Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust Bursary 2027: How to Apply

Key facts

Status: Applications closed Closed 30 September 2026
Provider: Eriksen Trust
Study level: Postgraduate
Academic year: 2027
Applications open: 1 August 2026
Last checked: September 2026

Applications for the 2027 academic year are open now and close on 30 September 2026.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Closed · applications closed on 30 September 2026 Latest update ↓

The Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust is a private educational trust based in Bryanston, Johannesburg. It awards partial bursaries every year to South African postgraduate students across all fields of study. The awards are modest, but the Trust has been funding students for decades and is one of the few private funders that supports Master’s and doctoral candidates in any discipline.

About the Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust Bursary

The bursary is a partial award of up to R25 000 for one academic year, paid directly to the university towards tuition. Recipients must fund the rest of their costs themselves or through other bursaries, and must reapply each year. The Trust funds all disciplines and does not require work-back.

Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust Bursary eligibility requirements

South African citizen.
Completed an Honours degree, or equivalent, with a strong academic record.
Registered or accepted for a Master’s or doctoral degree at a recognised South African university in 2027.
Able to show financial need, and able to cover the balance of fees not met by the bursary.

The current advert is for postgraduate study only. Undergraduates should look at the alternatives at the end of this page.

How to apply for the Eriksen Trust Bursary

Register an account on the Trust’s website at eriksentrust.co.za and log in to the online application.
Complete all six steps of the application. Incomplete applications are disqualified.
Upload: a certified copy of your ID; your latest academic results; proof of application or acceptance from the university; a breakdown of your income and expenses for the year; three essays of no more than 1 000 words each on the topics set in the form; and two academic references submitted on the Trust’s reference form.
Submit before 30 September 2026. Awards are confirmed before registration in early 2027.

Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust Bursary closing date

The 2027 cycle closes on 30 September 2026. The Trust opens applications on 1 August and closes on 30 September every year, so future applicants can plan around that window.

Contact details

Email: eeetrust@eject.co.za
Website: www.eriksentrust.co.za
Postal address: Private Bag X67, Bryanston, 2021

Because the award is partial, combine it with other funding. Our list of postgraduate bursaries in South Africa covers the NRF, university merit awards and industry-funded Master’s and PhD bursaries.

FAQs

1. When does the Eriksen Trust bursary close for 2027? +

30 September 2026. Applications opened on 1 August 2026 and are made online at eriksentrust.co.za.

2. Who qualifies? +

South African citizens who have completed an Honours degree and are registered or accepted for a Master's or doctoral degree at a South African university, with a strong academic record and financial need. All disciplines qualify.

3. How much is the award? +

A partial bursary of up to R25 000 for the year, paid directly to the university. You must cover the balance of your fees from other sources and reapply each year.

4. Can undergraduates apply? +

Not in the current cycle. The 2027 advert is for postgraduate (Master's and doctoral) study only.

5. What documents are required? +

Certified ID, latest academic results, proof of application or acceptance from the university, a breakdown of your income and expenses, three essays of up to 1 000 words each, and two academic references on the Trust's reference form.

6. Who do I contact? +

eeetrust@eject.co.za, or the contact form on eriksentrust.co.za.

Update note (checked September 2026): applications for the 2027 academic year are open now and close on 30 September 2026. They opened on 1 August 2026 and are submitted through the Trust’s online portal. We could not find this date on the funder’s own website on 22 September 2026. It comes from bursary listings, so confirm it on the official application page before you rely on it.

This round is not open right now. Check the provider’s own site for the next round.

Visit the provider’s website

About Eriksen Trust

Private educational trust

The Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust is a private educational trust based in Bryanston, Johannesburg. The Eriksen Trust funds South African students doing master's and doctoral degrees, and it accepts applications in any field of research, from the…

Read the full Eriksen Trust profile →

Address: Private Bag X67, Bryanston, 2021
Phone: 083 459 1789
Email: eeetrust@eject.co.za
Website: eriksentrust.co.za

Student funding in numbers

2025811 011students funded by NSFAS580 000 at universities, 231 000 at TVET colleges, on a budget of R48.7 billion.

20261 026 091students approved for NSFAS funding609 403 first-year applicants qualified and 416 688 continuing students met the progression criteria, out of 893 847 applications.

2027 projectedR53.4bnbudgeted for NSFASThe allocation rises from R48.7 billion in 2025 to R51 billion in 2026 and R53.4 billion in 2027. Student numbers for 2027 are not published yet.

Figures from the Minister of Higher Education’s Budget Vote of 3 July 2025 and the NSFAS statement of 2 January 2026. NSFAS is the largest funder, not the only one – we track the rest.