Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury Bursary Requirements and How to Apply

The Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury (ECPT) offers a bursary programme to learn and develop students from the province who wish to pursue tertiary qualifications in financial and related fields. 

The aim is to build capacity in key disciplines such as accounting, economics, financial information systems and information technology, aligned with the department’s mandate. 

What is the ECPT Bursary?

The Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury is responsible for leading and managing the province’s financial resources.

The bursary program is part of its skills-development strategy, aimed at strengthening the talent pipeline for public finance, auditing, accounting and IT operations in the provincial government.

Which fields of study are eligible?

Eligible study fields for the bursary include (for the most recent cycles):

1. Cost and Management Accounting.
2. Economics.
3. Financial Accounting.
4. Financial Information Systems.
5. Information Technology (related to finance and accounting).
6. Internal Auditing.

Applicants should check the official bursary advertisement for the complete and updated list of eligible fields for the 2026 round.

Eligibility requirements

To apply for the 2026 bursary you must typically meet the following:

1. Be a South African citizen residing in the Eastern Cape province.
2. Have completed Matric (National Senior Certificate) and be admitted to or planning to study full-time for a National Diploma (NQF 6) or Bachelor’s degree (NQF 7) in one of the eligible fields.
3. Achieve minimum Matric subject results: for example, in past rounds Level 5 for English Home Language or Level 4 for English First Additional Language; Level 5 for Mathematics or Level 6 for Mathematical Literacy; Level 6 for Accounting or Economics (depending on field) in some cycles.
4. The household combined income must not exceed a specified threshold (e.g., in past rounds R 378 765 per year) and applicants should demonstrate financial need.
5. Preference may be given to students living with disabilities and those who have not been recipients of previous ECPT bursaries.

What does the bursary cover?

The bursary provides funding to cover tertiary study in the eligible fields. 

While the exact amount and components for 2026 may vary, previous descriptions indicate that it covers tuition and registration fees, and may support books and other study-related costs.

Applicants should consult the official bursary terms and conditions for full details of what is included.

How to apply 

Here are the general steps to apply for the 2026 bursary:

1. When the call opens, download or obtain the application instructions from the Eastern Cape Provincial Treasury website or contact the bursary office.
2. Prepare supporting documents: certified copy of ID, certified Matric certificate and final results or proof of admission, proof of registration at a recognised tertiary institution (if already admitted), proof of residence, certified copies of parents/guardians’ income or affidavit, proof of disability if applicable.
3. Submit your application by email or hand-delivery as specified. For example: [email protected] or [email protected] and/or hand-deliver to the Tyamzashe Building, Bhisho.
4. Ensure you submit before the closing date. Late or incomplete applications are not considered. In past rounds the closing date was 5 May.

What the selection committee will consider

Selection criteria include:

1. Meeting all eligibility requirements (citizenship, residence, study field, etc.).
2. Academic performance (Matric results, admission status).
3. Demonstration of financial need and alignment to the bursary’s goals (studying in the eligible field, commitment to public finance skills pipeline).
4. Completeness and correctness of your documentation and application.
5. Preference criteria (disability status, first-time beneficiary, etc.).

Closing Date

According to recent sources the closing date for the 2026/2027 academic year is 5 May.

Application period typically opens in the second half of the year prior to the academic year of study.

Applicants should verify the exact closing date and submission requirements on the official ECPT website at time of call.