LDARD Bursary Programme 2027 Could Cover More Than Just Your Tuition Fees

Who can apply

• Bachelor of Science in Agricultural Engineering
• National Diploma in Civil Engineering
• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine
• Mathematics: Level 6 — 70% to 79%
• Physical Science: Level 6 — 70% to 79%
• These are bursary requirements. Students must still make sure they separately meet the admission requirements of the university or institution where they plan to study.

Documents you will need

• The official 2027 application form lists several documents that may need to accompany the application.
• South African identity document
• Grade 12 certificate or statement of results
• Grade 12 June or July report if still at school
• Academic record if already at university
• Admission letter
• Proof of residence
• Parent or guardian salary advice
• Applicants should check the actual application form carefully because the documents required will depend partly on their current study status.
• Make sure copies are clear and that any documents requiring certification have been properly certified before submission.
• Do not focus only on completing the bursary form. Check your Mathematics and Physical Science marks first, confirm that your exact qualification appears in the 2027 advertisement, and start gathering certified documents early. A complete application submitted ahead of the deadline is far safer than trying to correct missing paperwork on the final day.

How to apply

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

Full details

Students planning careers in agricultural engineering, civil engineering or veterinary medicine have a new funding opportunity for 2027. The LDARD External Bursary Programme can cover tuition, accommodation, books, meals and a monthly allowance, with applications closing at 16:00 on 30 October 2026.

The programme is particularly significant for students from previously disadvantaged, impoverished and rural communities who may have the academic ability to enter these fields but struggle with the full cost of tertiary education.

Women and persons with disabilities are also specifically encouraged to submit applications.

What is the LDARD Bursary Programme 2027?

The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development is offering comprehensive external bursaries for qualifying students who are studying, or intend to study, selected qualifications during the 2027 academic year.

This is not a general bursary covering every agriculture-related course.

LDARD has identified only three study fields for this particular funding round, meaning applicants need to check their qualification carefully before completing the form.

Applications for study fields that are not listed in the official advertisement will not be considered.

Which qualifications does the LDARD bursary fund?

Three fields appear in the official 2027 bursary advertisement:

For all three study options, the advertised minimum school-subject requirement is:

These are bursary requirements. Students must still make sure they separately meet the admission requirements of the university or institution where they plan to study.

What expenses can the bursary cover?

LDARD describes the opportunity as a comprehensive bursary.

Funding may include:

• Tuition
• Accommodation
• Books
• Meals
• A monthly allowance

This level of support can make a substantial difference because tertiary study costs extend beyond registration and tuition fees.

However, there is an important condition.

The bursary benefits are subject to the availability of departmental funds. The department also reserves the right to determine how many bursaries will ultimately be awarded.

Meeting the minimum requirements therefore does not automatically guarantee funding.

Who can submit an application?

Applicants must be South African citizens and must intend to pursue, or already be pursuing, one of the study fields identified in the official advertisement.

The department says the bursary programme particularly targets previously disadvantaged and impoverished people from poverty-stricken and rural communities.

Women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to submit applications.

Applicants should also make sure their Mathematics and Physical Science results satisfy the Level 6 requirement for their selected qualification.

Can Grade 12 learners submit applications?

Yes.

The bursary application form makes provision for applicants who are still at school as well as those already studying at tertiary level.

Applicants who are still completing Grade 12 may need to provide their most recent school results, while students already at university may need to submit an academic record.

This makes the programme relevant to both prospective first-year students and qualifying students already pursuing one of the advertised qualifications.

Can you submit an application without a university acceptance letter?

Yes.

This is one of the most useful conditions in the 2027 advertisement.

LDARD states that applicants who do not yet have their university acceptance letter or final results may still submit the bursary application while waiting for those documents.

That means a Grade 12 learner waiting for final results or an applicant waiting for an admission decision should not automatically miss the bursary deadline.

Applicants should still continue following up with their chosen institution and provide any outstanding documents when required.

Do not wait until your university acceptance arrives if doing so would cause you to miss the bursary closing date.

Which documents should applicants prepare?

The official 2027 application form lists several documents that may need to accompany the application.

Applicants should prepare certified copies or supporting documents including:

Applicants should check the actual application form carefully because the documents required will depend partly on their current study status.

Make sure copies are clear and that any documents requiring certification have been properly certified before submission.

Do not focus only on completing the bursary form. Check your Mathematics and Physical Science marks first, confirm that your exact qualification appears in the 2027 advertisement, and start gathering certified documents early. A complete application submitted ahead of the deadline is far safer than trying to correct missing paperwork on the final day.

Why should students check the exact course name?

This bursary is unusually specific about the study programmes it supports.

The advertisement states that applicants pursuing fields not listed will not be considered.

For example, studying an agriculture-related course does not automatically make someone eligible simply because LDARD operates in the agricultural sector.

Your intended qualification should correspond with one of the three advertised study fields.

If your institution uses a slightly different qualification title, confirm its eligibility with LDARD before assuming it qualifies for funding.

How can students submit an application?

Applicants must complete the official LDARD External Bursary Application Form.

The department publishes both the bursary advertisement and application form through its official bursaries page.

Candidates can download the official LDARD External Bursary Application Form.

The completed form must be accompanied by the required supporting documents.

The official advertisement provides the following submission details:

Head of DepartmentDepartment of Agriculture and Rural Development69 Biccard StreetPrivate Bag X9487Polokwane0700

The bursary application form additionally instructs applicants to submit their application through their district of residence. Applicants should therefore follow the instructions on the current official form carefully when choosing where and how to deliver their documents.

When do LDARD Bursary applications close?

Applications close on:

30 October 2026 at 16:00

LDARD explicitly states that late applications will not be considered.

Students should avoid treating 30 October as the day to begin the process.

Getting documents certified, obtaining proof of residence and collecting household-income documents can take time.

Aim to have everything ready well before the deadline.

What happens after submitting the application?

LDARD states that communication will be limited to successful applicants.

If an applicant has not received communication from the department within 60 days, they should consider the application unsuccessful.

Applicants should therefore keep copies of their completed form and supporting documents.

It is also sensible to continue looking for other legitimate bursaries instead of relying on a single funding application.

Why could this bursary be worth considering?

Agricultural engineering, civil engineering and veterinary medicine are specialised fields that can involve significant study costs.

Accommodation, textbooks, meals and everyday living expenses can place additional pressure on students even when tuition is covered elsewhere.

The LDARD programme is therefore notable because its advertised funding goes beyond tuition alone.

For eligible students from financially constrained or rural households, comprehensive funding could remove several of the biggest barriers to completing a tertiary qualification.

The department’s official bursary page also confirms that it provides tertiary bursary opportunities each year and publishes its bursary documents through its website.

What should you check before submitting?

Before completing the application, make sure that:

• You are a South African citizen.
• Your intended qualification is one of the three advertised programmes.
• You meet the Mathematics requirement.
• You meet the Physical Science requirement.
• Your personal information is correct.
• Your supporting documents are clear and properly certified where required.
• Your proof of residence is available.
• Your academic information is accurate.
• You have followed the submission instructions on the current application form.
• Your application will arrive before 16:00 on 30 October 2026.

Applicants waiting for their university acceptance letter or final results should not assume they need to delay their application, because the official notice allows them to submit while those documents are still outstanding.

Final Thoughts

The LDARD Bursary Programme 2027 provides a potentially valuable funding opportunity for students pursuing Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering or Veterinary Medicine.

Successful applicants may receive support for tuition, accommodation, books, meals and a monthly allowance, although funding remains subject to the department’s available budget.

The most important step is checking eligibility before applying.

Students need to pay particular attention to the approved study fields and the Level 6 Mathematics and Physical Science requirements.

Applications close at 16:00 on 30 October 2026, and late submissions will not be considered.

For students still waiting for university acceptance or final results, there is also some flexibility: the department allows the application to be submitted while those documents are outstanding.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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