FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary
FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary South Africa 2027 The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) is inviting students to apply for their Bursary Programme, for the 2027 academic year.
FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary is a bursary offered by FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours (open nationally). Applications close on 31 Dec 2026.
Who can apply
- You must be a South African citizen
- You must be Black, in accordance with the B-BBEE Act (African, Coloured or Indian (ACI))
- You must be between 18 and 35 years old on 31 December 2027
- You must have completed Matric
- You must have achieved a minimum result of 60% for NSC Mathematics (NOT Mathematical Literacy)
- You must have achieved a minimum average of 60% in your undergraduate degree
- You must be entering your first full-time 1-year Honours degree in 2027, in one of the fields of study listed above, with a minimum NQF Level 8
- You must study at a recognised and accredited public university in South Africa
- You must meet the admission requirements for your qualification
- You must have a combined household income NOT more than R700 000 per annum
How to apply
Applications are submitted directly to FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours - we do not collect applications. Read the eligibility criteria, prepare your supporting documents, then complete your application on the official page.
Go to the application pageFull details
FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary South Africa 2027
WHAT FIELDS OF STUDY DOES THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY COVER?
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) is inviting students to apply for their Bursary Programme, for the 2027 academic year.
Bursaries will be awarded for studies towards a first Honours degree, in STEM and Psychology fields, including the following fields:
- Actuarial Science
- Agricultural Sciences
- BA Honours Arts (Psychology)
- Biosciences
- Climate Sciences
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Electronics
- Engineering
- Environmental Sciences
- Indigenous Knowledge Systems
- Information Management
- Information Science
- Information Systems
- Information Technology
- Mathematical Sciences
- Mathematics
- Physics
- Renewable Energy
- Risk
- Sciences
- Statistics
(Read about the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Undergraduate Bursary here).
WHAT EXPENSES DOES THE FREF BURSARY COVER?
The bursary may provide cover for the following expenses: tuition fees, accommodation (up to a threshold of R65,000), monthly travelling stipends, and food and airtime vouchers.
Students may also receive additional student support and development services.
WHAT IS THE SELECTION PROCESS FOR THE FREF BURSARY?
Shortlisted candidates will be contacted by the first week of January 2027. If you do not receive any feedback by this date, please consider your application unsuccessful
WHAT IS THE ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION 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 FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY?
Applications must be submitted online at: FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Postgraduate Bursary Application 2027
Enter “www.zabursaries.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation bursary.
WHAT DOCUMENTS MUST I SUBMIT FOR THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY?
Submit clear copies of the following supporting documentation along with your application (the submission of these documents is compulsory - if any items are missing, your application may be disqualified):
- ID document (certified copy - not older than 6 months)
- Matric certificate (certified copy)
- Complete undergraduate academic record (certified copy)
- Provisional or final honours acceptance letter, if available
- Proof of parents or guardians household income (latest payslips if employed/ affidavit if unemployed/ affidavit stating annual income if self-employed/ most recent audited financial statement or 3 months’ most recent bank statements if they own a business/ SASSA letter stating the grants received if applicable)
- ID numbers of applicant and all household members
- If disabled: a completed EEA1 form (.pdf) and a valid Doctors note
Note: supporting documents must be submitted in PDF format and must not be larger than 5MB.
WHEN IS THE CLOSING DATE FOR THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION BURSARY?
31 December 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 these bursary programmes, please contact Feenix (the administrators for this bursary) directly:Tel: 063 968 7544Email: [email protected] page: https://bursaries.feenix.org/fref/contact-2/
WHAT DOES THE FIRSTRAND EMPOWERMENT FOUNDATION DO?
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary is part of FirstRand’s commitment to supporting talented South African students who may face financial barriers to accessing higher education. Through its investment in education and skills development, the Foundation aims to help young people pursue their studies while developing the knowledge and capabilities needed to contribute meaningfully to the South African economy.
The bursary provides financial support to qualifying students who demonstrate strong academic potential and meet the programme’s specific requirements. Depending on the bursary offering, funding may assist with key study-related expenses, helping students focus on completing their qualifications without the full burden of university costs.
For students considering applying, it is important to carefully review the eligibility criteria, fields of study, participating institutions and application requirements before submitting an application. This article provides an overview of the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Bursary, including who can apply, what the bursary covers and how to submit an application.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary?
The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary is a bursary offered by FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours for South African students and applicants interested in Engineering, Accounting/Finance, and Commerce/Business. FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours Bursary South Africa 2027 The FirstRand Empowerment Foundation (FREF) is inviting students to apply for their Bursary Programme, for the 2027 academic year. Bursaries will be awarded for studies towards a first Honours degree, in STEM and Psychology fields... You can read the full details, eligibility criteria, and application steps on this page before you apply.
Who qualifies for the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours bursary?
To qualify for the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours bursary, applicants generally need to meet a few key conditions. These include You must be a South African citizen, You must be Black, in accordance with the B-BBEE Act (African, Coloured or Indian (ACI)), and You must be between 18 and 35 years old on 31 December 2027. It is open to applicants at Matric, Postgraduate, and Undergraduate level. Read every requirement carefully on the official listing, because meeting all of them improves your chances of being shortlisted.
When does the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours bursary close?
According to our sources, the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours bursary closes on 31 December 2026. We last checked this listing on 29 September 2026. We always recommend verifying the closing date on the official listing, as providers sometimes extend or bring forward their deadlines.
What documents do I need to apply?
Our sources do not list the exact documents required for the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours bursary, so treat the following as a typical guide rather than a confirmed list. Most South African applications ask for a certified copy of your ID, your matric certificate or latest results, an academic transcript, and proof of household income. Confirm the precise document checklist on the official listing before submitting, because requirements vary between providers.
How do I apply for the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Honours bursary?
Applications must be submitted online at: FirstRand Empowerment Foundation Postgraduate Bursary Application 2027 Enter “www.zabursaries.co.za” in the field asking how you heard about the FirstRand Empowerment Foundation bursary. You can start your application using the official link provided on this page. Apply early and keep a copy of any reference number or confirmation you receive, in case you need to follow up.
Sources
This page summarises information published by:
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