Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified
Software engineering is the one computing qualification with a route that costs nothing and needs no bursary at all. The free coding academies select on aptitude tests rather than on matric results, take you for two years, and are paid for by the employers who hire the graduates.
If a degree is out of reach, look there first. It is the shortest path from no money to a paid developer job in South Africa.
The academy route
WeThinkCode is the best known. It is free, it selects by online aptitude test, and it is funded by the companies that recruit from it.
Employer academies such as the Altron Bill Venter Academy combine training with a route into the company.
Check what qualification an academy leads to before you commit. Some award a recognised qualification, some award their own certificate and rely on the employer network instead. Both can work, but they are not the same thing on a CV five years later.
The degree route
If you are taking the degree route, the distinction that matters is whether the programme is accredited as an engineering qualification. See our computer engineering bursaries page for what ECSA accreditation gives you, and computer science bursaries for the wider funder list.
Bursaries for software engineering
Adapt IT Bursary: Empowering students to shape the future of software engineering.
Amazon Bursary: Discover your potential with Amazon’s support.
BBD Bursary: Building a better digital future, one student at a time.
Update note (checked September 2026): technology company bursaries usually close between August and November 2026 for 2027, with Sage closing on 30 September 2026, while government, SETA and municipal bursaries often run until January 2027. Open each linked page for the latest confirmed closing date before you apply.
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