Scholarships Administered by the Department of Higher Education and Training (DHET)

The DHET coordinates several scholarship programs for South African students to study abroad. These include postgraduate (masters, doctoral, postdoctoral) and a small number of undergraduate scholarships.

The DHET cautions students against enrolling in unaccredited institutions abroad and recommends verifying the accreditation status and program equivalency with SAQA before applying.

Scholarships Offered by Universities

University College Dublin offers full and partial scholarships for South African students at the undergraduate and masters level.

Other universities in South Africa and abroad may also have scholarship programs for South African students, so it's important to research the options.

Scholarships Administered by StudyTrust

StudyTrust manages several bursary and scholarship programs funded by companies, foundations, trusts and private donors for South African students.

Applications for these scholarships typically open on May 1 and close on September 30 each year.

Other Scholarship Opportunities

The Scholarship Portal website lists 22 different scholarship opportunities in South Africa, including merit-based, needs-based, and country-specific scholarships.

Examples include the University of Cape Town and MasterCard Foundation scholarship, the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), and the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation scholarships.

To apply for these scholarships, students should carefully review the eligibility criteria, application requirements and deadlines. Writing a strong, tailored scholarship application is key to increasing the chances of being selected.