Office of the Premier Bursary 2027 Could Cover Tuition, Books and Living Costs

How to apply

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

Full details

Unemployed young people aged 18 to 35 can get real help paying for university in 2027 through the Free State Provincial Government Full Time Bursary Programme. The funding can cover tuition, accommodation, prescribed textbooks, learning devices, meals, transport and a monthly living allowance. Applications close at 16:00 on 13 November 2026.

The programme is open to Grade 12 learners who qualify, as well as to students who have already started higher education.

If you or your family worry about the full cost of university, not only tuition, this bursary matters a lot.

What is the Office of the Premier Bursary Programme?

The Office of the Premier in the Free State Provincial Government offers this bursary to students who plan to study full time during the 2027 academic year.

It is meant for unemployed young people who live in the province and want to complete a Degree or Diploma in a priority area.

The official online application system shows that the current application period runs from 21 September 2026 until 13 November 2026.

The programme focuses mainly on qualifications linked to scarce and critical skills that the province needs.

This bursary does not pay for every university qualification.

Check first that your chosen field falls under one of the priority categories.

Who can apply?

Check these eligibility conditions before you start the online application.

You should:

• Be a South African citizen
• Live in the Free State Province
• Be between 18 and 35 years old
• Be unemployed
• Be studying, or planning to study, towards a Degree or Diploma
• Study a qualification in one of the priority areas
• Study at a recognised and accredited university or university of technology in South Africa
• Be willing to work in relevant service sectors
• Not receive any other form of government funding

Applicants from previously disadvantaged backgrounds may be given preference.

Current Grade 12 learners are included, so you do not have to be a university student yet to apply.

Which study fields come first?

The bursary aims to fill scarce skills in the province, so some fields get priority.

These include:

• Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
• Commercial-related studies
• Finance
• Economics
• Accounting
• Psychology-related studies
• Social Sciences
• Aviation Studies
• Bachelor of Administration programmes
• Public Governance
• Developmental Studies

Current bursary information shows these as the priority areas for the 2027 funding round.

Some of these categories are very broad.

Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, for example, includes many separate qualifications. The same is true for Social Sciences and commercial studies.

Do not assume that every qualification loosely linked to a priority category will qualify.

Your exact Degree or Diploma still matters.

If you are not sure about your programme, use the official bursary contact details to confirm eligibility before you apply.

What costs can the bursary pay for?

The best part of this funding is that it goes beyond tuition.

The bursary can cover:

• Tuition fees
• Accommodation, where applicable
• Prescribed textbooks
• Learning-aid devices, where applicable
• Meals
• Transport, where applicable
• A monthly living allowance, where applicable

The phrase where applicable matters.

It means not every successful student will get every benefit, or the same amount. The final support depends on the bursary conditions that apply to each successful applicant.

The current public information reviewed for this article does not state a fixed monthly living allowance amount.

Be careful with unofficial websites or social media posts that promise a guaranteed monthly amount.

Can current Grade 12 learners apply?

Yes.

The 2027 funding opportunity specifically includes learners who are still completing Grade 12.

If you plan to start university in 2027, do not assume the programme is only for students who are already studying.

The bursary application and the university application are separate processes.

Getting bursary funding does not take the place of applying to a university or university of technology.

A sensible order is:

Choose a career, identify the correct qualification, submit your university applications, then submit eligible bursary applications.

Do not hold up your university applications while you wait for bursary results.

Can students already at university apply?

Yes.

Students who have already been accepted or enrolled at a recognised higher education institution may also be considered, as long as they meet the other requirements.

This includes the age, residence, employment, study field and funding conditions.

Existing students should make sure their academic and registration details are correct when they complete the online application.

Can NSFAS-funded students get this bursary too?

Read this condition carefully.

The 2027 bursary information says candidates must not receive another form of government funding.

The National Student Financial Aid Scheme is government funded, so do not assume you can hold both awards at the same time.

There is a difference between applying for several funding opportunities and actually receiving incompatible funding from more than one government source.

If you apply for the National Student Financial Aid Scheme or another government bursary and later get more than one offer, tell the funders about your situation and check the rules with them before you accept overlapping support.

What should you prepare before you start?

Online bursary forms are easier to fill in when your personal and academic information is ready.

Before you open the application system, gather documents and information about:

• Your South African identity
• Grade 12 results if you are still at school
• Matric results if you have already finished school
• University acceptance or enrolment information where applicable
• Current academic results if you are already studying
• Proof of residence
• Parent or guardian information
• Household income information where requested
• Your chosen qualification and institution

Always treat the document checklist shown in the current online system as the final requirement.

Make sure every document you upload can be read clearly.

A blurry certified copy or an incomplete academic document can cause a problem, even if you qualify.

Do not pick a qualification just because it seems to fall under a funded category. Start with the career you really want, check which qualification that career needs, then confirm the qualification fits the bursary’s priority fields. Funding matters, but so does choosing a course you can realistically finish and use.

Why should you check your institution before you apply?

The programme is for students studying Degrees and Diplomas at recognised and accredited universities or universities of technology in South Africa.

That wording is important.

If you study at another type of institution, do not assume you qualify.

If you study at a Technical and Vocational Education and Training college, confirm your eligibility directly with the bursary office. Do not assume every Diploma is covered by the programme.

This quick check could save you from an application that is not needed.

Is there extra student support?

The programme information says funded students may get more than money.

A Student Liaison and Support Unit is meant to give academic and emotional support. A Stakeholder Support Unit helps manage relationships with higher education institutions.

This can help if you are adjusting to university life or dealing with admin problems about your funding.

A bursary is more useful when you also get support that helps you stay on track with your studies.

How do you apply?

Applications for the 2027 programme are made through the provincial government’s online bursary application system.

If you meet the requirements, register and go through the official online bursary application portal.

You need to create an account before you can finish your application.

Applications opened on 21 September 2026 and stay open until 13 November 2026.

Do not create several accounts for no reason.

Use an email address that you check often, and keep your login details safe in case you need to get back into the portal.

When does it close?

The closing date is:

13 November 2026 at 16:00

The official online system confirms that applications close on 13 November 2026.

Try not to submit in the final few hours.

Government application systems often get busy near big deadlines. If you wait until the last afternoon, you have very little time to fix missing documents or technical problems.

If you can, finish your application several days early.

Where can you get help?

The bursary contact information that is published includes:

An email address for the bursary office, listed on the official bursary information.

Two telephone numbers for the bursary office, listed on the official bursary information.

When you contact the bursary office, ask a specific question.

For example, if you are not sure your qualification falls under a broad priority category, give the full official name of the qualification and the institution. Do not just ask whether business or science is covered.

What should you check before you press submit?

Before you finish the application, check that:

• Your identity details are correct
• You meet the 18 to 35 age requirement
• You live in the Free State
• Your qualification fits a priority field
• Your institution meets the programme requirements
• Your email address and cellphone number are up to date
• You have declared any other government funding accurately
• Your supporting documents are complete
• Every uploaded document can be read
• Your application is submitted before 16:00 on 13 November 2026

Save any confirmation page, email or application reference number you get.

Proof that you submitted can be very helpful if you need to make an enquiry later.

Final thoughts

The Free State Provincial Government Bursary Programme 2027 could give real financial help to unemployed young people who want to study further.

Its biggest strength is the range of costs it may cover.

Funding can go beyond tuition to include accommodation, textbooks, learning devices, meals, transport and a monthly living allowance where applicable.

Read the eligibility conditions closely.

The programme is for South African citizens aged 18 to 35 who live in the province, are unemployed and plan to study an eligible Degree or Diploma at a recognised university or university of technology.

You also cannot receive another form of government funding.

The official application system is open now, and applications close at 16:00 on 13 November 2026.

If you are eligible, the plan is simple: check your qualification, prepare your documents early and submit well before the deadline.

Frequently asked questions

Sources

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