FirstRand Foundation Honours Bursary 2027: How to Apply

Key facts

Status: Applications closed Closed 1 December 2025
Provider: FirstRand Foundation
Field of study: Law, Computer Science, Data Science, Informatics and Information Systems
Study level: Postgraduate, Undergraduate
Academic year: 2027
Last checked: September 2026

The 2026 round closed on 1 December 2025.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

No open round · the last round we could find closed on 1 December 2025 Based on the last cycle, expect applications to open in the second half of 2026 and close around late November or early December 2026. Latest update ↓

The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) is the B-BBEE trust of the FirstRand banking group, which owns FNB, RMB and WesBank. Alongside its large undergraduate bursary run by StudyTrust, the foundation funds a full honours bursary for graduates who want to add a one-year postgraduate qualification. It is administered by Feenix and is one of the few full-cost bursaries available at honours level.

About the FirstRand Foundation Honours Bursary

The bursary funds a full-time, one-year honours degree at any South African public university and covers:

Full tuition fees.
A book and study material allowance.
Accommodation and meals, or a living and travel allowance.
Food vouchers and airtime.
Mentorship, networking events and the foundation’s “Pay It Forward” community service programme.

There is no work-back obligation.

FirstRand Foundation Honours Bursary eligibility requirements

South African citizen aged 21 to 35.
Matric with at least 60% in Mathematics. Mathematical Literacy does not qualify.
An undergraduate degree completed within the last three years, with an overall average of at least 60%.
Accepted, provisionally or finally, for a full-time one-year honours degree at a South African public university. Part-time study does not qualify.
The honours must be your first postgraduate qualification.
Combined household income of no more than R700 000 a year.

How to apply for the FirstRand Foundation Honours Bursary

Go to the Feenix portal at bursaries.feenix.org/fref and create an account when the round opens.
Complete the online form and upload certified copies (not older than six months) of: your ID; your Matric certificate; your full undergraduate academic record; your honours acceptance or provisional acceptance letter for 2027; proof of household income such as payslips, an affidavit or bank statements; a completed EEA1 employment equity form; and a doctor’s letter if you have a disability.
Submit before the closing date. Incomplete applications are not considered.

FirstRand Foundation Honours Bursary closing date

The 2026 round closed on 1 December 2025. The 2027 closing date has not been published; expect late November or early December 2026.

Contact details

Administrator: Feenix
Email: support@bursaries.feenix.org
Telephone: 063 968 7544
Portal: bursaries.feenix.org/fref

Graduates should also look at the NRF honours scholarships and university merit awards on our postgraduate bursaries list.

FAQs

1. Is the FirstRand honours bursary open for 2027? +

The 2026 round closed on 1 December 2025. The 2027 round has not been confirmed at the time of writing; based on the last cycle, expect it to open in the second half of 2026 and close around late November or early December 2026 on the Feenix portal.

2. Who qualifies? +

South African citizens aged 21 to 35 who passed Matric with at least 60% in Mathematics (not Mathematical Literacy), completed an undergraduate degree in the last three years with an average of at least 60%, are enrolled full-time for a one-year honours degree at a public university as their first postgraduate qualification, and come from a household earning no more than R700 000 a year.

3. What does it cover? +

Full tuition, a book allowance, accommodation and meals or a living allowance, food vouchers and airtime, plus mentorship and networking through the foundation's programme.

4. Which fields are funded? +

Any honours degree at a South African public university, with the foundation favouring fields that lead to employment such as commerce, science, engineering and IT.

5. Is there a work-back obligation? +

No, but scholars take part in the foundation's 'Pay It Forward' community service initiative.

6. How do I apply? +

Online through the Feenix portal at bursaries.feenix.org/fref, uploading a certified ID, Matric certificate, undergraduate transcripts, your honours acceptance letter, proof of household income and a completed EEA1 form.

7. Who do I contact? +

Feenix, which administers the bursary: support@bursaries.feenix.org or 063 968 7544.

Update note (checked September 2026): the 2026 round closed on 1 December 2025. The 2027 round had not been published on the Feenix portal at the time of writing. Based on the last cycle, expect applications to open in the second half of 2026 and close around late November or early December 2026. We will update this page when the dates are confirmed.

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

Visit the provider’s website

About FirstRand Foundation

Corporate foundations of a banking group

FirstRand Limited, the JSE-listed group behind First National Bank (FNB), Rand Merchant Bank (RMB) and WesBank, describes its purpose as building a future of shared prosperity by enriching the lives of customers, employees and society. FirstRand delivers part…

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Website: firstrand.co.za