Western Cape Health Bursary 2027, Requirements & Application

Key facts

Status: Applications open Closes 30 September 2026
Provider: Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness
Field of study: Emergency Medical Care, Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy
Study level: Undergraduate
Academic year: 2027
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

Open · closes 30 September 2026 · 8 days left The funder does not publish this date on its own site, so confirm it before you rely on it. Latest update ↓

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness runs an annual bursary to train the doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists and emergency care practitioners it needs in its hospitals and clinics. In return for funding, bursars commit to work for the department after they qualify. It is one of the larger provincial health bursaries and one of the few that funds medicine and nursing degrees in full.

About the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness Bursary

The bursary pays registration, tuition and examination fees directly to the institution. Accommodation is not covered. Funded qualifications for 2027 are:

Medicine (MBChB)
Nursing: the R169, R171 and R174 programmes, and the Bachelor of Nursing
Pharmacy (BPharm)
Physiotherapy
Occupational therapy
Speech therapy
Emergency Medical Care (National Diploma)
Emergency Care Assistant (Higher Certificate)

Western Cape Health Bursary eligibility requirements

South African citizen living in the Western Cape.
Currently unemployed.
Completed Matric with the subjects and marks required for the chosen qualification.
Accepted, or already enrolled, for full-time study at an accredited higher education institution in one of the qualifications above.
No criminal record.
Willing to complete clinical hours where the course requires them, and to sign the work-back contract.

The work-back contract

Bursars sign a full-time employment contract with the department. After qualifying, you work for the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness for as many years as you were funded. Your community service year counts as the first year of that obligation. If you leave early or fail to complete the qualification, you must repay the full amount spent on your bursary.

How to apply for the Western Cape Health Bursary

Register on the department’s online bursary platform.
Log in and complete the application form.
Upload certified copies of: your ID; your Matric certificate; your most recent academic results; proof of residence; your parents’ or guardians’ proof of income; proof of disability if applicable; and a motivation letter.
Submit before 30 September 2026. The platform has FAQ and help pages if you get stuck.

Western Cape Health Bursary closing date

Applications for 2027 close on 30 September 2026. The department opens its window once a year, usually from July to the end of September.

Contact details

Monray Strydom, Project Coordinator: 021 483 6610, Monray.Strydom@westerncape.gov.za
Sisipho Folose, first-line support: 021 483 6597, Sisipho.Folose@westerncape.gov.za
Nathan Kantwe: 021 483 7038, Nathan.Kantwe@westerncape.gov.za

Health science students in other provinces should look up their own provincial health department’s scheme on our medical bursaries and government bursaries pages.

FAQs

1. When does the Western Cape Health bursary close for 2027? +

30 September 2026. Applications are made online on the department's bursary platform and late applications are not accepted. Outcomes are expected in January or February 2027.

2. Who qualifies? +

Unemployed South African citizens living in the Western Cape who have completed Matric, have no criminal record, and are accepted for full-time study in one of the funded health science qualifications at an accredited institution.

3. Which qualifications are funded? +

Medicine (MBChB), nursing (R169, R171 and R174 programmes and the BNursing degree), pharmacy, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, the Emergency Medical Care diploma and the Emergency Care Assistant higher certificate.

4. What does it cover? +

Registration, tuition and examination fees. Accommodation, meals and travel are not covered.

5. Is there a work-back obligation? +

Yes. You sign a contract to work full-time for the Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness for the number of years funded. Community service counts as the first year. If you break the contract you must refund the full bursary.

6. What documents do I need? +

Certified copies of your ID, Matric certificate, latest results, proof of residence and your parents' or guardians' proof of income, plus a motivation letter and proof of disability if applicable.

7. Who do I contact? +

Monray Strydom on 021 483 6610 (Monray.Strydom@westerncape.gov.za) or Sisipho Folose on 021 483 6597 (Sisipho.Folose@westerncape.gov.za).

Update note (checked September 2026): applications for the 2027 academic year are open and close on 30 September 2026. Outcomes are expected between January and February 2027. We could not find this date on the funder’s own website on 22 September 2026. It comes from bursary listings, so confirm it on the official application page before you rely on it.

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

Apply on the provider’s website

About Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness

Provincial government department (Western Cape)

The Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness is the provincial department responsible for public healthcare in the Western Cape, running hospitals, clinics and emergency medical services across the province. The department's vision is to give people of…

Read the full Western Cape Department of Health and Wellness profile →