DTPC Bursary Opportunities for 2027: KZN Students Who Do Not Qualify for NSFAS Can Apply

Who can apply

• According to the published opportunity information, applicants must meet important eligibility conditions.
• Be South African.
• Be residents of KwaZulu-Natal.
• Ideally be between 18 and 34 years old.
• Be pursuing an undergraduate tertiary qualification.
• Be entering their 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year of study.
• Study within one of the approved fields.
• Attend one of the approved universities.
• Not qualify for NSFAS funding.
• Be able to provide proof of household income.
• Academic performance and the financial circumstances of the applicant’s parent or authorised guardian will also be considered when bursaries are awarded.
• The bursary is therefore not automatically awarded simply because an applicant satisfies the basic eligibility criteria.
• The identified disciplines are Engineering Studies, Agricultural Studies focusing on crops/plants, Information Technology Studies and Built Environment Studies.
• Is academic performance considered?
• No. Awards depend on factors including available budget, financial circumstances, academic performance and other relevant selection considerations.
• How do I apply?

How to apply

Applications are submitted directly to DTPC - we do not collect applications. Read the eligibility criteria, prepare your supporting documents, then complete your application on the official page.

Full details

KwaZulu-Natal students who need financial assistance for university studies in 2027 have another important funding opportunity to consider.

The Dube TradePort Corporation (DTPC) Bursary Scheme is accepting applications for the 2027 academic year, with bursaries aimed specifically at qualifying students who are residents of KwaZulu-Natal and do not qualify for NSFAS funding.

Check if you Qualify for this Bursary Before you Apply

This distinction is particularly important. Many bursary opportunities target students who meet NSFAS financial criteria, while the DTPC Bursary provides another possible funding route for students who may need financial assistance but fall outside NSFAS eligibility.

Applications for the DTPC Bursary Opportunities for 2027 close on 31 August 2026.

Applicants must be pursuing an undergraduate qualification in an approved field and must study at one of four specified public universities in KwaZulu-Natal.

Quick Overview: DTPC Bursary 2027

• Bursary provider: Dube TradePort Corporation (DTPC)
• Academic year: 2027
• Province: KwaZulu-Natal
• Closing date: 31 August 2026
• Target age: Ideally 18 to 34 years
• Citizenship: South African
• Study level: Undergraduate
• Eligible years: 1st, 2nd, 3rd or 4th year
• NSFAS condition: Applicants must not qualify for NSFAS
• Financial assessment: Proof of household income is required
• Application method: Online through SA Youth
• Private institutions: Not included
• Fields: Engineering, Agricultural Studies, Information Technology and Built Environment

The opportunity was advertised for 2027 enrolments, and Dube TradePort has also publicly promoted its 2027 Bursary Scheme for KwaZulu-Natal students.

About Dube TradePort Corporation

Dube TradePort Corporation is associated with the development and operation of the Dube TradePort Special Economic Zone in KwaZulu-Natal.

Its broader activities are connected to economic development, investment, infrastructure, logistics and business development within the province.

Skills development also forms part of this broader economic-development environment. DTPC’s planning documents specifically refer to aligning its bursary and internship programmes with the objective of creating a skills pool that can support DTPC and tenant requirements.

For students, this helps put the bursary into context: the selected fields of study are closely associated with areas that can contribute to infrastructure, technology, agriculture, engineering and economic development.

Who Can Apply for the DTPC Bursary 2027?

According to the published opportunity information, applicants must meet important eligibility conditions.

Official Requirements

Applicants must:

Academic performance and the financial circumstances of the applicant’s parent or authorised guardian will also be considered when bursaries are awarded.

The bursary is therefore not automatically awarded simply because an applicant satisfies the basic eligibility criteria.

Which Universities Are Covered?

The DTPC Bursary Scheme is restricted to students enrolled at specified KwaZulu-Natal universities.

The approved institutions are:

• Durban University of Technology (DUT)
• Mangosuthu University of Technology (MUT)
• University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN)
• University of Zululand (UniZulu)

Students attending private higher-education institutions are excluded from this particular bursary opportunity.

Applicants studying at another university should therefore not assume that they qualify simply because they live in KwaZulu-Natal.

Which Fields of Study Are Funded?

The DTPC Bursary Opportunities for 2027 focus on four broad areas of study.

Engineering Studies

Students pursuing qualifying programmes within Engineering Studies may apply.

Engineering skills are relevant across infrastructure development, manufacturing, construction, logistics, utilities and other technical industries.

Agricultural Studies - Crops and Plants

Agricultural programmes focusing particularly on crops and plants are included.

Students should pay careful attention to the wording of the opportunity and ensure their specific qualification falls within the intended agricultural study area.

Information Technology Studies

Information Technology is another eligible field.

This may be particularly attractive to students pursuing careers connected to technology and digital systems. However, applicants should use the official application process to confirm whether their particular qualification is accepted rather than assuming that every technology-related programme automatically qualifies.

Built Environment Studies

Built Environment Studies are also included.

The built environment is a broad professional area associated with the planning, design, construction, development and management of physical infrastructure.

This Bursary Is Specifically Important for Non-NSFAS Students

One of the most important conditions of the Dube TradePort Bursary 2027 is that applicants must not qualify for NSFAS.

This should not be overlooked.

The opportunity is intended to provide a potential funding avenue for qualifying students outside the NSFAS eligibility framework.

Applicants should therefore answer questions relating to NSFAS eligibility and household finances truthfully.

DTPC will consider the affordability level of parents or authorised guardians when evaluating applications.

How Will DTPC Select Bursary Recipients?

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee that an applicant will receive funding.

According to the published criteria, bursaries will be awarded based on factors including:

• Available bursary budget
• Affordability level of the applicant’s parent(s) or authorised guardian
• Academic performance
• Other relevant selection criteria

This means competition may be significant.

A student with strong academic results may still be assessed alongside their household’s financial circumstances and the funding available for the programme.

Documents Applicants Should Prepare

Applicants should carefully follow the document requirements displayed during the official online application process.

Because household affordability forms part of the assessment, proof of household income is particularly important.

Depending on an applicant’s circumstances and the documents requested on the application portal, students should be ready to provide relevant academic, identification, registration and financial documentation.

Edupstairs recommends preparing documents before starting the application instead of waiting until the final hours before the deadline.

Make sure that uploaded documents are:

• Clear and readable
• Complete
• Correctly named where possible
• Up to date
• Uploaded into the correct fields
• Consistent with the information entered in the application

Do not submit false household-income information or alter documents in an attempt to meet the bursary requirements.

How to Apply

Applications are completed online through the SA Youth platform.

Apply here: DTPC Bursary 2027 application on SA Youth

Applicants may need to sign in to their SA Youth account before they can complete the opportunity application.

Before submitting, check your:

1. Personal information
2. Contact information
3. KwaZulu-Natal residency information
4. Institution
5. Qualification and field of study
6. Year of study
7. Household-income information
8. Supporting documents

Do not wait until the closing date if you already have the necessary information available.

Closing Date: 31 August 2026

Applications for the Dube TradePort Bursary Programme for 2027 close on: 31 August 2026

Independent listings of the current programme also report 31 August 2026 as the application deadline.

Applicants should treat this as a firm deadline and submit as early as possible.

What Happens After You Apply?

Submitting an application does not mean that you have automatically received the bursary.

Applications will need to be assessed against the eligibility and selection criteria.

According to the opportunity information, applicants who have not received communication within four weeks after the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.

Students should therefore continue looking for other funding opportunities while waiting for an outcome.

Do not stop applying for bursaries simply because you have submitted one application.

Edupstairs Application Guidance

The following points are Edupstairs guidance and not additional official DTPC requirements.

Apply only if your institution qualifies

Do not spend time completing the application before checking your university.

The listed institutions are DUT, MUT, UKZN and UniZulu.

Confirm your field of study

Your qualification should fall within one of the identified study areas:

• Engineering
• Agricultural Studies focusing on crops/plants
• Information Technology
• Built Environment

If your qualification is not clearly within these areas, verify its eligibility through the official application information.

Pay special attention to household income

Financial circumstances form part of the selection criteria.

Make sure the household-income information you provide can be supported by the documents requested.

Academic performance matters

The bursary is not assessed purely on financial circumstances. Good academic performance is specifically identified as one of the considerations.

Students who already have university academic records should ensure that the requested academic information is complete.

Apply before 31 August

Waiting until the last day creates unnecessary risk.

You could experience login problems, forgotten passwords, missing documents, connectivity problems or difficulties uploading supporting information.

Common Application Mistakes to Avoid

A strong candidate can still weaken an application through avoidable mistakes.

Watch out for:

• Applying despite qualifying for NSFAS
• Applying while studying at an institution that is not included
• Selecting an unrelated field of study
• Providing incomplete household-income information
• Uploading unreadable documents
• Entering information that conflicts with supporting documents
• Leaving compulsory sections incomplete
• Using incorrect contact details
• Waiting until the deadline to begin the application
• Assuming that submitting an application guarantees funding

Read every question carefully before submitting.

Tools you may find useful:

View Other Employment Opportunities here

Need Help?

Edupstairs Advice

The DTPC Bursary Opportunities for 2027 could be particularly valuable for KwaZulu-Natal students who need financial assistance but do not qualify for NSFAS.

However, applicants should first check the three major restrictions: province, institution and field of study.

If you are a KwaZulu-Natal resident studying at DUT, MUT, UKZN or UniZulu in Engineering, IT, Built Environment or the specified Agricultural Studies areas, and you do not qualify for NSFAS, this is an opportunity worth investigating before the deadline.

Prepare your documents early, provide accurate financial information and submit well before 31 August 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is the DTPC Bursary 2027?

It is a bursary opportunity offered through the Dube TradePort Bursary Scheme for qualifying KwaZulu-Natal students pursuing approved undergraduate studies during the 2027 academic year.

1. When does the Dube TradePort Bursary 2027 close?

Applications close on 31 August 2026.

1. Can NSFAS students apply?

The published requirements state that applicants must not qualify for NSFAS.

1. Can first-year university students apply?

Yes. The bursary is available to qualifying students entering their first, second, third or fourth year of study.

1. Can students from other provinces apply?

The bursary is specifically advertised for students who are residents of KwaZulu-Natal.

1. Which universities qualify?

The listed institutions are DUT, MUT, UKZN and UniZulu.

1. Can I apply if I attend a private college or university?

No. The published opportunity specifically states that private institutions are excluded.

1. Which qualifications are funded?

The identified disciplines are Engineering Studies, Agricultural Studies focusing on crops/plants, Information Technology Studies and Built Environment Studies.

Yes. Good academic performance is among the factors used when bursaries are awarded.

1. Does meeting the requirements guarantee funding?

No. Awards depend on factors including available budget, financial circumstances, academic performance and other relevant selection considerations.

Applications are submitted online through the SA Youth platform using the DTPC bursary opportunity.

1. When should successful applicants expect feedback?

The opportunity states that applicants who have not received communication within four weeks after the closing date should consider their applications unsuccessful.

You can also:

Disclaimer

Edupstairs is not Dube TradePort Corporation, EDTEA, SA Youth or the organisation responsible for selecting bursary recipients. Edupstairs publishes opportunity information to help South African students understand and access education and career opportunities.

Applicants must confirm the final requirements and application instructions on the official application platform before submitting personal information.

Never pay anyone who promises to secure a bursary for you.

Editorial Integrity

Edupstairs independently explains opportunities using information supplied through official or publicly available opportunity sources. Requirements identified as official are kept separate from Edupstairs guidance so applicants can distinguish between the actual eligibility conditions and practical application advice.

Edupstairs does not guarantee selection, funding, admission or placement.

EDUPSTAIRS IS A REGISTERED NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION NPO No: 232 - 182, PUBLIC BENEFIT ORGANISATION (PBO): 930066984. EDUPSTAIRS DOES NOT, IN ANY WAY OR FORM, SOLICIT MONEY OR CV’S FROM PEOPLE FOR JOBS. PLEASE BE AWARE OF PHONY JOB POSTINGS AND RECRUITMENT FRAUD. USE THE EDUPSTAIRS SCAM DETECTOR TOOL TO SPOT A SCAM BEFORE YOU APPLY

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