2026 Future is Bright Bursary

Applications are currently closed.

How to Apply Track Completed Application

ABOUT THE COMPANY

The Sponsor is committed to addressing the skills shortage in our country and supports the skills development of our youth. VWSA will be offering a limited number of comprehensive bursaries to qualifying candidates, studying towards a qualification at a formal tertiary institution in South Africa.

About The Bursary

This Bursary is for the 2025 academic year. You need to be studying full-time in 2025 to qualify. 

What will the Bursary include?

  1. Full-Fee Funding, covering: Registration/Tuition, accommodation, meals, books  and stationery/necessities (as approved by the sponsor).
  2. Laptop provided for study purposes.
  3. On-going psycho-social support provided by Excel@Uni.
  4. Mentoring and professional development 
  5. Additional study support where regarded appropriate
  6. Experiential Training required by your institution to complete your qualification
  7. Vacation work 
  8. The final details of what the bursary will cover, will only be confirmed & final when successful applicants recieve their final bursary award/pledge letter (signed by the sponsor)

 

Additional Conditions to Note:

  1. The funding/bursary is renewable annually, based on academic performance , student negagement, and sponsor budgets. (You will not be granted a bursary for your full-length of study in year 1)
  2. Work-back OBLIGATION: You are obligated to work-back for every year of funding provided by [the bursary sponsor], otherwise you may have to refund the value of the bursary benefits recieved (plus interest charges at the prime rate).
  3. Disclosure Requirement Note: Any applicant or awardee later revealed to not be studying full-time (or having undisclosed paid-employment); may have their bursary contract/offer terminated and required to refund all benefits paid to them by the bursary. This also applies to non-factual statements made on the application, during interviews, or after the bursary is awarded. 
  4. Bursaries will only be awarded in line with the Employment Equity plan of the organisation. 

Who Can Apply

The bursary programme will be aimed at candidates who meet the following criteria:

  1. South African Citizen (and non-citizens?) 
  2. Under 26 years of age. (Gender? Race?)
  3. From a specific Province/Town/Municipality? 
  4. This bursary also allows applicants that are 2025 matric students; or on a gap-year after matric in 2024. 
  5. All students registered for full-time studies at any DHET/CHE registered tertiary Institution (university, college, etc), in 2025. 
    • For the following NQF-7 (or higher) qualifications: Higher Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Bachelors Degree/Honours, Masters or Phd.
  6. This opportunity is NOT open to: 
    • These qualification levels: N4/5/6, Higher Certificate, Diploma, Advanced Diploma, Masters or Doctoral students. 
    • Students at these institution types: TVETs, Community Colleges, Private Colleges, Graduate/Business School, or Distance-learning qualifications (UNISA, etc)
  7. Academic performance:
    • -Grade 12: Bachelor’s Pass with a minimum average of 70% (or above)
    • -Tertiary level: Academic performance-average of 60% (or above) for the latest full academic-years (2024 and 2025 so far).
  8. Students registered as (first, second or third/final) year students in the following fields of study: 
    • Students registered as (first, second or third/final) year students in the following fields of study:
    • STEM-related (Engineering/Science/Medical or Quantitative Commerce) degrees 
    • Purchasing / Logistics / Supply Chain (or closely related) 
    • Business Management (or closely related) 
    • Electrical Engineering
    • Mechatronics
  9. Depending on application stage, candidates may be required to undergo screening, shortlisting, interview, and psychometric assessments.

 

Amongst qualifying applications, the following may be preferred:

  1. Applicants in line with the sponsor's transformation/ employment equity objectives and requirements. 
  2. Applicants in their 2nd year onwards.
  3. Applicants on track to finish their qualification in the minimum-time required (not N+1 or higher)

 

Additional Conditions to Note:

  1. Work-back OBLIGATION: You are obligated to work-back for every year of funding provided by [the bursary sponsor], otherwise you may have to refund the value of the bursary benefits recieved (plus interest charges at the prime rate).
  2. Disclosure Requirement Note: Any applicant or awardee later revealed to not be studying full-time (or having undisclosed paid-employment); may have their bursary contract/offer terminated and required to refund all benefits paid to them by the bursary. This also applies to non-factual statements made on the application, during interviews, or after the bursary is awarded. 
  3. Bursaries will only be awarded in line with the Employment Equity plan of the organisation. 

Please read these notes and instructions carefully before completing the form. Be sure to read every section and ensure that the information you provide is accurate.

  • Applications that are incomplete and that include misrepresentations will immediately be disregarded.
  • Please ensure that you attach ALL of the Required Documents
  • Applications are currently closed.

This Bursary is for the 2025 academic year. You need to be studying full-time in 2025 to qualify. 

  1. Should you not have heard back from us within 3 months (of the application closing date), please consider your application as unsuccessful
  2. Terms and Conditions apply.  Successful applicants will be required to sign an agreement provided by the sponsor
Track Completed Application

Required Documents

Please prepare the following documents:

    Annual Template for all possible Required Docs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15Ejn9yPXsSjtN3gJU7qVMWmn7S50jlYThrqrTlmqDLw/edit?usp=sharing

    Important Note About Documents:   

  • All certified documents must be less than 3 months old.  
  • [*]  means: Where you have multiple documents for 1 submission, please combine/scan them into 1 file that you can upload.
  • In addition to the documents listed below, you are required to submit any other documents required on Step-4 of your application  

    •  

    All Applicants:

    1. Certified copy of your valid South African identity document.
    2. A 1-2 page statement clearly setting out why you have chosen your field of study, how you intend to use it after graduation. Also, explain any missing documents you couldn’t submit on time. [*]
    3. One letter of recommendation from an individual who can speak to your personal character and/or your academic performance. This person should not be a relative or friend. Please include their email and phone details. 
    4. Your latest comprehensive CV (2-pages max) of your educational history. Also include any skills, leadership, and work experience [*]
    5. Certified Parents/Guardian RSA ID (or non-SA Passport) or Death Certificate (if deceased) [*] 
    6. Proof of Household Income: Certified copy of SASSA docs or 3 months Payslips of parents/guardians (Company registration documents if Self Employed) - Please attach police affidavits confirming unemployment, if guardian/s are unemployed [*] 
    7. Do you (or did you) get funded by NSFAS? Please upload all the funding confirmation contracts, letters or offers. [If not, submit police affidavit stating that you have never received NSFAS funding] [*] 
    8. Do you (or did you) get funded by another bursary? Please upload all the funding confirmation contracts, letters or offers. [If not, submit police affidavit stating that you have never received funds from another bursary or funding award] [*] 

     

    Scholar in Matric (or gap-year after matric)

    1. Certified Grade 11 Report final year-end report (with official school stamp)
    2. Grade 12 latest (Term 2) school report - Certified (With official school stamp) 
    3. [IF APPLICABLE] A copy of the 2026 acceptance letter from an accredited institution. - Official letter showing you've been accepted (even provisionally) to study the qualification in 2026 [*]  
    4. [IF APPLICABLE]  Certified copy of valid matric certificate (Grade 12)

     

    Current Tertiary Student (Undergrad/Honours/etc Enrolled in 2025)

    1. Certified copy of valid matric certificate (Grade 12)
    2. Certified copy of latest/June 2025 Official Academic Transcripts (or official institution report) [or police affidavit stating why you were not schooling] [*] 
    3. Latest Official University Fee Statements - If you have off-campus accommodation, please include your lease agreement [*]
    4. Certified Copy of 2025 Proof of Registration (if studying in 2025), [or police affidavit stating why the student was not schooling] 
    5. Certified Full Tertiary Academic Records (for all years of tertiary study, even if at multiple institutions), or police affidavit stating why the student was not schooling. [*] 
    6. [IF APPLICABLE] Certified copy of 2024 end-year Official Academic Transcripts, [or police affidavit explaining why you were not schooling]

     

    Gap-Year Student During Tertiary (Enrolled before 2025)

    1. Certified copy of valid matric certificate (Grade 12) 
    2. Certified Full Tertiary Academic Records (for all years of tertiary study, even if at multiple institutions); or police affidavit stating why the student was not schooling. [*] 
    3. [IF APPLICABLE] Certified copy of latest 2024 Official Academic Transcripts (or official institution report), [or police affidavit stating why you were not schooling]
    4. [IF APPLICABLE] A copy of the 2026 acceptance letter from an accredited institution. - Official letter showing you've been accepted (even provisionally) to study the qualification in 2026 [*]  

     

    Masters & PhD Applicants (must additionally submit) 

  • DO NOT QUALIFY FOR THE BURSARY

    •  

    Other Optional Documents (for all applicants):

    1. [IF APPLICABLE] Have a Disability? Submit a Dept of Labour Employment Equity Act (EEA1) Form AND a Diagnosis Letter from Doctor [*]
    2. Have a Disability? Submit a Dept of Labour Employment Equity Act (EEA1) Form AND a Diagnosis Letter from Doctor [*] 

     

    If Applicants are Shortlisted to Provisional-Acceptance (these documents will be required)

    1. Certified copy of valid matric certificate (Grade 12)
    2. 2026 Full-year Accommodation Lease/Invoice/Quote 
    3. 2026 Books Quotation (from book store)
    4. Do you (or did you) owe fees to your institution after January 2026? If not, please submit police affidavit stating that you have no debts to your university] [*] 

     

     

  • SEE Full list of possible required documents here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/15Ejn9yPXsSjtN3gJU7qVMWmn7S50jlYThrqrTlmqDLw/edit?usp=sharing 

    •  

For applicants under the age of 18, to comply with POPI regulations a signed consent form completed by your parent/legal guardian along with a certified copy of their proof of identity is required.

You can download the guardian consent form by clicking HERE.

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