PPS Pioneer Scholarship 2027: How to Apply

Key facts

Status: Applications closed Closed 20 December 2025
Provider: PPS
Field of study: Environmental Engineering
Study level: Undergraduate
Academic year: 2026
Last checked: September 2026

No 2027 call had been published when we checked.

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 20 December 2025 The PPS Foundation's 2026 round closed on 20 December 2025, so expect the next call around November or December 2026. Latest update ↓

The PPS Foundation was set up in 2016 by PPS, the financial services company for graduate professionals. Its scholarships fund high-achieving students, mainly in STEM, from households earning up to R1 million a year.

About the PPS Pioneer Scholarship

Fields: STEM, with preference, and humanities.
Covers tuition, textbooks, meals and residence accommodation.
First-year students attend on-campus support sessions.

Eligibility requirements

South African citizen in or with Matric.
Full-time at a public university or university of technology.
At least a 65% average.
Household income of no more than R1 million a year.

How to apply

Check pps.co.za for the PPS Foundation call.
Prepare a certified ID, Matric results, academic records, proof of registration, fee statement, book quotes and proof of income.
Apply online before the closing date and submit results promptly if shortlisted.

Closing date

20 December in the last round (2025, for 2026 studies). No 2027 date has been announced.

Contact details

PPS Foundation: infoppsfoundation@pps.co.za

See also the PPS Foundation bursary page, the StudyTrust missing middle bursary and the Investec bursary.

FAQs

1. When does the PPS Pioneer Scholarship close for 2027? +

No 2027 call had been published when we checked. The PPS Foundation's 2026 bursary round closed on 20 December 2025, so expect the next call around November or December 2026.

2. What is the PPS Foundation? +

A non-profit set up in 2016 by PPS, the financial services group for graduate professionals, to develop future leaders, mainly in STEM.

3. Which fields? +

STEM degrees, with preference, and humanities degrees.

4. Who qualifies? +

South African citizens in or with Matric, studying full-time at a public university or university of technology, with at least a 65% average and a household income of no more than R1 million a year.

5. What does it cover? +

Tuition, textbooks, meals and university residence accommodation, plus extra learning support.

6. How do I apply? +

Online through the PPS Foundation's application portal, with a certified ID, Matric results, academic records, proof of registration, a fee statement, book quotes and proof of household income.

Update note (checked September 2026): no 2027 call had been published when we checked. The PPS Foundation’s 2026 round closed on 20 December 2025, so expect the next call around November or December 2026. Watch PPS’s own website and email the foundation.

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

Visit the provider’s website

About PPS

Mutual financial services company for graduate professionals

PPS has served graduate professionals for 85 years, and PPS works differently from a listed company: instead of belonging to shareholders on a stock exchange, PPS belongs to its members. PPS sells insurance, investment and healthcare products only…

Read the full PPS profile →

Address: 6 Anerley Road, Parktown, Johannesburg, 2193
Phone: 011 772 2300
Website: pps.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.