector can look at pharmacy bursaries.

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