Key facts
- Status
- Applications closed Closed 1 August 2026
- Provider
- UFS Matriculant of the Year
- Study level
- University, Undergraduate, High school
- Academic year
- 2027
- Last checked
- September 2026
Entries for the 2027 competition closed on 1 August 2026.
VerifiedThe Matriculant of the Year competition, run by the University of the Free State with Media24, has recognised South Africa’s top all-round Matric learners for more than 40 years. Finalists are judged on academics, sport, culture and leadership, and the winners receive bursaries to study at UFS along with prizes from the sponsors.
About the UFS Matriculant of the Year Bursary
- Bursaries towards full-time study at UFS in any field for the winner and runners-up.
- Prizes from Media24 and other sponsors.
- Selection on the “best personal achievement and most spirited personality”, weighing academics, sport, culture and leadership together.
Matriculant of the Year eligibility requirements
- In Matric in the year of entry, at any school: public, private or home school.
- A top-achieving learner, typically with an average above 70%.
- Excellence in academics, sport, culture or leadership.
- Intending to study full-time at UFS the following year.
How to enter the Matriculant of the Year competition
- Download the entry form from ufs.ac.za and have your principal sign and stamp it.
- Attach a postcard-size photograph of yourself in school uniform and certified copies of your Grade 11 final results and your Matric March and June results.
- Email the entry to greylinl@ufs.ac.za with the subject line “Attention: Linda Greyling – Matriculant of the Year Bursary Competition”, or hand-deliver it to UFS Student Recruitment, Wekkie Saayman Building, Bloemfontein campus, before the closing date.
Matriculant of the Year closing date
Early August each year. The 2027 competition closed on 1 August 2026; the 2028 competition is expected to close in early August 2027.
Contact details
- Linda Greyling, UFS Student Recruitment: greylinl@ufs.ac.za, 051 401 3384
- Website: www.ufs.ac.za
Free State learners from no-fee schools should also enter the UFS Star of Stars competition, and all matriculants should see our list of high school bursaries and scholarships.
FAQs
1. Is the Matriculant of the Year competition still open for 2027? +
No. Entries for the 2027 competition closed on 1 August 2026. Semi-finalists and 14 finalists are chosen for interviews in October 2026, and the winner is announced at a gala dinner. The competition runs every year with an early-August deadline.
2. Who qualifies? +
Top-achieving Matric learners from any school, including private and home schools, who intend to study full-time at UFS the following year and excel in academics, sport, culture or leadership. A Matric average above 70% is expected.
3. What do winners receive? +
Bursaries towards study at UFS, prizes from Media24 and other sponsors, and national recognition. The competition has run for more than 40 years.
4. How do I enter? +
Complete the entry form, signed and stamped by your principal, and email it with a postcard-size photograph in school uniform and certified Grade 11 final and Matric March and June results to greylinl@ufs.ac.za, or hand-deliver it to Student Recruitment at the Wekkie Saayman Building in Bloemfontein.
5. Who do I contact? +
Linda Greyling at UFS Student Recruitment: greylinl@ufs.ac.za or 051 401 3384.
Update note (checked September 2026): entries for the 2027 competition closed on 1 August 2026. The judges select 25 semi-finalists and then 14 finalists for interviews in October 2026, and the winner is announced at a gala dinner. The competition runs every year with an early-August deadline, so Grade 11 learners should prepare to enter in mid-2027. The details below are from the 2027 call.