Cisco Charitable Foundation Trust

Cisco, the United States networking and IT infrastructure company, set up the Cisco Charitable Foundation Trust South Africa in 2021 under Cisco’s global corporate social responsibility programme. The Cisco Charitable Foundation Trust funds South African students studying computing and IT degrees, and StudyTrust administers the bursary.

Registered name

Cisco Charitable Foundation Trust

Type

Corporate charitable trust (technology)

Fields funded

Computer science and IT degrees for missing middle students

Who the missing middle are

The Cisco Charitable Foundation Trust deliberately targets the missing middle: students whose families earn too much to qualify for NSFAS but not enough to pay university fees comfortably. A provider record checked in August 2026 describes the trust’s target as households earning between about R350 000 and R600 000 a year.

The trust focuses on that band because South Africa loses many capable computer science and IT students there to funding gaps rather than to lack of ability. A student from a household earning R400 000 a year can fall through the cracks: too well-off for state funding, but unable to cover tuition, accommodation and a laptop.

No work-back obligation

The Cisco bursary carries no obligation to work for Cisco after graduating. The trust frames the bursary as a broad investment in digital skills, not a recruitment pipeline for Cisco.

The 2027 application window

Applications for the 2027 academic year opened on 1 May 2026 and close on 30 September 2026. Students apply online through the StudyTrust portal.

Verifying and preparing your application

BursariesAfrica could not find a standalone South African website for the Cisco Charitable Foundation Trust, so StudyTrust’s listing is the key source. Read it carefully to confirm the current household income band, the qualifying degrees and the universities the bursary accepts.

Prepare proof of household income, such as payslips or tax documents for both parents or guardians, because an income-banded bursary depends on that evidence. Gather certified copies of your ID and academic results as well.

Students interested in networking careers can also explore Cisco’s Networking Academy courses, which Cisco offers through partner institutions, as a way to build skills alongside a degree.

StudyTrust also offers student support, such as mentoring and workshops, on many of the bursaries it manages. Ask StudyTrust which support comes with the Cisco bursary, because practical help with study skills and work readiness can matter as much as the money.

See the StudyTrust Missing Middle Bursary guide for related funding.