Key facts
- Status
- Applications open Closes 13 December 2026
- Provider
- Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust
- Field of study
- Boilermaker, Plumbing, Welding
- Study level
- Undergraduate, TVET / college, High school
- Academic year
- 2027
- Last checked
- September 2026
The 2027 call is open and closes on 13 December 2026.
VerifiedOpen · closes 13 December 2026 · 81 days left Latest update ↓
The Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust (CRET), founded in 1996 and now part of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, is one of South Africa’s best-known private bursary schemes. It funds young people from low-income homes through university, university of technology and TVET college qualifications, covering full costs and adding mentoring, work experience and psychosocial support so that bursars graduate and find work.
About the CRET Bursary
- Fields: commerce and finance, engineering, science and technology (excluding medicine), education, humanities and health sciences, and scarce-skills trades such as boilermaking, welding, plumbing, occupational health and safety, renewable energy, waste management and green technology.
- Covers tuition, textbooks and study materials, accommodation, meals, a monthly allowance and transport where needed.
- Adds mentoring, skills training, work experience twice a year and psychosocial support.
- Studied at recognised public universities, universities of technology and TVET colleges.
CRET Bursary eligibility requirements
- South African citizen aged 16 to 27 with a valid ID.
- In Matric, unemployed with Matric, or already studying an undergraduate qualification at a recognised public institution.
- Total household income of no more than R650 000 a year.
- Good academic results and a completed psychometric assessment.
How to apply for the CRET Bursary
- Open the bursary application link on cyrilramaphosafoundation.org.
- Upload a certified ID, your latest academic results (Grade 11, Matric or a tertiary transcript), proof of acceptance or registration on the institution’s letterhead, proof of household income and home address, a motivation letter and your psychometric test results.
- Submit before 13 December 2026. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed, and awards are confirmed for registration in 2027.
CRET Bursary closing date
13 December 2026 for the 2027 academic year.
Contact details
- Email: info@cyrilramaphosa.org
- Telephone: 011 592 6560
- Website: cyrilramaphosafoundation.org
Students from low-income homes should also apply to NSFAS, the Moshal scholarship and the schemes on our undergraduate bursaries list.
FAQs
1. When does the CRET bursary close for 2027? +
13 December 2026. The trust does not accept late applications.
2. What is the Cyril Ramaphosa Education Trust? +
A bursary trust founded in 1996 and now part of the Cyril Ramaphosa Foundation, funding young South Africans from low-income homes through university, university of technology and TVET college qualifications with full costs, mentoring and work experience.
3. Which fields? +
Commerce and finance, engineering, science and technology (excluding medicine), education, humanities and health sciences, plus scarce-skills trades such as boilermaking, welding, plumbing, renewable energy and green technology.
4. What does it cover? +
Tuition, textbooks and study materials, accommodation, meals, a monthly allowance and transport where needed, with mentoring, skills training, twice-yearly work experience and psychosocial support.
5. Who qualifies? +
South African citizens aged 16 to 27, in Matric, unemployed with Matric or already at a recognised public institution, from households earning no more than R650 000 a year, with good results and a psychometric assessment.
6. How do I apply? +
Online through the application link on cyrilramaphosafoundation.org, uploading a certified ID, latest academic results, proof of acceptance or registration on the institution's letterhead, proof of household income and home address, a motivation letter and your psychometric test results.
Update note (checked September 2026): the 2027 call is open and closes on 13 December 2026. The trust does not accept late applications.
Checked the requirements and closing date? Apply directly with the provider.
Apply on the provider’s website