National Treasury Bursary Scheme 2027

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

The National Treasury in Pretoria runs its own external bursary scheme, separate from the bursaries offered by provincial treasuries. For 2027 it funds students in four fields the department regards as critical and scarce for its own work: Accounting, Economics, Finance and Law. The scheme only takes students who will be in their third year of an undergraduate degree, or in Honours or a Master’s, during 2027. Applications go through the National Treasury e-Recruitment system and close at 12:00 on 30 September 2026.

Accounting, Economics, Finance and Law students in their senior years

The advert sets four conditions. You must be a South African citizen; be accepted or registered for full-time study at a registered and accredited higher education institution in South Africa; show strong academic results in Accounting, Economics, Finance or Law; and be registering in 2027 for third year, Honours or Master’s. The Treasury adds that preference goes to high-performing students with top grades. First- and second-year students in 2027 are not eligible for this round.

The department describes itself in the advert as an equal opportunity employer and encourages women and persons with disabilities in particular to apply.

Seven costs the bursary pays

• registration
• tuition
• board exams
• accommodation
• prescribed material
• editing costs
• a monthly allowance

The advert does not give a rand cap for any item or the size of the monthly allowance.

The service obligation in Section E

The advert itself is silent on paying the bursary back through work, but the application form is not. Section E, headed “Bursary obligation”, states that successful applicants will be required to fulfil a bursary obligation and asks two direct questions: whether you are willing to serve the National Treasury or the public service after completing the qualification, and whether you are willing to relocate to any province the Treasury designates. A “no” to either must be explained. The form does not state how long the service period would be; that would be set out in the bursary contract.

What the application form makes you calculate

Download the editable External Bursary Application Form from the Treasury’s graduate recruitment page. Besides personal details and criminal-record questions, it asks for:

• every Grade 12 subject mark and your average across all subjects;
• your current university level in 2026 and the average of all your module marks;
• any bursary or study loan you already hold, its annual value and the obligations attached to it;
• the institution, qualification and level for 2027, whether the course needs field or vacation work, and whether you prefer a university residence or private accommodation;
• an estimate in rand of tuition and registration, prescribed textbooks, accommodation and meals;
• a motivation covering your career goals, why you need financial help, how the bursary would help you and your community, and any leadership, volunteer or academic achievements.

Uploading to e-Recruitment before noon on 30 September

Log in to National Treasury e-Recruitment, find the 2027 bursary and attach:

1. the completed and signed application form;
2. a certified copy of your South African ID;
3. your Grade 12 statement of results and certificate;
4. your official tertiary academic record, from first year to the latest results;
5. proof of 2026 registration, and any tertiary certificates you already hold (both on the form’s Annexure A checklist).

The Treasury will not accept applications sent by post, delivered by hand, faxed or received late, and incomplete forms are not considered. Note the time: the advert gives 12:00 on 30 September 2026, not midnight. If the Treasury has not contacted you within three months of the closing date, it asks you to regard the application as unsuccessful. The advert and form are on the National Treasury graduate recruitment page.

Students in the same fields can compare provincial schemes such as the Gauteng Provincial Treasury bursary, and our field hubs for economics bursaries, accounting bursaries and law bursaries.

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