DSAC Bursary 2026 Requirements & How To Apply

Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) Heritage Bursary 2026

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) offers bursaries to support students studying in heritage-related fields in South Africa.

The bursary is available to undergraduate and postgraduate students who wish to study at public institutions accredited and registered with the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET).

Because funding is limited and the bursary is highly competitive, applicants are encouraged to prepare all documents early and ensure they meet all eligibility requirements before applying.

The closing date for the 2026 DSAC Heritage Bursary is 31 January 2026. Late applications will not be accepted.

About the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC)

The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) is a national government department in South Africa.

The department is responsible for promoting and preserving:

• Arts and culture
• Heritage and museums
• Indigenous knowledge systems
• Languages
• Sport development

Through its Heritage Related Studies Bursary Programme, DSAC aims to develop skilled professionals who will contribute to the preservation, promotion, and management of South Africa’s living and tangible heritage.

Fields of Study Funded

The DSAC bursary funds full-time studies in the following heritage-related fields only. Applications for qualifications outside this list will be rejected.

Heritage-Related Fields Supported

• Physical and Biological Anthropology
• Archaeology (Maritime and Underwater Cultural Heritage Archaeology)
• Digital Archaeology
• Archives and Records Management
• Library and Information Sciences
• Conservation of the Built Environment, including Preventive Conservation
  • Preference is given to postgraduate students specialising in conservation
• Heritage and Museum Studies (Management, Curatorship, and Preservation)
• Palaeontology
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems (IKS) or courses contributing to the preservation and promotion of IKS
• History
• Geography and Geomatic Sciences
  • Preference given to postgraduate studies in Cartography and GIS
• Digitisation of Heritage Resources
• International Studies, including:
  • Maritime Archaeology and Underwater Cultural Heritage
  • Heritage Conservation and Preservation

Value of the DSAC Bursary

The maximum value of the bursary is R110 000 per student.

The bursary covers the following costs, where applicable:

• Full study or tuition fees
• Prescribed textbooks
• Electronic device (such as a laptop) up to R10 000
• Accommodation up to R50 000
• Meals allowance up to R18 500
• Transport allowance up to R10 000

Important: All bursary funds are paid directly to the institution, not to the student.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the DSAC Heritage Bursary, applicants must meet all of the following requirements:

• Must be a South African citizen
• Must be 40 years old or younger
• Must be a full-time student
• Must be studying or intending to study in a heritage-related field listed above
• Must have outstanding or satisfactory academic performance, with a minimum average of 65%
• Must have provisional acceptance or proof of registration at a DHET-accredited institution
• Must not be receiving funding from any other bursary or donor
• Must not be employed full-time with an annual gross salary exceeding R130 000

Employment Rule

• Applicants who are employed must earn R130 000 or less per year
• Certified proof of income must be submitted if employed

Who Should Apply?

The bursary is open to:

• First-time undergraduate students
• Returning undergraduate students
• Postgraduate students

Students who received the DSAC Heritage Bursary in 2025 must reapply to be considered for funding in 2026.

Required Documents

All documents must be certified copies and not older than three (3) months.

Applicants must upload the following:

• Certified copy of a valid South African ID
• Certified copy of Matric certificate
• Certified copy of latest academic transcript or progress report
• Letter of provisional acceptance or proof of registration
  • Must be on the institution’s letterhead and signed
  • Screenshots are not accepted
• Certified proof of parent or guardian household income
• Certified latest payslips of parents or guardians
• Affidavit confirming that income documents are authentic
• Certified latest payslip if the applicant is employed
• Proof of disability (if applicable)

Applications with missing documents will not be considered.

How to Apply

1. Apply online only through the official DSAC bursary platform
2. Complete the application form fully
3. Upload all required certified documents
4. Confirm that your qualification matches the approved fields of study

Applications submitted outside the online system will not be accepted.

Selection Process

• The department can award bursaries to only 45 to 50 applicants
• Meeting the requirements does not guarantee funding
• Applicants who do not receive feedback by 31 March 2026 should consider their applications unsuccessful

Closing Date

The closing date for applications is:

31 January 2026

Late applications will not be accepted.

Contact Details

For bursary-related enquiries, contact:

Ms Reinette Stander
Email: reinettes@dsac.gov.za

Mr Maano Muhadi
Tel: 012 441 3622
Email: maanom@dsac.gov.za