Bursaries closing soon in February 2026: deadlines, eligibility, and fast application tips
Several South African bursaries close in February 2026, with the first deadline landing on 6 February. These opportunities affect school leavers, university and TVET students, and postgraduates across key fields, from public sector scarce skills to health sciences and research.
The closing dates matter now because most funders reject late submissions, and missing documents also trigger automatic disqualification.
Use this guide to match your profile to the right bursary, prepare your documents, and submit in deadline order, so you protect your funding chance before February ends.
Bursaries closing soon: confirmed closing dates in February 2026
Bursaries closing in February 2026 (confirmed):
Alfred Nzo District Municipality Bursary, closing date: 6 February 2026
- Best fit: Eastern Cape students living in the Alfred Nzo District, studying scarce and critical skills linked to municipal needs, such as engineering, finance, environmental management, and public administration.
Sorbet Academy Bursary, closing date: 15 February 2026
- Best fit: learners who want skills-based training in beauty therapy, hairdressing, and cosmetology, with a focus on employability and entrepreneurship.
KwaZulu-Natal Government Bursary, closing date: 16 February 2026
- Best fit: KZN residents studying priority fields aligned to provincial needs. Many provincial bursaries use a work-back approach, so read the conditions before you apply.
SASLHA Bursary, closing date: 16 February 2026
- Best fit: students in speech-language therapy or audiology at recognised South African universities.
FirstRand International Postgraduate Scholarships, closing date: 19 February 2026
- Best fit: top-achieving graduates planning postgraduate study abroad, often in economics, finance, development, or related fields.
Avemel Group Bursary, closing date: 20 February 2026
- Best fit: academically strong students with financial need in fields linked to business operations, such as engineering, finance, supply chain, and IT.
Armscor Bursary, closing date: 26 February 2026
- Best fit: students in engineering, science, and technology-related qualifications, often linked to a work-back requirement.
SAAFoST Aubrey Parsons Study Grant, closing date: 27 February 2026
SAAFoST Brian Koeppen Memorial Scholarship, closing date: 27 February 2026
- Best fit: food science and food technology students, including postgraduate research pathways.
Bheki Mlangeni Memorial Scholarship, closing date: 28 February 2026
- Best fit: postgraduate journalism and media students who show strong academic performance and a clear career direction.
Gauteng City-Region Academy (GCRA) Bursary, closing date: 28 February 2026
- Best fit: Gauteng residents studying at approved institutions across a range of fields, from undergraduate to postgraduate.
Poliomyelitis Research Foundation (PRF) Bursaries, closing date: 28 February 2026
- Best fit: honours, master’s, and doctoral candidates doing health and medical sciences research.
What this means for you
If you still need funding for 2026, you have a short runway. Start with the earliest closing date and work forward. This approach reduces last-minute errors and improves your admin compliance.
Do this today
- Pick your top 3 bursaries from the list and check eligibility before you write anything.
- Build one clean document pack, then tailor your motivation letter for each funder.
- Apply in deadline order, starting with 6 February 2026.
- Submit at least 72 hours before the deadline, so you avoid upload issues and email backlogs.
Watch these common rejection triggers
- Missing proof of residence for district or province bursaries.
- Unreadable scans or uncertified documents.
- A generic motivation letter that does not match the funder’s field focus.
- Proof of income missing, or affidavits not signed properly.
- Applying after the closing date and hoping for an extension.
What documents you should prepare before you start
Most applications fail on admin, not marks. Build a clean document pack first.
- Certified ID copy
- Latest academic record or matric results
- Proof of residence (district or province bursaries often require this)
- Proof of income for parents or guardians, or affidavits where required
- Proof of registration or acceptance for 2026 studies
- CV for postgraduate or professional bursaries
- Motivation letter tailored to each bursary
Practical tip: save files with clear names, for example ID_Surname, Results_Surname, ProofOfResidence_Surname.
How to apply fast and stay compliant
Use a simple order and keep momentum.
- Apply in deadline order, starting with 6 February 2026.
- Submit early to avoid portal crashes and email delays.
- Read each bursary’s field focus and eligibility rules, then align your motivation letter to those criteria.
- Check scans for readability. Blurry documents trigger rejection.
- Keep proof of submission, including reference numbers and sent emails.
If you live in Gauteng, prioritise GCRA early, then add field-specific options such as health, engineering, food science, or postgraduate research based on your course. If you live in KwaZulu-Natal, prioritise the provincial bursary first, then stack other options if you qualify.
