TFG Fellowship Bursary 2027, Requirements & Application

Key facts

Status: Applications closed Closed 30 September 2026
Provider: TFG
Field of study: Data Science
Study level: Postgraduate
Academic year: 2027
Applications open: 1 June 2026
Last checked: September 2026

Applications for the 2027 academic year are open and close on 30 September 2026.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Closed · applications closed on 30 September 2026 Latest update ↓

The Foschini Group (TFG), the JSE-listed retailer behind Foschini, Markham, Sportscene, Totalsports, @home and Jet, funds Master’s students in data science through its TFG Data Science and Leadership Fellowship. The fellowship pays for the full degree and adds coaching and mentoring from TFG’s own data teams. It is administered by StudyTrust.

About the TFG Fellowship Bursary

The fellowship funds research or coursework Master’s degrees in data science and related qualifications at designated public South African universities, for the first and second year of study, and covers:

Full tuition fees.
A living allowance and a meal allowance.
Equipment and textbooks.
Coaching and mentoring, and an event hosted at TFG’s head office in Cape Town.

TFG Fellowship eligibility requirements

South African citizen.
Entering the first or second year of a Master’s degree in data science or a related field in 2027.
Studying, or accepted to study, at a recognised public South African university.
Strong academic results, with evidence of innovation, creativity and leadership.
Preference for candidates from designated groups.

How to apply for the TFG Fellowship Bursary

Go to studytrust.org.za/tfg-data-science and create a StudyTrust profile.
Upload a certified copy of your ID, your full academic record with your latest results (June 2026 exam results or progress reports), proof of acceptance or registration for the Master’s, an updated CV, a motivational statement and a professional head-and-shoulders photo.
Submit before 30 September 2026. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by TFG.

TFG Fellowship closing date

30 September 2026 for the 2027 academic year.

Contact details

StudyTrust: 011 403 1632, apply@studytrust.org.za
Application portal: studytrust.org.za/tfg-data-science

Data science students should also see our data science bursaries list and the DSI-NRF postgraduate scholarship.

FAQs

1. When does the TFG fellowship close for 2027? +

30 September 2026. Applications opened on 1 June 2026 on the StudyTrust platform.

2. What is the TFG Data Science and Leadership Fellowship? +

A postgraduate bursary from The Foschini Group (TFG), the retailer behind Foschini, Markham, Sportscene, @home and other chains, for South African students doing a Master's degree in data science or a related field at a public university.

3. What does it cover? +

Full tuition, a living allowance, a meal allowance, equipment and textbooks for the first and second year of the Master's, plus coaching, mentoring and an event at TFG's head office in Cape Town.

4. Who qualifies? +

South African citizens entering the first or second year of a research or coursework Master's in data science or a related field at a recognised public South African university in 2027, with strong academic results, innovation, creativity and leadership potential. Preference goes to designated groups.

5. How do I apply? +

Online at studytrust.org.za/tfg-data-science with a certified ID, a full academic record including June 2026 results, proof of acceptance or registration, a CV, a motivational statement and a professional head-and-shoulders photo.

6. Who administers it? +

StudyTrust, a non-profit bursary administrator, on TFG's behalf: 011 403 1632, apply@studytrust.org.za.

Update note (closing date confirmed on studytrust.org.za on 22 September 2026): applications for the 2027 academic year are open and close on 30 September 2026. They opened on 1 June 2026.

This round is not open right now. Check the provider’s own site for the next round.

Visit the provider’s website

About TFG

Private company (fashion and lifestyle retail)

TFG Limited, the business long known as The Foschini Group, describes itself as an internationally diversified portfolio of 40 speciality lifestyle and apparel brands. TFG sells clothing, jewellery, cellphones, accessories, cosmetics, sporting apparel and homeware, through names such…

Read the full TFG profile →

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.