Thebe Foundation Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship 2027

Key facts

Status: Applications closed Closed 22 September 2026
Provider: Thebe Foundation
Field of study: ICT, Boilermaker, Bricklaying, Carpentry
Study level: Postgraduate
Academic year: 2027
Last checked: September 2026

The 2027 scholarship is open and closes on 22 September 2026 at 12:00 midday.

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Closed · applications closed on 22 September 2026 Latest update ↓

The Thebe Foundation’s Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship honours Dr Enos Mabuza, a founder of Thebe Investment Corporation. It funds young black South Africans from diploma to master’s level across fields from accounting and ICT to artisan trades and renewable energy.

About the Thebe Foundation Dr EJ Mabuza Scholarship

Fields: accounting, agriculture, artisan skills, corporate finance, maths and technology education, electrical engineering, finance, ICT, media, mining engineering, renewable energy, and water and energy.
Levels: diploma, advanced diploma, degree, honours and master’s.
Covers tuition, textbooks, accredited accommodation and meals, or a transport allowance.

Eligibility requirements

South African citizen from a black designated group, under 35.
At least a 60% average, studying the qualification for the first time.
Household income under R600 000 a year.
No outstanding student debt and no other bursary funding, including NSFAS.

How to apply

Open the scholarship application on the Thebe Foundation’s portal at thebefdn.auraams.app.
Upload your documents, each certified within the last three months and combined into one file per item.
Submit before 12:00 on 22 September 2026. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed.

Closing date

22 September 2026 at 12:00 midday for the 2027 academic year.

Contact details

Thebe Foundation scholarship portal: thebefdn.auraams.app

Also apply to the Excel@Uni bursary, the StudyTrust missing middle bursary and the Amandla Omoya Trust bursary, which close on 30 September 2026.

FAQs

1. When does the Dr EJ Mabuza scholarship close for 2027? +

22 September 2026 at 12:00 midday. Late applications are not accepted.

2. What is the Thebe Foundation? +

The social investment arm linked to Thebe Investment Corporation, founded with the involvement of Nelson Mandela, Walter Sisulu and Beyers Naudé. The scholarship, started in 2016, honours Dr Enos Mabuza.

3. Which fields? +

Accounting, agriculture, artisan skills such as electrical and plumbing, corporate finance, mathematics and technology education, electrical engineering, finance, ICT, media, mining engineering, renewable energy, and water and energy studies.

4. Who qualifies? +

South African citizens from black designated groups, under 35, studying for the first time at diploma to master's level, with at least a 60% average, a household income under R600 000, no student debt and no other funding, including NSFAS.

5. What does it cover? +

Tuition, textbooks, accredited accommodation and meals, or a transport allowance for students living at home. It does not cover debt from before 2027.

6. How do I apply? +

Online through the Thebe Foundation's application portal, with documents certified within the last three months. Shortlisted applicants are interviewed.

Update note (closing date confirmed on the Thebe Foundation application portal on 22 September 2026): the 2027 scholarship is open and closes on 22 September 2026 at 12:00 midday. Late applications are not accepted, so apply now.

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

Visit the provider’s website

About Thebe Foundation

Public benefit organisation (Thebe Investment Corporation)

The Thebe Foundation is a public benefit organisation established in 2011 by Thebe Investment Corporation to drive the group's community development strategy. The Thebe Foundation runs core programmes in education and entrepreneurship, and holds previously disadvantaged communities as…

Read the full Thebe Foundation profile →

Website: thebefoundation.org.za

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.