Rand Refinery Bursary 2027, Requirements & Application

Key facts

Status: Runs each year Last closed 20 December 2025
Provider: Rand Refinery
Field of study: Engineering, Chemical Engineering
Study level: Undergraduate
Academic year: 2027
Last checked: September 2026

Rand Refinery opens its round in September and closes it in December each year.

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 Rand Refinery opens its round in September and closes it in December each year. Latest update ↓

Rand Refinery in Germiston is the largest single-site precious metals refinery in the world and has refined most of Africa’s gold since 1920. Each year it funds university students in the engineering and support fields it needs, with a full bursary for engineers and a partial bursary for accounting, science, IT and human resources students.

About the Rand Refinery Bursary

Full bursary: chemical, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering, and robotics and advanced control. Covers tuition, prescribed textbooks, stationery, a laptop, accommodation and a monthly stipend.
Partial bursary: accounting (CA stream), biotechnology, environmental science, human resources and information technology. Pays a contribution towards fees.

Bursars do vacation work at the refinery and are considered for its graduate programme.

Rand Refinery Bursary eligibility requirements

South African citizen aged 18 to 25.
Completed Matric.
In first, second or third year of an undergraduate degree at an accredited South African university or university of technology.
An overall average of at least 70% for the full bursary, or 65% for the partial bursary, in the previous year of study.
Financial need, shown through your parents’ or guardians’ proof of income.

How to apply for the Rand Refinery Bursary

Open the careers section of randrefinery.com and select the full or partial bursary advert by its reference number.
Complete the online application and upload certified copies of: your ID and Matric certificate; your most recent transcripts on the institution’s letterhead; a fee statement and proof of registration; a CV; and your parents’ or guardians’ IDs and proof of income.
Submit before the December closing date. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed in January.

Rand Refinery Bursary closing date

The 2026 round closed on 20 December 2025. Expect the 2027 round to close in December 2026.

Contact details

Rand Refinery, Germiston: randrefinery.com/contact-us
Graduate and bursary applications: RRGradApplications@gold.co.za

Engineering students in Gauteng should also apply to the SEIFSA bursary (closing 30 November 2026) and the funders on our chemical engineering bursaries list.

FAQs

1. When does the Rand Refinery bursary close for 2027? +

Rand Refinery opens its round in September and closes it in December; the 2026 round closed on 20 December 2025. The 2027 call had not been published when we checked, so expect it on the Rand Refinery careers page between September and December 2026.

2. What is the difference between the full and partial bursaries? +

The full bursary is for engineering students (chemical, electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering, and robotics and advanced control) with an average of at least 70%, and covers tuition, books, stationery, a laptop, accommodation and a monthly stipend. The partial bursary is for accounting (CA stream), biotechnology, environmental science, human resources and IT students with at least 65%, and pays a contribution to fees.

3. Who qualifies? +

South African citizens aged 18 to 25 with Matric, in first, second or third year of an undergraduate degree at an accredited South African university or university of technology in one of the listed fields.

4. How do I apply? +

Online through the Rand Refinery careers portal under the reference on the advert (RRBURSARY2026 for the full bursary and BURSARYPT for the partial bursary in the last round), uploading a certified ID and Matric certificate, recent transcripts on letterhead, a fee statement and proof of registration, a CV, and your parents' certified IDs and proof of income.

5. What is Rand Refinery? +

The world's largest single-site precious metals refinery, in Germiston, Gauteng, which refines most of Africa's gold and has been operating since 1920.

Update note (checked September 2026): Rand Refinery opens its round in September and closes it in December each year. The 2026 round closed on 20 December 2025. The 2027 call had not been published when we checked; expect it on the Rand Refinery careers page between September and December 2026. The details below are from the 2026 advert.

Checked the requirements and closing date? Apply directly with the provider.

Apply on the provider’s website

About Rand Refinery

Private company (precious metals refining and smelting)

Rand Refinery is one of the largest integrated single-site precious metals refining and smelting complexes in the world, based in Germiston, Gauteng. Rand Refinery refines around 99% of South Africa's mined gold, as well as large volumes from…

Read the full Rand Refinery profile →

Website: randrefinery.com