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

If you plan to study agricultural engineering, civil engineering or veterinary medicine, there is a new bursary for 2027. The LDARD External Bursary may cover tuition, accommodation, books, meals and a monthly allowance. Applications close at 16:00 on 30 October 2026.

This programme is especially important for students from previously disadvantaged, poor and rural communities. Many of these students have the ability to enter these fields but find the full cost of further study hard to manage.

Women and persons with disabilities are also strongly encouraged to apply.

What is the LDARD Bursary Programme 2027?

The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development offers full external bursaries to qualifying students. These students are studying, or plan to study, certain qualifications in the 2027 academic year.

This is not a general bursary for every agriculture course.

LDARD has chosen only three study fields for this funding round. Check your qualification carefully before you fill in 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?

The official 2027 bursary advertisement lists three fields:

For all three study options, the minimum school subject requirements are:

• Mathematics: Level 6, from 70% to 79%
• Physical Science: Level 6, from 70% to 79%

These are the bursary requirements only. You must also meet the admission requirements of the university or institution where you plan to study.

What expenses can the bursary cover?

LDARD describes this opportunity as a comprehensive bursary.

Funding may include:

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

This kind of support can make a big difference, because studying costs more than just registration and tuition fees.

There is one important condition, though.

The bursary depends on the money the department has available. The department also decides how many bursaries it will award.

Meeting the minimum requirements does not guarantee that you will get funding.

Who can apply?

You must be a South African citizen. You must also plan to study, or already be studying, one of the fields in the official advertisement.

The department says the bursary especially targets previously disadvantaged and poor people from poverty-stricken and rural communities.

Women and persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply.

Make sure your Mathematics and Physical Science results meet the Level 6 requirement for your chosen qualification.

Can Grade 12 learners apply?

Yes.

The application form makes room for applicants who are still at school and for those already studying at tertiary level.

If you are still in Grade 12, you may need to send your latest school results. If you are already at university, you may need to send an academic record.

This means the programme is useful for future first-year students and for qualifying students already studying one of the advertised qualifications.

Can you apply without a university acceptance letter?

Yes.

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

LDARD says that applicants who do not yet have their university acceptance letter or final results can still submit the bursary application while they wait for those documents.

This means a Grade 12 learner waiting for final results, or an applicant waiting for an admission decision, does not have to miss the bursary deadline.

Keep following up with your chosen institution, and send any missing documents when they are asked for.

Do not wait for your university acceptance letter if waiting would make you miss the bursary closing date.

Which documents should you prepare?

The official 2027 application form lists several documents that may need to go with your application.

Get certified copies or supporting documents, including:

Read the actual application form carefully. The documents you need depend partly on whether you are still at school or already studying.

Make sure your copies are clear, and that any documents that need certifying are properly certified before you send them.

Do not only focus on the form. First check your Mathematics and Physical Science marks, confirm that your exact qualification is in the 2027 advertisement, and start collecting certified documents early. A complete application sent before the deadline is much safer than fixing missing papers on the last day.

Why should students check the exact course name?

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

The advertisement says that applicants studying fields that are not listed will not be considered.

For example, studying an agriculture course does not make you eligible just because LDARD works in the agricultural sector.

Your intended qualification must match one of the three advertised study fields.

If your institution uses a slightly different name for your qualification, check with LDARD that it qualifies before you assume it does.

How can students apply?

You must complete the official LDARD External Bursary Application Form.

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

You can download the official LDARD External Bursary Application Form.

Send the completed form together with the required supporting documents.

The official advertisement gives these submission details:

Send it to the Head of Department, Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, 69 Biccard Street, Private Bag X9487, Polokwane, 0700.

The application form also tells applicants to submit through their district of residence. Follow the instructions on the current official form carefully when you decide where and how to deliver your documents.

When do LDARD bursary applications close?

Applications close on:

30 October 2026 at 16:00

LDARD clearly says that late applications will not be considered.

Do not leave the process until 30 October.

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

Aim to have everything ready well before the deadline.

What happens after you apply?

LDARD says it will only contact successful applicants.

If you have not heard from the department within 60 days, you should treat your application as unsuccessful.

Keep copies of your completed form and supporting documents.

It is also wise to keep looking for other legitimate bursaries instead of relying on this one application.

Why could this bursary be worth considering?

Agricultural engineering, civil engineering and veterinary medicine are specialised fields, and studying them can cost a lot.

Accommodation, textbooks, meals and everyday living costs can add pressure, even when tuition is paid for elsewhere.

This LDARD programme stands out because its funding goes beyond tuition alone.

For eligible students from households with limited money or from rural areas, full funding could remove several of the biggest obstacles to finishing a tertiary qualification.

The department’s official bursary page also confirms that it offers tertiary bursaries each year and publishes its bursary documents on its website.

What should you check before you apply?

Before you complete 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.

If you are still waiting for your university acceptance letter or final results, you do not need to delay your application. The official notice lets you submit while those documents are still outstanding.

Final thoughts

The LDARD Bursary Programme 2027 could be a useful funding opportunity for students studying Agricultural Engineering, Civil Engineering or Veterinary Medicine.

Successful applicants may get support for tuition, accommodation, books, meals and a monthly allowance, but funding still depends on the department’s available budget.

The most important step is to check that you are eligible before you apply.

Pay close 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.

If you are still waiting for university acceptance or final results, the department allows you to submit your application while those documents are outstanding.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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