ABSIP STANLIB Bursary 2027, Requirements & Application

The Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals (ABSIP), formed in 1995 to increase black representation in South Africa’s financial markets, runs a bursary programme funded by asset manager STANLIB. It pays for black students to study investment-related degrees at 16 universities and connects them to the industry through ABSIP’s network.

About the ABSIP STANLIB Bursary

  • Fields: investment management, business finance, economics, financial analysis, mathematics and statistics, on BBusSc, BCom or BSc degrees.
  • Universities: UCT, UWC, Stellenbosch, UJ, UP, Wits, Rhodes, UFS, Fort Hare, Limpopo, UKZN, Zululand, Venda, Walter Sisulu, Nelson Mandela and North-West.
  • Covers tuition, a book allowance and on-campus accommodation, plus a laptop and a stipend depending on financial need.
  • Bursars join ABSIP’s student chapter and are introduced to STANLIB and other asset managers for vacation work.

ABSIP Bursary eligibility requirements

  • Black South African citizen as defined in the B-BBEE Act, from a historically disadvantaged background.
  • Completed Matric and studying full-time in a listed degree at a listed university.
  • At least a 75% average in core academic modules.
  • Demonstrated financial need.
  • No permanent work experience (vacation work is fine), and not a STANLIB employee or relative of one.

How to apply for the ABSIP Bursary

  1. Open the bursary notice on absip.co.za in December and follow the link to the online application form.
  2. Upload a certified ID, academic transcripts on the institution’s letterhead, a university fee quote or statement, a one-page motivation letter, your parents’ or guardians’ certified IDs, three months of their certified payslips or an unemployment affidavit, and three months of bank statements.
  3. Submit before the mid-January closing date. Late or incomplete applications are not considered.

ABSIP Bursary closing date

The last confirmed closing date was 17 January 2026. Expect mid-January 2027 for the 2027 academic year.

Contact details

Finance students should also apply to the Old Mutual actuarial bursary, the Absa Fellowship and the funders on our commerce bursaries list.

FAQs

1. When does the ABSIP STANLIB bursary close for 2027? +
ABSIP advertises in December and closes in mid-January for the year about to start: the 2025 round closed on 17 January 2025 and the 2026 round on 17 January 2026. Expect the 2027 round to close in mid-January 2027 on absip.co.za.
2. What is the bursary? +
A programme funded by asset manager STANLIB and administered by the Association of Black Securities and Investment Professionals (ABSIP) to bring more black South Africans into investment management.
3. Which fields and universities? +
BBusSc, BCom and BSc degrees in investment management, business finance, economics, financial analysis, mathematics and statistics at 16 universities, including UCT, Wits, UP, UJ, Stellenbosch, UWC, UKZN, Rhodes, UFS, NWU, Nelson Mandela and the historically black universities.
4. What does it cover? +
Tuition, a book allowance, on-campus accommodation, a laptop and a stipend, the last two depending on financial need.
5. Who qualifies? +
Black South African citizens as defined in the B-BBEE Act, from historically disadvantaged backgrounds, studying full-time with at least a 75% average in core modules, with financial need, no permanent work experience and no family connection to STANLIB.
6. How do I apply? +
Through the online form linked from absip.co.za, uploading a certified ID, transcripts on the institution's letterhead, a fee statement, a one-page motivation, your parents' or guardians' certified IDs, three months of their payslips or an affidavit, and three months of bank statements.
Update note (checked September 2026): ABSIP advertises in December and closes in mid-January for the academic year about to start. The 2025 round closed on 17 January 2025 and the 2026 round on 17 January 2026. Expect the 2027 call in December 2026 with a closing date in mid-January 2027. The details below are from the last published call.

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