Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust Bursary

Who can apply

• You must be a South African citizen
• You must have completed an Honours degree qualification
• You must be studying or intend on studying towards a Postgraduate (Masters or Doctorate) qualification
• You must be registered or accepted to study at a recognised university in South Africa
• You must have a strong academic record
• You must be able to cover the remainder of your study fees, by yourself or with another bursary (which the bursary does not cover)

How to apply

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

Full details

Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust Bursary South Africa 2027

WHAT FIELDS OF STUDY DOES THE ERNST & ETHEL ERIKSEN BURSARY COVER?

The Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust is inviting students to apply for their bursary programme, for the 2027 academic year.

Bursaries will be awarded for Postgraduate (Masters or Doctorate) studies, in ANY field.

WHAT EXPENSES DOES THE ERNST & ETHEL ERIKSEN BURSARY COVER?

The Trust awards partial bursaries, to the maximum value of R25 000 per annum, which will be paid directly to the university where the applicant is studying.

Bursaries are awarded each year, and are granted for one academic year at a time - bursary recipients are thus required to reapply for funding every year.

WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE ERNST & ETHEL ERIKSEN BURSARY?

The selection process includes the following steps:

• All applications are reviewed to ensure all required information has been submitted (incomplete applications are immediately disqualified).
• Completed applications are then submitted to the Ernst and Ethel Eriksen Trust Board of Trustees.
• Candidates will be informed of the status of their application (whether successful or unsuccessful), by the end of December 2026.

WHAT ARE THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE ERNST & ETHEL ERIKSEN BURSARY?

Applicants must satisfy the following minimum entry criteria before applying (please note that failure to satisfy all the requirements will lead to your application not being considered):

HOW CAN I APPLY FOR THE ERNST & ETHEL ERIKSEN BURSARY?

Applications must be done online at: Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust Bursary Application 2027

Applicants will be required to Register an Account before they can Login and apply.

Enter “www.zabursaries.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust Bursary.

Please note the following when applying:

• The application consists of 6 steps - you will only be able to move on to the next step after you have completed the current step.
• You can stop and return to your application at any time - however, you need to submit your application by the closing date for it to be accepted.
• After submitting your application, you will not be able to change any information.
• You will need Internet Explorer version 9 or higher, Chrome or Firefox, in order to register.

WHAT DOCUMENTS MUST I SUBMIT FOR THE ERNST & ETHEL ERIKSEN BURSARY?

Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your online application (the submission of these documents is compulsory - if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):

• ID document (certified copy)
• Latest university academic results (certified copy)
• Proof of university application, if applied but not yet accepted (on university letterhead)
• Proof of university acceptance, if accepted (on university letterhead)
• Breakdown of the following: your estimated income and expenditure and the total amount you are applying for
• 3 essays (maximum 1000 words each): 1 about yourself, your family, your current circumstances, about you in 3 words, how your friends see you, your passion, your biggest strengths and weaknesses 1 about your achievements after Matric and at tertiary level (including your community service project involvement, committees or organisations you are a member of, leadership positions you have held and how they impacted you and why you chose your current field of study) 1 about your future study plans and dreams for the future 1 about how you would like to see South Africa in the next decade
• 2 academic references - on the EE Trust Reference Form (.pdf)

WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE ERNST & ETHEL ERIKSEN BURSARY?

30 September 2026.

(Applications submitted after this date will not be accepted - please apply before the closing date to ensure your application is considered.)

HOW CAN I CONTACT THE BURSARY PROVIDER?

For any queries related to this bursary programme, please contact the Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust directly:

• Email: [email protected]
• Contact page: http://eriksentrust.co.za/Contact-Us

WHAT DOES THE ERNST & ETHEL ERIKSEN TRUST DO?

Established in 1981, the Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust was created through a generous donation from Ethel Eriksen to promote postgraduate education in South Africa. The Trust was founded with the aim of helping deserving graduates overcome financial barriers and continue their studies at Master’s and Doctoral level.

For more than two decades, the Trust has awarded postgraduate study grants to students across a range of academic disciplines. By investing in advanced education and research, the Ernst & Ethel Eriksen Trust continues to support the development of highly skilled professionals, academics, and researchers who contribute to South Africa’s future growth and innovation.

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