FPI Education and Training Trust Bursary

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

The Financial Planning Institute of Southern Africa (FPI) is the professional body for financial planners in South Africa and awards the CFP® designation locally. It set up the FPI Education and Training Fund Trust No. 1 to pay for the studies of people entering the profession, with a focus on candidates from historically disadvantaged backgrounds. The Trust raises its money from donations, and it is still building its fund: when checked in September 2026, its donation page showed R217,688 raised against a target of R300,000.

Three ways the Trust spends donations

• bursaries and scholarships for approved tertiary qualifications in financial planning;
• academic research that advances the practice of financial planning in South Africa;
• help with socio-economic needs that directly affect a beneficiary’s ability to finish their studies and enter the profession.

The third item is unusual. A student could receive help with a cost outside tuition if it stands between them and completing their studies, although the FPI does not list which costs qualify.

The students the FPI wants to reach

According to the Trust page, beneficiaries are talented, motivated South Africans who have been economically or institutionally disadvantaged, who are studying or plan to study a formal financial planning qualification, who work in or want to join the financial planning sector, and who show the potential to make a positive impact on the profession. The Trust says it follows South Africa’s B-BBEE strategy and the Financial Sector Charter, and a board of trustees drawn from the FPI’s senior leadership runs it.

The Trust page does not define “approved” qualifications. The FPI does keep a separate list of recognised qualifications from its education providers. That list includes BCom degrees in financial planning at Nelson Mandela University, Milpark Education and Akademia; postgraduate diplomas in financial planning at UKZN, the University of the Free State, Stellenbosch, Milpark, Moonstone and Nelson Mandela University; UJ’s BCom Finance and BCom Honours in Financial Planning; and certificate and diploma routes at Sanlam Distribution Academy, Integrity Academy and Boston City Campus. Applicants should ask the Trust whether their course counts.

No published round, values or form

The FPI has not published an application window, a closing date, award amounts, an application form or a list of required documents. The Trust page gives a single address for “bursaries, scholarships, applications” and general questions: fpitrust@fpi.co.za. The FPI’s main line is +27 11 470 6000. Details are on the FPI Education and Training Trust page.

Because the Trust is small, commerce students aiming for financial planning should also look at larger funders: the INSETA bursary from the insurance sector SETA, and the site’s list of commerce bursaries.

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