Spirit Education Foundation Scholarship 2027: How to Apply

Key facts

Status: Applications open Closes 31 October 2026
Provider: Spirit Education Foundation
Study level: High school
Academic year: 2027
Last checked: September 2026

Applications for the 2027 Grade 8 intake closed in October 2025 and that selection is complete.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Open · closes 31 October 2026 · 33 days left Latest update ↓

The Spirit Education Foundation is the education arm of the Spirit Foundation in Cape Town. For years it has placed talented learners from low-income homes in good high schools on full scholarships. From the 2028 intake it has narrowed its focus: it now partners exclusively with the Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology in Bergvliet and funds girls who want to study science, technology, engineering and mathematics there.

About the Spirit Education Foundation Scholarship

The scholarship runs from Grade 8 to Grade 12 at the Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology, a public school on Firgrove Road, Bergvliet, that specialises in STEM subjects. It covers:

High school fees.
A contribution to uniform and stationery.
Subject-specific materials such as art supplies and engineering graphics equipment.
Mentorship and monitoring by the foundation.

Spirit Education Foundation Scholarship eligibility requirements

Female South African citizen.
In Grade 6 in 2026, applying for Grade 8 in 2028.
At least a code 6 (70%) in English Home Language, Mathematics and Natural Sciences in the Grade 6 Term 2 or Term 3 report.
Gross household income of R20 000 or less a month before deductions.
Intending to attend the Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology and to take STEM subjects.

How to apply

September to October 2026: complete the online application form at spiritf.org/online-application-form, uploading the learner’s Grade 6 report, birth certificate, proof of household income and a short essay.
December to January: initial screening of applications.
February to March 2027: academic testing.
March to April 2027: interviews with the learner and family.
April to May 2027: the family applies to Cape Academy through the Western Cape Education Department’s admissions system.
May to July 2027: foundation testing at Cape Academy, followed by scholarship offers for Grade 8 in 2028.

Spirit Education Foundation Scholarship closing date

Applications for the 2028 intake close at the end of October 2026. The previous round closed on 31 October.

Contact details

Email: scholarships@spiritef.org
Telephone: 021 205 3497
Website: spiritf.org/education-foundation

Cape Town families with learners in Grade 6 or 7 should also look at the SAILI high school scholarship and the programmes on our list of high school bursaries and scholarships.

FAQs

1. Can my child still apply for Grade 8 in 2027? +

No. Applications for the 2027 Grade 8 intake closed in October 2025. The foundation is now recruiting girls in Grade 6 in 2026 for Grade 8 in 2028, with applications open from September to October 2026.

2. What changed? +

From the 2028 intake the Spirit Education Foundation partners exclusively with the Cape Academy of Mathematics, Science and Technology in Bergvliet, Cape Town, and funds academic scholarships for girls who want to study STEM subjects there.

3. Who qualifies? +

Female South African citizens in Grade 6 in 2026 with at least a code 6 (70%) in English Home Language, Mathematics and Natural Sciences in their Term 2 or 3 report, from households earning R20 000 or less a month, who intend to attend Cape Academy.

4. What does the scholarship cover? +

High school fees, a contribution to uniform and stationery, and subject-specific materials such as art supplies or engineering graphics equipment, for Grade 8 to Grade 12.

5. How does selection work? +

Online application in September and October, screening in December and January, academic testing in February and March, interviews in March and April, then application to Cape Academy through the Western Cape Education Department and final testing at the school, with offers in June and July.

6. Who do I contact? +

scholarships@spiritef.org or 021 205 3497. The online application form is at spiritf.org.

Update note (checked September 2026): The Spirit Education Foundation’s current round is for girls in Grade 6 in 2026 who will start Grade 8 in 2028, and it closes on 31 October 2026. Source: spiritf.org.

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

Apply on the provider’s website

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.